Reply #35: No, I never do. I did it one year when my sister and I were in college.

[glowing]

She had come down to have Thanksgiving with me when we were in college (I had an apt, she had a dorm room). We figured, let's go shopping for everyone on our lists and get it over with because she had to go back to her school and finish some work on Sat. So, out we went.. we decided our mom was very nice not to ever drag us out on the busiest shopping day for some kind of crazy ritual and for the hottest "deal". Really, we did it to do it together and split paying for items for our relatives... but we vowed never again. AND neither of us have ever gone out on Black Friday again.

Its a slim pickings Christmas anyway. We are all broke and watching our pennies. We will be getting small items and things people really need... nothing big ticket at all. The only one who's allowed to be spoiled is my step-son. He's 4 and all the grandma's go ga-ga over him.. especially my mother, since he's the only grandchild they have at the moment.