Alright gals, what say you? Are you planning to shop? If so, in-store or online? Was the effort worth the time and expense? What did you purchase? Did you buy gifts, necessities, stock purchases for future consumption? Where did you shop? How far did you travel?

I usually don't shop the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas, nor New Years. However, I'm hoping for good deals and if I find what I'm looking for, I'll let ya'll know! My shopping will be w/in an 8 mile radius and must be on my 'list'.

You cannot pay me enough money to go into big stores or malls on those days.

I agree Meredith. If they gave the merchandise away you wouldn't see me there. I stay home where its warm, safe and comfortable.

i stay away from malls all-together . . . would rather do almost anything else.

plus, i live simply. i do not need or want a lot of things. i shop for my clothes at ross most of the time and am happy to find bargains there.

there is nothing i need or want that would cause me to want to go to a mall on the days they prescribe that you must go there because of all of the sales.

on the flip side, i do have fond memories of women fighting over scarves in middle tables that were set up in department stores when i was a small child and my mom took me shopping. i was most interested in the social dynamics - the women pushing and shoving each other to get at the goods. those were fun times! but that was "downtown," and not at a mall. i don't know why, but that seemed much more festive to me.

i also have memories of shopping for all of my relatives at payless drug store when i was around 10 or 12. i took the bus to the mall and did all of my shopping with around $20.00 and got something for everyone and did it all on my own. nowadays, kids in my family don't get gifts or even cards for adults . . . it is all about taking. i don't blame them too much because they are overscheduled and super busy and so dependent upon their parents for everything (at least where i live). most of them play sports so don't have time for jobs what with the incredible amounts of homework they give these days (but that is another subject).

so back to the question: malls? heck no!

Mall? What's a Mall?

Funny,I went to the mall today with my two sons. Big mistake. It was busier than I've ever seen it.

We were sale, watch shopping for my youngest who has no watch. We found nothing, but it's probably because it was so crowded we basically weren't patient enough. My oldest son was looking for boot cut jeans and found a pair rather quickly at half price. One likes to shop, the other gets mall sickness so one was ready to look and the other was complaining about his head feeling like it was going to blow off his shoulders. Needless to say, we left and someone was extremely happy to get our parking spot.

I had a free day so I was happy to tag along with them. Anything to be with the kids, but I have to say, never again, the day after Christmas.

I've not shopped the day after Christmas a good long while and had a good time looking and found a good deal at Kohls ($6.99 shirt) and 75% off gift tags and tissue paper at World Market. Yet, at some stores the sales seemed better before Christmas. Whereas others (i.e., Coldwatercreek) were 50% and another 20% -- I may order a pair of jeans (need 10L and they don't carry longs in the store). However, I was looking for a good deal on melamine mixing bowls -- none to be found in my 'radius'. Nor, was I able to find a good inexpensive/sale leather belt to hold up my jeans (starting to lose weight and don't want to scare anyone with me coinslot).