Poll: Are You a Black Friday Shopper?

It’s a new tradition in my life. For the third year in a row, I’ll set the alarm for 2 or 3 a.m., roll out of bed and into the car, and head to a long line at a local store hoping to score the best deals possible on Christmas gifts and needed items.

I’m talking, of course, about Black Friday, the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season in which retailers are known to turn a profit, getting out of the red and into the black. Sales are everywhere the day after Thanksgiving, and there are deals to be had on almost everything.

My shopping buddy and I typically plan our strategy on Thanksgiving Day. We scour the Internet and local ads for the best sales. We figure out which stores are opening first and create a timeline based on how long we think it will take to get in and out of each store.

We’re usually done shopping by 11 a.m. and have the rest of the day to head to work, take a well-deserved nap or sit in the middle of our stockpile soaking in the bargain high. OK, we’ve never actually done that last one.

Do you participate in the Black Friday madness? Answer our poll question below to see how you compare to your neighbors. And hey, if you know of a good local deal, share it!