Haunt Jaunting Online for Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals

On Tuesday I posed this question on HJ’s Facebook page:

Here’s what I want to know: who thinks (a) shopping on Black Friday is one of the most exhilarating days of the year and already has their game plan in place and alarm set, or (b) thinks shopping on Black Friday is too freaking scary and avoids the malls at all costs?

I got such a kick out of reading some of the responses. I was shocked by how many commented that they view Black Friday like I do: to be avoided at all costs. And how many also prefer shopping online or via catalogs. (My favorite method!)

One lady even explained how she has all her shopping done already! (I’ve heard of people who are on the ball like that. I’ve always wanted to be one of them, but that’s going to take more advanced organizational skills than I’ve so far cultivated!)

Luckily retailers have gotten smart about marketing to those of us who view Black Friday as a pretty scary day.  A few years back they started Cyber Monday to include those of us who prefer shopping online. That was their way of making it possible for us to snag Black Friday deals without having to brave the crowds to get them.

But this year I’ve noticed a shift. Maybe because the economy’s been so bad they’re desperate to stimulate spending any way they can. At any rate, I’ve seen a lot of online shops offering Black Friday deals all week long. Some will even run past Cyber Monday until November 30.

I’m always on the lookout for deals whether it’s Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or otherwise. Here’s some I found that may also interest you.

1. Amazon

They’ve had some great deals all week. And today they’re offering even more. Here’s a few of the ones that caught my eye.

Like this Nikon Coolpix S1000pj 12.1MP Digital Camera with Built-in Projector and 5x Wide-Angle Optical Vibration Reduction (VR) Zoom. It’s not exactly a unique gift, but look at the price. It normally sells for $349.95 but today it’s marked down over 50% and you can buy it for  $149. (A savings of $200!)

Or what about these 10k White Gold Black Diamond stud earrings? I didn’t know there was a such a thing as black diamonds. I think they look pretty neat. (Appeals to my Goth sensibilities.) They normally sell for $99 (on up, they also have 14k options) but today you can get them starting at $49.99.

For the little haunt jaunters on your list (or the ones who are still kids at heart, like myself) tToday you can buy them the Wii Haunted House game for $13.49.

2. HalloweenExpress.com

You might be thinking, “Shop a Halloween store at Christmas? Have you already been imbibing in too much eggnog, Courtney?”

It’s not as crazy as it sounds. Here’s why you might shop a Halloween store at Christmas:

1. They’re offering 10% off sitewide and free shipping on orders of $75 or more from Black Friday until after Cyber Monday. (Lasts until November 30.) Use code BFCMSAVE10.
2. You can buy costumes (secular and religious) you might need for school plays or family pictures.
3. If you just want to get into the holiday spirit and jazz up your wardrobe to match your mood. (They’ve got all sorts of accessories to do it, from santa and elf hats to elf shoes.)
4. You are throwing a New Year’s Eve party and party supplies.
5. You want to be ready for next year and stock up for Halloween now.

Here’s some examples of things you can buy:

Tom Arma Elf (The Gingerbread Baby one is pretty cute too. They’d make great getups for cute holiday photos.)

Candy Cane Adult Knee Socks (These are so cute I’d wear them all the time under jeans even!)

Santa Bartender Adult Costume (I’ll take a double shot of eggnog please!)

Santa Sack

Dog Reindeer Antlers

Champagne Party Hats

3. Tom Smith Christmas Crackers

Ever since I discovered Christmas crackers a few years back, it’s just not Christmas without them. This store is offering 10% off sitewide plus free shipping on orders of $99 or more.

I’m not sure I will spend $99, but the 10% off is nice. (Although, if I give some as gifts, which sometimes I do, I guess it might be easy to get to $99…)

Also, they have all kinds to choose from, like:

Fun Kids Christmas Crackers (Only $8.99!)

Christmas Kraft Cube Christmas Crackers

Opulent Deluxe Christmas Crackers (These could even work as New Year’s Eve crackers!)

3. BlackFriday.com and CyberMonday.com

But if you are super serious about your Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping and deals then the above two sites are for you. Both bring the sales to you online from hundreds of retailers.

Happy Shopping!