A mother-daughter tradition
Courtney Tompkins with her mom, Jeanne, in Urbandale, Iowa.
Courtney Tompkins
I'm 28, and Black Friday shopping with my mom has been a Thanksgiving tradition for 15-plus years. We sit down with all the ads after Thanksgiving lunch and map out our attack.
We scope out which deals we can get online and then organize brick-and-mortar deals by stores' opening time, which deals we want at each store, and map out our route around town. We usually stay up all night, start shopping at midnight and go until Friday afternoon.
Secret strategy: We put one of my younger sisters in the checkout line as soon as we arrive at the store and then split up, grab items from our list and meet up with my sister ready to check out.
Pay it forward: We also try to grab blankets or kids' clothes that local shelters can use.
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Last updated November 23 2010: 1:01 PM ET
