I've never been big on shopping. In my mind, shopping inevitably ends with unnecessary spending and a sad, used up bank account. Black Friday has always been the one exception for me. Like most of the country, I've always thought that the sales are impossible to ignore.

True, Black Friday does fall on a terrible day. Just hours after sitting around a table piled high with food and counting our blessings, we are engaging in a mad frenzy to get to the best deals. Even worse, Black Friday has morphed into Black Thursday/Friday.

However, Black Friday is a perfect time to go out and get all the dreaded Christmas shopping done and out of the way. I always justify buying more if I'm paying less. In addition, I'm fairly good at saying no to the things I wouldn't consider buying at full price.

It is true that many people become too competitive over sales. In my experience, however, most people are fairly reasonable and not too pushy. (One of the many benefits of living in Iowa, perhaps.)

This year, I decided to stand in a long line at a mall for a mystery bag giveaway. The mall was giving away 300 bags that were valued between $5 and $500. My boyfriend pointed out that someone has to be the first to not get a bag, and that was one of the saddest truths of Black Friday; there are only so many items for each deal, and waiting in line for something you may or may not get might cause you to miss a different deal.

Although none of us received anything greater than a $10 gift card, at least we were a part of the 300 who got a bag. As the people piled into line behind us, we began guessing how long it would take for them to run out. We easily made it through the line along with at least 50 people behind us.

This year, I got several things I didn't expect to get while discovering a new love for Younkers. I got a new coat and a pair of boots I've been lusting after for about a year. My boyfriend picked out suitcases for 75% off. They weren't on our list of priorities, but we have an upcoming trip in December, and we know we'll get our money's worth out of them.

I don't like that Black Friday now interrupts the Thanksgiving atmosphere, but the deals and savings are undeniable. The important thing is only buying the things you would be willing to pay full price for on a normal day. Even more important is making sure to take the time to appreciate family, friends, and everything we already have.