Well, my father in law was up from Tucson and he wanted to go look at the guns in Cabelas. We weren't going to buy anything, but like kids in candy stores we do like to look...

Hell it was ridiculous. The line to the gun checkout counter was bad enough but the line to checkout the normal stuff stretched from the checkouts thru the entire store to the rear (and it's a big store). And the thing is the stuff most people were buying wasn't even big ticket items so the prices are not really all that high to begin with and the savings differential not sufficient to bother, in my opinion.

But that was nothing compared to the insanity of the outlet mall that opened just the week before. The line of vehicles stretched out of the parking lot, down the street, up the freeway off ramp and for a mile backed up on the freeway itself. We were stunned.

Neither of us could conceive of a good enough reason to get stuck in that madness for some ludicrous consumer product.

I guess we are just not the kind of folks that show up on most of societies radar.

- Peter.

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2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

I personally picked up a few items but didn't go crazy over anything, except I spent $150 on some Microsoft points (like gift cards basically) that I can turn around and sell for twice the price consistently. I would have emptied my bank account on that deal but I wasn't able to. This year there were just as many people shopping as previous years but it was much more orderly and the longest line I had to wait in was for 8 minutes at Gamestop.

Wife saw some very nice 600 thread count sheets. We bought 3 sets in different colors at 25% off an already insanely low price. It was at a Big Lots kind of place, except called small lots.
They're for us. She's happy, and we were home a 1/2 hour after we walked out the door.
Aside from that, I cannot see any savings justifying dealing with all of the BS in parking lots, long lines, and crowded stores.
If we had reasonable parking lots here, that would be OK, but instead, we have overdeveloped parking lots, with lots of unnecessary curbs and islands taking away space that could actually be used for parking.
Online shopping works wonderfully, with delivery to my door.

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85' 300D No inspection, No registration fees, Cheap insurance
"If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits 88 miles per hour, you're going to see some serious %$&^."

Well when you have so much that needs either maintained or replaced. You tend to not want to add more to your load. My shopping during this period was a zone control motor that stripped a gear. Actually used on a furnace damper control but the same motor, an air injection device for the well tank that started to leak, A couple of medium duty 9x12 tarps to cover up things left outdoors when required. They were on for 2.59 each and the temptation is still to buy more than needed at that price is still there but weaker.

Black friday is just a method to give retailers a boost basically. Too much of the economy is now far too dependant on the level of retail sales. I have no ideal what could happen if too many people learn to resist spending too much money on things they think they need.

That is never going to happen I suppose until people get their credit use under control. Under control to me is having no debt.. The old adage that you cannot afford it unless you can actually pay for it is still the best. Paying interest on top of the purchase price on things does not make a lot of sense.

We all could sleep a lot better if our respective governments acted responsibly as well. They have set one realy poor example for the general population.

The current dillema in Canada is we have a finance minister warning that per capita consumer debt on average is far too high and still increasing. I have to wonder how much of that is just to continue paying for everyday necessities. Costs of living has already increased faster than wages in the last couple of years. At the same time if this excess credit use is cut back it would hurt the economy. So I like to see people buy, buy, buy.

It keeps the economy struggling along and I do not have to participate if I do not want to. We spend enough on generaly required things to contribute our share.

I did stop by a new car dealer though. I wanted a price. He told me no price until I am going to buy. This I told him was unreasonable, if the price was right I might buy a car right now.

Quoting me full list is not going to get any action from me or a return trip either. You either have a price I feel comforatable with at this time. If not we are done. We are not desperate for a car.