Black Friday

Attention Verizon Wireless customers - you'll want to act fast on this one. And no, it's not a social media hoax!

With Thanksgiving only a week and change away and Black Friday right on its heels, the holiday shopping season is ramping up. But some major chains are pushing back against recent trends.

If I'm being honest, I don't love going out shopping this time of year. Every part of the experience is pretty unpleasant, in my opinion. So I do most of my holiday shopping online.

"Cyber Monday" has become one of the biggest shopping days of the year. The great part about it is the fact that you don't have to wake up ridiculously early just to wait out in the cold and push through crowded stores. The main problem though, is that most of the best deals are going on during the work day.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Ocean County Mall for Black Friday shopping with Shawn & Sue .... An annual Holiday Tradition      

As Black Friday shopping has become more and more of a competition, some stores are expanding their hours into Thanksgiving Day itself. If some New Jersey lawmakers have their way, the Garden State will limit Thanksgiving Day shopping.

With Black Friday sale flyers already in people's mailboxes, and eager shoppers starting to plan their strategies, the day itself can seem more like a horror movie these days. And that's exactly what the folks over at comedy site "Nacho Punch" put together - Black Friday: The Horror Movie. Check it out. What truth is said in jest, right? Watch:

Take a look at that picture above - that right there is one of my biggest pet peeves that can be experienced when out shopping. I call it "the Shopping Cart Catastrophe".

I love gift cards. Really, I think they're great. Don't get me wrong, I think that thoughtful gifts are fantastic too, but I have nothing against gift cards as a gift option.

Why? Why do some people turn into mindless lunatics on Black Friday? As much as places try to keep crowds controlled, it never fails that some sales devolve into near-riots. Here are some videos of 2013 Black Friday chaos: