Pick Now, Pay Later

The busiest shopping day of the year is upon us! The day after Thanksgiving, known as "Black Friday," kicks off the holiday shopping season with major sales, deals, and steals. This year, stores are opening earlier than ever, with retailers like Best Buy unlocking their doors at midnight to get a jump on holiday transactions. Kohls, Macy's, Sears, and Target are also expected to open at 12 a.m. on Friday.

With holiday sales expected to rise this season to about $450 billion, according to the National Retail Federation, shoppers can count on discounts at stores open morning, noon, and night leading up to Christmas. In addition to extended hours to suit consumers' schedules, retailers are once again offering layaway to allow shoppers to reserve their purchases and make payments leading up to December 25. Here are just some of the holiday offers you can expect to see to make this year's shopping spree a little easier on your wallet:

• Best Buy introduced layaway this holiday season, whether your purchase is for business, home, or school.
  
• Wal-Mart, the nation's largest retailer, has brought back layaway for the first time in five years, and is available for items purchased in the toys, electronics, and fine jewelry departments.
  
• Sears will offer free holiday shipping when customers spend at least $99 on its website.
  
• Kmart will offer free holiday shipping when customers spend at least $49 on its website.
  
• Toys "R" Us is offering loyalty program members 10 percent back on purchases from October 30 to Christmas Eve.

Are you planning to take advantage of the return of layaway, as well as this season's best sales? Tell me how you plan to attack holiday spending this year while staying on budget, and happy shopping!

Get Shopping!

Today is Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year! Retailers are hoping for a better year than 2009 when the economy was in a deep recession. To help move sales along this year, stores are going above and beyond, offering deeper discounts, opening earlier today, extending holiday hours, and presenting online deals, which started earlier this week.

Leading up to Thanksgiving, Target, Toys "R" Us, and Wal-Mart all announced sales in their stores. From clothes and toys to electronics, CDs and DVDs, these businesses offered bargains to get a jump on holiday sales.

For the past 19 years, Kmart has been open on Thanksgiving Day. This year was no different, and Sears joined in yesterday as well, opening their doors from 7 a.m. to noon.

Those not seeking what they wish for in stores today still have more chances in the coming weeks to find holiday sales. Cyber Monday will have people flocking to their computers to take advantage of exclusive online deals and free shipping.

Time will tell if retailers' plans will get consumers shopping. Last month, a Gallup poll estimated that Americans' plan to spend an average of $715 on gifts this year, down from the $740 recorded in October 2009.

I'm off to shop, but please, drop me a line and tell me what your plans are to get the best holiday deals this season!

Retail Therapy

Okay, ladies. Admit it. Sometimes, after a bad day or just a week of working and not having time to go out, you need a mini weekend shopping spree. New clothes, new shoes, new accessories; you have to have them and you feel better when the cashier hands you that overstuffed bag. Luckily, I've had the opportunity to live in and visit different parts of the country and have found three retail paradises that can't be beat!

Most recently, I visited the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, near the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. With 2,779,242 square feet of shopping space and 523 stores, this is the largest shopping Mecca in the country. The mall has your typical anchor stores like Macy's, Bloomingdale's and Sears, but also has unique specialty stores like For Love 21, the accessories-only boutique from Forever 21. Unlike other malls, though, the Mall of America has some features you'd never to expect to find in a shopping center.

Take for example, Nickelodeon Universe. Roller coasters, water rides, and a carousel are just a few of the thrills you can take in during your MOA experience. The mall also offers a movie theater, a miniature golf course, an aquarium, and even a wedding chapel!

The next mall I'd recommend is a tad more mainstream – Tysons Corner Center in McLean, Virginia. This mall, just outside of Washington, D.C, is also a biggie at 2,200,000 square feet. The mall proudly claims 300 stores ranging from A|X Armani Exchange to Zumiez in addition to eateries and a movie theater.

The final mall on my list is Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance, California. Just miles from downtown Los Angeles, Del Amo ranks as one of the largest malls in the nation at 2,100,000 square feet. With 300-plus stores, the mall has everything you can imagine both inside and out to take advantage of L.A.'s year-round mild climate. It is also home to one of my favorite restaurants of all time - Pat & Oscar's!

There is still one mall, though, that I yearn to visit. King of Prussia Mall near Philadelphia is the second largest mall in the United States. Its 2,793,200 square feet of retail space is truly a shopping paradise. Anchor stores like Lord & Taylor, Neiman Marcus, and Nordstrom are just three of King of Prussia's more than 400 shops. And with no tax on clothes in the state of Pennsylvania, what's not to like?

So bring on the sales! Where do you like to shop? Leave a message and share your favorite shopping experience.