SANTA MARIA, Calif. - People were pulled away from Thanksgiving dinner and their families by Black Friday deals. And some say this could negatively impact your family.
Joe Nemeth and his family were out and about Friday taking a stroll around Santa Maria. He didn't stay up late last night to get a new flat screen TV or make his way to the malls today to score some good deals.
"We're going to stay away from the stores today," says Nemeth. "It's too crazy."
Nemeth just said he was out to enjoy a nice sunny day, free of the Black Friday hustle and bustle.
"You'd be kind of crazy not to enjoy this nice day," says Nemeth.
Family therapist James Goodwin isn't so sure the benefits of saving some bucks on Black Friday deals is worth the time commitment and time away from the family on the holidays.
"When people start leaving early, it's a statement to the family that it's more important to shop than spend time with family," says Goodwin.
While you can save a lot of money getting good deals on Black Friday, the pressure of getting those deals for some people can have some negative effects.
"They're anxious, they might be feeling a little guilty," says Goodwin. "But more importantly they become competitive. The nervous system changes, it changes your physiology. You might be pumped full of adrenaline and you become aggressive."
For one Black Friday shopper, Carolyn Degraffenreed, the time away from family was well spent.
"It's worth it because I spent a whole lot less money than I would've spent," says Degraffenreed. "I probably wouldn't have bought some of the things I did actually. And I got everything I wanted."
