As a rule I avoid it. I don’t do the “Buy Nothing Day” boycott because I don’t need an excuse to stay home and avoid crazy crowds but I tend to hole up and not go out until Saturday.

This year I had two strikes against me.  First, I remembered I needed to get the bulletins copied at Officemax for Saturday’s service. Second, I had to take a check to the bank that day.  So I found myself in Officemax with . . . . NO ONE ELSE.  Seriously, I missed the rush and it was pretty empty.  I’d been needing to get a new printer for the congregational office and John, who I’d been talking to about printers, was there. I asked if the one I was looking at was on sale and he showed me the one he thought would be even better–for over $100 OFF!  I bought a $300 printer for $173.  What a deal!

And I got an 8mb USB stick for $19.99–$52 dollars off.

All with NO CROWD!

And I was able to get the check deposited

I also went and invested in some New Balance shoes–my brother and sil recommended I get some because of my knees and back and I am able to wear these shoes all day and walk around without being in pain by evening. I bought walking shoes and a pair of nicer shoes that I am able to wear on Shabbat or other dressier occasions.  The guy working there said he’d never seen them on sale but they were for this weekend.

Throw in  that my laptop battey was dying and I  happened upon a Batteries Plus store that had the battery and a power cord and lunch with my mom and it was a very productive day.