Do you "do" Black Friday?  Are you one of those people who will get up at the crack of dawn the morning after Thanksgiving (or these days, leave right after the pumpkin pie has been served) to shop for bargains at the mall or one of the big box stores?  Or are you like me, avoiding malls and shopping at all costs?

Believe it or not, I have NEVER gone shopping on Black Friday.  I'm sure I'm in the vast minority, since even my sister-in-law, who is religiously anti-materialistic and is therefore not a big shopper at all, has been known to partake in the Black Friday ritual if the bargain is right. I can even count on one hand the number of times I've been to a mall to shop for holiday gifts between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve.  Instead, I buy gifts throughout the year, hiding them away from prying eyes, or I shop mostly at small shops and boutiques that are unlikely to be crowded before holiday time.  I also do a lot of my holiday shopping online.  I have always hated crowds - I get very nervous and edgy when there are too many people around me.  Just seeing the crowds and lines on television the day after Thanksgiving is enough to give me palpitations, and solidifies my resolve to stay away.  There are very few things I can think of that could entice me to battle crowds and stand on long lines. 

So am I, indeed, in the minority when it comes to staying away from stores on Black Friday?   Do you get a rush out of bargain shopping the day after Thanksgiving? If so, what's the best Black Friday deal you ever found?