Thanksgiving is right around the corner. When I think about Thanksgiving my stomach starts to growl. I love the turkey, the stuffing is my favorite, and my mom’s homemade mashed potatoes and gravy. Not to mention the corn pudding that I make every year. Just writing this I am anticipating the food and the time with my family. However – I work retail as my part-time job. What does that mean? I have a limited amount of time with my family on Thanksgiving. Why? Because the store I work at is opening at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving evening to start it’s Black Friday run. So I will have to be in at 5 p.m. to work.

I can’t complain about the schedule too much because we were asked to choose if we wanted to work on Thanksgiving. I chose to because it’s a small Thanksgiving for us this year. Just the three of us and we’ll eat at 2 p.m. and I’ll get out at 3 a.m. and have the rest of my Black Friday to do whatever I want.

Every year stores are opening earlier and earlier to accommodate the Black Friday (or maybe Black Thursday now?) crowd. I remember a couple years ago when the stores first began opening on Thanksgiving. The backlash that they received. But the thing is – people shopped. When something is successful they’ll continue to do it. So it’s no surprise that stores are opening earlier then ever – cutting into the Thanksgiving holiday.

Planning to do some shopping? What time are those stores you want to visit opening?

Toys R Us opens at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Best Buy, Walmart, and Macy’s open at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Office Depot, Target, Staples, Office Max, Sears, Kohls, and JCPenney open at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

What are your thoughts on Thanksgiving Day shopping?

As it gets closer we’ll take a look at the Black Friday opening times and some specials that will be big this year.