Black Friday used to really kick off the holiday shopping season. In recent years, though, that high-intensity sales period has spread, with some retailers offering deals from the beginning of November on. Perhaps more importantly for people seeking big bargains, many chains now kick off their biggest sales on Thanksgiving Day itself. That has taken some of the shine off Black Friday, while also creating a conundrum for shoppers. Should you leave the holiday meal and gathering of family and friends to hit the stores? If you choose to, you may be rewarded with some good discounts (and at least you'll get some shopping out of the way). Thanksgiving and Black Friday may not be the best days to buy everything on your list, but most stores will be offering some pretty major deals. These are the major retailers open on Thanksgiving. However, remember that some states ban large retailers from doing business on the holiday, and there will be some shopping plazas where open hours will vary. It always makes sense to check for any changes or exceptions where you live before heading out to shop. Retailer Thanksgiving Hours Bass Pro Shops 8 a.m. to 6 p.m Best Buy 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Big Lots 7 a.m. to midnight Cabela's 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dick's Sporting Goods 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Dollar General 7 a.m. to 10 p.m Five Below 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fred's Pharmacy 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. J.C. Penney Opens 2 p.m. (will not close) Kohl's Opens 5 p.m. (will not close) Kmart Opens 6 a.m., closing at midnight or 2 a.m., depending upon location Macy's 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Michaels 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. (opens at 5 p.m. for Rewards club members) Sears 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. Target 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. Toys R Us Opens 5 p.m. (will not close) ULTA 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Wal-Mart Opens 6 p.m. (will not close) Data source: BestBlackFriday.com. Not every store is open on Thanksgiving. Image source: Getty Images. Holding the line on the holiday Just because a lot of retailers have decided to open does not mean every chain has jumped on the bandwagon. Some, like REI, have made being closed for the holiday a specific theme of their marketing; others have decided that they are willing to forego the extra sales so their employees can have a day off. This list doesn't include every retailer that's closed on Thanksgiving, but it does cover most of the major chains. A.C. Moore At Home BJ's Wholesale Club Burlington Cabela's Costco Crate and Barrel DSW-Designer Shoe Warehouse Ethan Allen Guitar Center H&M Harbor Freight Hobby Lobby Home Depot HomeGoods Homesense IKEA JOANN Fabric and Craft Stores Jos. A. Bank Lowe's Marshalls Neiman Marcus Office Depot and OfficeMax Party City Petco PetSmart Pier 1 Imports Sam's Club Staples The Container Store TJ Maxx Be careful Whenever you choose to hit the stores, remember to have a plan: Set a budget, stick to that budget, and only buy things you need or planned to buy. Remember that if an item costs $100 and it's 50% off, buying it still counts as spending $50. Yes, you saved money off of the list price, but your bank balance still went down. While many people -- parents especially -- feel pressure to break the bank in order to create a memorable holiday season, short-term pleasure is not worth long-term pain. Don't buy things you can't afford, even if that means having to disappoint people. It's always better the make the responsible decision that protects your long-term financial well-being than it is to get swept up on the moment. 10 stocks we like better than Wal-MartWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, the Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.* David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the ten best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Wal-Mart wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys. Click here to learn about these picks! *Stock Advisor returns as of November 6, 2017 The author(s) may have a position in any stocks mentioned. Daniel B. Kline has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of The Container Store Group and has the following options: short January 2018 $170 calls on Home Depot and long January 2020 $110 calls on Home Depot. The Motley Fool recommends Five Below, Home Depot, Lowe's, The Michaels Companies, The TJX Companies, and Ulta Beauty. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.