Gobble Gobble

Make no mistake about it, it is that time of year once again. 2013 is so close you can almost smell it, the weather is starting to get chillier both day and night, and those Thanksgiving dinner plans are driving you and everyone you know insane.

But lets be real here... the big day isn't Thursday anymore. We can't wait until Friday... Black Friday. We can't wait for Black Friday so much that this year, they'll be starting it on Thursday! And what better way to celebrate thanks than to leave dinner early (or not go at all) so you can stand in line at your favorite electronics superstore only to be about 100th in line because people have been camping out since last week? For real.

Major retailers rejoice during this time of year because it's a way to blow off inventory by placing hard to sell products next to those crazy deals you see. Last year I saw full priced ($200) ottomans next to $5.00 childrens backpacks. The backpacks were gone, so people started ransacking the ottomans, because... you know... everyone NEEDS a $200 ottoman. It's not just about the deals anymore, it's about the feeling.

Wal-Mart had racks of video games - some of which were really cut down in price. On the same rack, other games were full priced. As the ribbons were cut at midnight, the entire mass of games were gone in seconds while people punched, clawed and kicked their way to the shelves. I had fun telling people that the gem of a game they got has been out for years and you can get it cheaper on ebay.

This year, as you're making your Thanksgiving plans and solidifying your Black Friday agenda, remember one thing. Shop Smart. Don't just buy everything because they say SALE. Check out the prices online - Amazon.com has a great app on both the iPhone and Android where you can quickly see how much that same product is online. 

Shopping smarter will save you time, money, and these days... bruises. 

Gobble Gobble. It's no longer about the Turkey... it's about your those prizes!