I have never shopped during this time....I shop all year long and usually finished by October. Except for some gift cards for my grand nephews.

Avoid like the plague. I may do a little online.

Avoid like the plague. May shop a little at craft fairs and local businesses, but no malls or big box stores Friday or Saturday for me!

Avoid it. Do most shopping online and am usually done by end of October.

The materialism that drives our culture is heartbreaking and soul killing. This weekend is a time when it comes into clear and stark focus.

Typically I avoid all the shopping hype. I don't like to feel manipulated by retailers to buy stuff when they want me to buy it. Having said that, one year I was persuaded by family members to go shopping (at Discover Mills I think) in the late afternoon and evening of Black Friday and it was actually a pleasant experience. By then the crowds had completely cleared out but the deals were still there.

If only our country took voting this seriously.

How did our system of Civilization devolve into nothing more than an insane feeding frenzy?
Our collective resources have much greater uses than to be focused on a rush to buy advertiser driven crap and 'celebrate' an amalgam of mythology.

Shopping + Thanksgiving = Over commercialization. We don't shop on holidays. There is nothing we need so badly that we would spoil this very special day to get.

Yes. How contorted is it that we, by our materialist desire, are lead around by the nose by merchandising corporations to spend and spend for a pagan holiday in the name of the baby Jesus. Aren't we evolved.

i hate that the majority of the goods here are made in china. and in these tough times to see folks go more in debt or even stress about getting that next gadget for their kid drives me crazy. how about saying NO? i prefer to buy local as much as i can, or donate to a good cause in the name of my loved one. i already old my extended family the cap was $10 this year. most don't want anything. but i'm giving fudge made by zara may and sold at main street market in lilburn for $2.50 a block as just token gifts. i don't need anything else in my house [especially made in china]and hubby and i are buying a garbage disposal and insulation for the attic as our gifts this year.

Shameless self promotion:
Buy handmade! Support your local artist (me - and hundreds of other talented Atlanta area artists)! Shop Small Business Saturday!
Cyber Monday? Why just Monday? Shop online all the time. Visit Etsy and ArtFire for handmade items. Buy American, Buy Atlantan!

@amy parker. it was not shameless self promotion on my part. i have nothing to do with the product except i like it and the only thing i' involved in with the market is that i'm trying to suppport the local market that carries a great product and others like it. they are a small business carryng locally made products and locally grown produce. and the product i mentioned is made with organic ingredients, many also locally produced.
i'm all about supporting my local businesses and that is all there is to my post. i get no kickbacks except that a great local place can stay in business and that is my main goal. the patch forum is a great place to list our favorite local shops.. why spend it at wally world, keep it local...

I don't do much shopping. As far as retail employees being upset that they need to work on a holiday, that's a condition of the job. In this day and age when so many people are unemployed, I would be grateful to have a job.

Thanks KimW. Here's a superidea for a great tasting gift that is made right here in Atlanta, and supports a great cause as well. Zara May's Handcrafted Fudge supports many High School Bands, Greyhound Rescues, and Horse Rescues by donating 25% of our sales to their causes. You can help by visiting this link
http://www.zaramay.com/chooseacause/ , choosing a cause, and ordering a gift of fudgy goodness.