Mom Blogger Face-off: Are you ready for Black Friday?

Nov 22, 2011 7:15 AM by Audrey McClelland

Posted in Parenting / Parenting Tips & Advice / Parenting Advice & Columns

Black Friday Shopping

Black Friday: November 25th, 2011. It's that time of year again. Are you ready? Audrey McClelland and Vera Sweeney from Lady and the Blog explain how they do it in this week's Mom Blogger Face-off.

Mommies Facing off this week

Audrey McClelland, founder of Mom Generations, and Vera Sweeney from Lady and the Blog

The scenario

Black Friday... Oh, yes! It's almost here.

Deals to be scored.

Spending the night in store parking lots.

And lots and lots of people to compete with for that perfect gift.

Question: Is the craziness worth shopping on Black Friday?

Audrey McClelland

Mom Generations

@AudreyMcClellan

When it comes to Black Friday, I am your girl. I love it! I love the energy. I love the excitement. I love the urgency to score the best deal. I love it all. I am that mom that stands in line from 2 a.m. until 5 a.m. in the pouring rain and dark night sky, hoping to get the item on my list.

As a mom to four little boys who all want 100 things for Christmas, for me, Black Friday is a smart thing to do. I need to score the best deals. I love to see myself saving all that money. Last year I saved over $400 on toys at Toys "R" Us during Black Friday. You can't beat that!

So this year, I'm ready for action! Even though that means not sleeping. I will be out at midnight, sweats on and coffee poured… excited and waiting for the stores to open.

Audrey left the fashion world of Donna Karan International in NYC to raise her brood of boys in her home state of Rhode Island. She's learned that you can take the girl out of the Fashion District, but you can't take the Fashion District out of the girl. Audrey brings her fashion expertise and mom experience to Mom Generations.

Vera Sweeney

Lady and the Blog

@VeraSweeney

When I was in high school and college, I would meet my best friend at 6 in the morning and we would spend the entire day shopping Black Friday sales.

Fast forward ten years and the thought of heading to mall on the most popular shopping day of the year literally makes me queasy.

I don't want anything that bad. Besides, in the recent years, many stores have started to participate in Cyber Monday -- a day filled with online sales and unbelievable bargains. I can take advantage of those stores in my pajamas and in the comfort of my own home. I don't need Black Friday.

Vera Sweeney is a mom of two beautiful children and the founder of I'm Not Obsessed, Lady and the Blog and co-founder of Getting Gorgeous Events.

Tell us

Are you hardcore about Black Friday like Audrey, or do you take the Cyber Monday route like Vera?

Comments

Comments on "Mom Blogger Face-off: Are you ready for Black Friday?"

As I get older (I'm 48 now) I am less inclined to want to face the crowds on black friday, yet I want to get to the bargains. I've compromised now and go on line to score on the black friday deals, like the Tracfone website which offers free phone cards, double minutes for life and triple minutes for life for free which are worth quite a bit of money. The prices of the phone are also discounted and I think the black friday prices last over a few days or at least a week.

I stand with Vera. The craziness, competitiveness and just plain ol' meanness that Balck Friday brings out makes me quite content to stay at home and avoid the mobs.

Neither! The over-consumerism that surrounds the "holidays" is terrifying. Every year I wish that I could just buy a few gifts for my children and husband and enjoy their company on Christmas day, and celebrate with other adults and family by just sharing time and a nice meal, sort of like Thanksgiving. But every year we are faced with the pressure to buy, buy, buy, often unnecessary gifts for people who don't really need them. This year I might have the strength to stand up to it. Every year I cave, then feel horrible after.

I have to agree with Vera. I don't think there is any deal so fantastic to make me venture out into that insanity. I'll be sitting at home in my pj's with a latte and a good book.