It has always been my goal to get all of my holiday shopping finished before Thanksgiving. (Any deal I find after that will be for me.)

Apparently, I am not the only person who has this idea. One of my co-workers told me that Wal-Mart is getting a jump on Black Friday by starting its sale tomorrow. That's a full 20 days before Black Friday. I know the economy's bad and the retail sector is suffering. At this rate, stores will be giving away merchandise by the time Black Friday rolls around.

One of the malls near me is actually opening at midnight on Black Friday. I'm debated whether or not I need to go straight from Thanksgiving dinner to the mall, so I can claim a parking spot.

Nah. By then, all my holiday shopping will be done.