Now that Mariah Carey has been thawed out to croon “All I want for Christmas” this holiday season, Dec. 25 is just around the corner and the clock is ticking to buy gifts. The biggest shopping day of the season is the day after Thanksgiving, also known as Black Friday, where retailers can get their books “out of the red” and consumers can score deals on discounted items.
Does the idea of stampeding over fellow shoppers to get your mittens on a steeply discounted big screen TV take the jolly out of your holly? Does the prospect of standing in line at 4 a.m. to buy this year’s “it” gaming console make your days anything but merry and bright? Does the whole notion of “consumerism” suck the yule out of your cheer? Are you one of the sleepy-eyed associates forced to forgo a silent night while stocking the shelves and cleaning up the aftermath? (If so, we salute you, the unsung heroes of the holiday season!)

Your reporter falls into this category, and opts to shop local, small businesses to deck their halls. Want to support local businesses this year instead of “big box” retailers? Here is a list of local, small businesses you can visit Black Friday or any day to show those on your “nice-ish list” you care.
Many of these folks offer gift cards too, and purchasing from a local business or restaurant adds a personal touch:
Leftbank Coffee House in Covington is offering Shop Small Saturday specials.
If you feel as if you still haven’t found the perfect gift – fret not, weary shopper: Milton Berele once said, ”It’s always consoling to know that today’s Christmas gifts are tomorrow’s garage sales.”