IT’S BLACK FRIDAY!

You know, in case you somehow missed that. Maybe you got up before dawn today to score a Hatchimal. Or maybe you’re just getting up now at 10 a.m. to eat piping-hot French toast with cranberry compote (and, if that’s the case, high-five to you, Mr. or Ms. Doing It Right.)

Either way, we’re declaring shopping for others over for today.

It’s time to move on to our favorite topic: You.

And, sort of, us.

And, of course, hunting for a bargain. 

We scoured the Black Friday fliers with two criteria: 1) It had to make an awesome gift-to-self, and 2) It had to be something you could score while the sun was up, at a reasonable hour.

So grab your wallet, car keys and a nonfat Starbucks peppermint hot chocolate. That thing you’ve always wanted is waiting.

* Socks, Dollar General, buy one, get two free (reg. $1 to $6 each)

This sale is only on select socks for the family (look for the gray star or dot on the tag) but the ad shows some very fuzzy, very cozy looking socks. And three for the price of one! Put your feet up and feel good about it.

* Samsung 48-inch class LED TV, KMart, $299.99 (reg. $449.99)

We remember when a decent flat screen TV cost $10,000 and could only be had in specialty electronics stores. Not anymore! And most definitely not anymore on Black Friday! (Or Saturday, since this sale runs into the weekend.) For about $300, you can watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” on a big screen 1080p HDTV. Or “Miracle on 34th Street.” Or “Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas.” You buy the TV, you choose the holiday show. That’s worth at least $500 right there.

* Skyline five-piece luggage set, Target, $49.99 (reg. $99.99)

Includes 25-inch and 28-inch bags with spinner wheels, a 21-inch carry-on bag, a boarding bag and toiletry kit. Anyone who’s looked at luggage lately knows it’s hard to find one bag for $50, let alone five. Huzzah! Perfect for that tropical island trip you’ve been planning for the New Year. Or will be planning. You know, now that we’ve mentioned it.

* DVDs, assorted, Wal-Mart, $1.96-$7.96 (no official savings listed but most titles look like they retail between $15-$20)

Haven’t seen the dark action comedy “Deadpool” yet? For $3.96, you’ve got no excuse. Maybe watch one of the “Harry Potter” movies after (at the same price) for a lower-body count to cleanse your viewing palate.

* Ellen Tracy 1,000-count thread sheets, BJ’s Wholesale $29.99-$39.99 (reg. $69.99-$79.99)

First, we applaud BJ’s definition of a Black Friday window: Nov. 18 to Nov. 28. And 1,000-counters? Oh, la la. Bag Lady and Mr. Bag Lady have long been at loggerheads over the implied awesomeness of thread counts. He believes high counts are bogus; BL firmly believes he’s wrong. Discussions like that keep a marriage going.

* 7-Zone Memory Foam Topper, any size, JC Penney, $27.99 (reg. $80 to $140)

Save money and sleep soundly. If that’s not the best kind of holiday weekend, we don’t know what is.

* SO Women’s Block-Heel Riding Boots, Kohl’s, $19.99 (reg. $79.99)

With the slightest heel and a little “Mad Max”-buckle action, these look pretty fabulous. And at 75 percent off, sign us up for warrioring.

* Just Home bed-in-a-bag, Big Lots, $24.99 (regularly $29.99)

Grab a comforter, decorative pillow, sheets and shams in one swoop to brighten up the guest room but only if it benefits YOU. For instance, maybe you’re tired of looking at the current cobbled-together bedding. Or maybe you want to entice the cat and dogs to take up in another bed, thereby giving you more room to snooze. Either works.

Think twice: About skipping the smaller stores

If you can’t show your love to your local Mom-and-Pop stores on Black Friday, check them out the next day, during Small Business Saturday. They’re here, they’re near and they need shoppers, too.

Bag Lady and Shopping Siren’s true identities are protected by a pair of stylish, sweater-wearing Doberman pinschers (who will not get up before 10 a.m. for anything less than bacon) and the Customer Service counter at the Sun Journal. You can reach them at baglady@sunjournal.com and shoppingsiren@sunjournal.com.

Related Stories