Black Friday Blues

by Candace Chang

candace chang / KA LAMAKUA

With stores offering some of the best deals of the year and long lines wrapping around aisles and aisles of grumpy customers, it is perhaps the best of times and the worst of times to be out there shopping.

But poor college students like me just can’t resist retail prices like this, no matter what the risk.

Many students, like Jan Takamatsu, will be shopping around for Christmas gifts for their friends and families.

“(I'm going to) Best Buy or any place that has electronics," said Takamatsu when asked about her Black Friday plans. "Possibly at Toys R Us too, for presents my niece might like.”

While Toys R Us may be a big hit with those shopping for kids, the majority of shoppers, to please the kid inside them, will be heading to Best Buy to stock up on the most affordable techno toys available. Large flat screen TVs, video game consoles, and the new Xbox 360 “Kinect” seem to be popular items that will dazzle and entertain the child in you.

Other students, like Mark Yee, are going a more practical route. Yee is looking for “shirts, shorts, and jackets. Probably from the NEX, Pac Sun, Sears, and Old Navy.”

Thrifty students like Yee are making lists of the essential things that they need and pinpointing the stores with the best deals to make their purchases now, while prices are down. When heading out on Black Friday, it is always a good idea to look through the ads and make lists of what you want ahead of time and from where; this will help you save both time and money as you avoid long lines and unnecessary purchases.

Whether you are shopping to indulge or spending smart money to save, remember to be safe and courteous as you make your way through the bunches of bargain hunters. Unconfirmed rumors of an ambulance at Wal-Mart have spread a sobering note through the shopping frenzy, reminding customers to be careful not to get too caught up before the situation turns critical.