Black Friday Countdown in Hazelwood

It’s the Super Bowl of shopping, the Oscars for retailers. It’s a time when below-the-radar soccer moms and soft-spoken grandpas take to the shopping cart raceways, weaving in and out of the throngs in search of the Holy Grail, that larger-than-life bargain.

There’s a game plan, an emergency plan, and lots of coffee. It’s Black Friday!

Black Friday hype increases every year, and this year, retailers are upping their game by opening earlier than ever. While Black Friday has traditionally begun the day after Thanksgiving, Wal-Mart was the first to announce they would be opening at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving to accommodate those shoppers looking for both great deals and a social experience. Now Target and Kmart have followed suit, opening Black Friday sales earlier than they ever have before.

Black Friday deals are heavy with technology favorites including flat-screen HD televisions, Blu-Ray players, game consoles, cameras and cell phones. Toys are also at the top of the list with many of this season’s hottest items such as Monster High, Barbie, Nerf and Air Hogs at low, low prices.

In fact, there are items for everyone on your shopping list, with a variety of products marked down. Many retailers also offer special incentives like free gift cards with qualifying purchases.

Take a look at what the major retailers are offering, then make your list and check it twice.

• Target opens at 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving for Black Friday deals.
• Kmart is featuring its Triple Doorbuster deals, starting Thursday morning. Official Black Friday shopping starts at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving.
• Walmart opens at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving.
• Best Buy’s  Black Friday deals start at midnight Friday.
• Walgreens is open Thanksgiving.
• You can find more Black Friday deals at TheBlackFriday.com

If you are a bargain shopper always wanting to hit the best possible deal, check out PC Magazine’sarticle about six things not to buy before Black Friday.

Now, let the games begin!

What’s your craziest experience during Black Friday? Why do you look forward to Black Friday? Do you have any Black Friday traditions? Share with us in the comment section below.