Forget Thanksgiving—this year Black Friday starts on Halloween

For those looking to scare up some early holiday shopping bargains, this year Sears is adding a new trick to the traditional Halloween treats: Black Friday deals that kick off tomorrow, October 31st.

Sears says its "Black Friday Now" deals were created for customers asking for after-Thanksgiving-style deals earlier in the season. Special pricing, including "doorbuster specials," will be offered every Saturday until Christmas. The events run from at 7:00 a.m. to noon, with the exception of this Saturday, which is Halloween. Instead, doorbusters start on Friday October 30th at 5:00 p.m. and run until noon on Saturday. An example of an upcoming deal: a 42-inch 720p plasma TV from Zenith, priced at $500. The deal will be offered on November 7th, or as a pre-order on October 29th.

Sears says that it will include Black Friday Now offers as part of its layaway plan, available both in stores and online. Layaway allows you to purchase an item and pay it off in installments prior to pickup or shipping, and Sears will match competitors pricing on the same product.

Stay tuned to our blog for more Black Friday news—even when it kicks off as early as Halloween. —James K. Willcox