Every year as we prep and post great deals for you, we also find ourselves asking the question, Is Black Friday Worth It? Like many of the best things in life, there is not an easy yes or no answer to this.  For that reason, we have compiled the reasons why yes and no are both valid answers to the question about Black Friday.

Is Black Friday Worth It?

Reasons We Say Yes:

Fun With Your Friends:  There is nothing like the adrenaline that comes from standing in line in the cold to grab one of the few of the hottest deals of the year. The exhaustion often leads to laughter, fun and great memories. In the past few years I’ve gone out with my sisters and a few friends. It’s great to tag team on those HOT deals! When you have extra people in your “posse” one person can stand in line, while others run around to grab their items. This helps you get in the store and out quickly.

Door Buster Deals:  While most items are available online, there are a few select super hot door buster deals you can only find in stores.  Depending on the product, your budget and your need you may find these deals worth the wait and fight. Tip: If you’re going for the door-buster deals, stick to that list. The stores use the “hot” door-busters to get you into their store. Usually each store will only have a limited amount of door-busters. Then once those door-busters are gone, people are walking around shopping for other items. And the stores love when they can pull off this well-known trick.

In Store Gift Card Promotions:  One of the best parts about being the first in line at many stores, are the special gifts and gift card promotions.  Whether it is a free gift for the first 100, or a gift card to the store valued from $5-$500 given to the first 100 in line, it can be tons of fun to see if you get that prize.  In some instances, if you win the prize – you will also be getting free Christmas money! And this year Target will have their own Target Gift Cards available for a discount (which is RARE!).

Reasons We Say No:

Time Away From Family:  Thanksgiving is a day to remember and be thankful.  Spending the day away from your family to shop is not what the day is all about.  The fights, greed and drama that often occurs during these sales is not very representative of the spirit of thanks.

Most Items Are Same Price Online:  Why lose sleep, time away from family and ultimately end up exhausted when you can easily buy the same thing for the same price online? Last year was the first year I did not go out right when the stores opened up on Black Friday. Stores and online prices were at great Black Friday prices before Black Friday. Tip: The weekend leading up to Black Friday and the days before Black Friday are great days to score deals. We are also seeing a lot of great online deals on Thanksgiving Day.

Forgetting The Reason For The Season:  Getting so caught up in getting the best deal can often leave you forgetting what the season is all about.

Black Friday shopping can be tons of fun for a lot of people, but it is no longer the only way to get the best deals.  As you have seen here already – deals are available for the same great prices already.  You don’t have to get out of your comfy clothes early in the morning to stand in the cold this year to grab the hottest deals. If you haven’t prepared your list of items you need/want, then I highly suggest working on it ASAP. Many deals have already happened with more stores dropping prices now before Black Friday. Last year, by the time Black Friday actually came around I had most of my shopping already completed. Overall, I will admit that it’s fun shopping with friends and family on Black Friday, but shopping at the stores on Black Friday is not worth it.

Happy Shopping!