Many get a head start on holiday shopping season before Black Friday

PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. - Thousands of people in Palm Beach County and on the Treasure Coast woke up before the sun for Black Friday deals, and likely saved a lot of cash on those purchases.  From the Thanksgiving table straight to the mall - for many south Florida deal seekers this year, Black Friday began on Thursday night.

From Vero Beach Outlets in Indian River County before dawn to sunrise at Palm Beach County hot spots, including Best Buy and BrandsMart U.S.A., the crowds lined up to snatch up those doorbuster deals.  "We had lines around the block and it continues and the prices are just phenomenal," said Ken Schiffmiller, sales manager at BrandsMart in West Palm Beach.

Antionette and Laura Maniscalco opted to sleep in on this Black Friday.  "My Thanksgiving holiday with my family is the most important of all so we waited for this morning and just went out for the things we needed," said Laura.  But the pair still managed to score a huge deal at Sears Essentials on Forest Hill Boulevard in West Palm Beach. The mother and daughter saved about $600 on a brand new washing machine.  "It was good. It wasn't crazy in there. It was fine," she said.

More than $500 billion dollars are expected to be spent this holiday season with 152 million people expected to shell out those dollars between Black Friday and Sunday.