Women at work and their tips, challenges, advice, complaints, and experiences

It's almost "Turkey Day", and the retailers are already drooling.  Not over turkey and all the fixin's, but over the potential money appearing in their tills this Friday.  Known to many here in the USA as Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving is a cause for full-blown retail hullabaloo that can go so far as to incite riots. 

It's not enough that millions are on the road, on the tracks, and in the airports this week trying to get here and there for their celebrations of thankfulness - though amazingly so far it's been smoother sailing than expected.  The Thanksgiving weekend is a time for folks to start (perhaps complete?) their holiday shopping in one maniacal attempt to make it to the right store by the right time to catch the best of deals.  Loss leaders and lines abound, and some families even make their holiday plans around the event that is Black Friday.

As for Cyber Monday - it's the line-avoider's dream day.  Those of us who refuse to hit the stores this crazy weekend will be scoping out the bargains online - and those who didn't get to every store on their list usually hit the 'Net on Monday to make the rest of their purchases.  Online retailers have found Monday is their "hit" day, no pun intended. 

Personally I've never been one to brave the malls or stores on Black Friday, though this year it was tempting as a certain store near our home sent out a coupon for $20 off a purchase of $100 or more.  My husband has a card there, and my thinking was that if we shopped right, we could do all of our Christmas shopping in one fell swoop, choosing items that would cover all of our gift-giving bases and bump us to the $100 mark.  We'd be done and over with and could have everything wrapped and ready to by the end of the weekend.

I changed my mind.  It's just not worth it - not the stress of shopping with two children in a store on Black Friday - not the interest we'd pay on the items - not the crowds, the noise, the smells, the hysteria and hype - we'll just stay home, thanks.  We'll wait 'til payday and pay no interest and we'll avoid the insanity.

Australian fitness guru Susan Powter used to say, "Stop the Insanity!" all the time?  She must have been in an American mall the day after Thanksgiving....