Minn. stores see long lines on Black Friday

Black Friday shoppers are lining up outside Minnesota stores and malls in the unofficial first day of holiday shopping.

[Grizzly Adams]

So much for the gloom and doom predictions that sales will be way down this year. In January we'll be reading about another record year for retailers.

[gtVoyageur]

Grizzly Adams wrote:

So much for the gloom and doom predictions that sales will be way down this year. In January we'll be reading about another record year for retailers.

Not so fast Griz! Lots of folks are out shopping trying to get the best bargains. If they are not paying in good old fashion US greenbacks, then Black Friday is only a hollow success.

Since the majority of consumers are buying on credit, what is going to happen with the economy in the next few months? Griz, things could get worse like paychecks getting smaller or another round of massive layoffs occurring. That's why, stretching your available cold cash to get the best shopping deals is the best hedge from being in debt in the forthcoming months.

With things being what they are, it's no use spending money you don't have to put yourself deeper in debt. Unfortunately, this philosophy is not gloom and doom but a present fact of life and bitter economic reality!

[here we go]

gtVoyageur wrote:

<quoted text>
Not so fast Griz! Lots of folks are out shopping trying to get the best bargains. If they are not paying in good old fashion US greenbacks, then Black Friday is only a hollow success.
Since the majority of consumers are buying on credit, what is going to happen with the economy in the next few months? Griz, things could get worse like paychecks getting smaller or another round of massive layoffs occurring. That's why, stretching your available cold cash to get the best shopping deals is the best hedge from being in debt in the forthcoming months.
With things being what they are, it's no use spending money you don't have to put yourself deeper in debt. Unfortunately, this philosophy is not gloom and doom but a present fact of life and bitter economic reality!

Absolutely! I've been saying for weeks if you HAVE the money and NEED something, get out there and buy it (not me of course, since I have no money!). It would be the best thing for the economy, and there's some great deals out there. Take advantage of them.

Irresponsible spending, on the other hand, is what has got ALL of us into this mess to begin with. Time the lesson is learned.

[Julie]

I purchased several Chinese made goods at Target. So, I'm trying to help the American economy..