Black Friday – that day of super discount sales and long lines to match fill my mind with dread.  Don’t get me wrong, I like the idea of a great deal as much as anyone but huge crowds of people, the endless driving around and around in circles looking for a parking space, followed by stores packed with so many people it seems they suck the very oxygen out of the air.

Once you find what you came to find, if you were lucky enough that they were still available, it’s off to the check out lines. A seemingly endless line that stretches in and around the isles is not my idea of a good time. It’s enough to drive a sane person crazy.

Me, I’d prefer something a bit calmer and definitely more personal. There is an alternative and it’s called Small Business Saturday. Officially a program of American Express the idea has taken off around the country. The idea is to shop at your locally, independently-owned small businesses on Saturday during the holiday weekend.