I hope you had a great Thanksgiving, eating lots of good food and spending time with friends and family.  Thanksgiving has always been about getting together with family and friends to enjoy good food and reflect on what we have to be thankful for.  At least, I thought that was what Thanksgiving was about. I think the days of thankfulness have passed, and Thanksgiving is all about something new.

SALES.  Record sales for Black Friday 2011. 

I was surprised to see the number of people who spent Thanksgiving camped outside of their favorite store, or actually shopping in one of the many stores that opened early on Thanksgiving, or at Midnight of Black Friday.

Would the Pilgrims would be shocked to see what their holiday has become? They themselves set the groundwork for this frenzy of shopping with the propagation of a democratic Capitalism.

Back to the point "“ Why shop Cyber Monday? 

1. I got to enjoy a sit-down, Thanksgiving dinner with my family.  And I was free to sleep off my Turkey hangover Friday morning, rather than getting pepper-sprayed at Walmart , or trampled at Target. 
2. I don't have to stand in line for hours. Even though some sites (like Amazon) put you on the waiting list for popular items, you can continue shopping while you wait.
3. Good deals. It might not be a $10 iPhone (Did anyone get a deal THAT good?), but most sites have 50-75% off items, with certain items even better priced. In addition, most sites offer additional incentives, like free shipping, Best Buy offers a $10 gift card, and other specials for buying online today.
4. It is much easier to find what you want and compare prices.  Have you ever bought that great priced Kindle for $70 for your mother, brother, sister, three friends, and five in-laws, only to find it for $55.99 at the next store? Online shopping makes it easier and faster to hunt for the product you want and compare to other store prices.
5. Virtual fights over merchandise are much less painful than physical fights.  It is sad but true that some people value a deal over their fellow human.  Why get trampled, pepper-sprayed, shoved, shot, or otherwise maimed and battered just to get something for $5 cheaper than it will be tomorrow? Fighting over an item online (ie tapping forcefully on the BUY button) is much less damaging to your health than fighting the crowds at the stores.

I realize for some people shopping Black Friday is a tradition, an adrenaline rush, and their daily workout all rolled into one.  But for me, I will make Cyber Monday my favorite "Ëœshopoliday'.  Happy Shopolidays, to you and yours.