By Jericka Duncan

DEPTFORD, N.J. (CBS) - All across the country, die-hard shoppers have been camping out in order to be first in line for Black Friday.

JamieLyn Pendelton of Woodbury, New Jersey says she plans to spend about $2,500 at the Best Buy in Deptford. Her neighbors a couple tents down say the shopping craze isn’t so much about the money, it’s about the moments.

“It’s a tradition for my family,” said Mandi Hawkins of Barrington, New Jersey.

For others, Thanksgiving Day shopping equals the savings.

“I have coupons for 50 percent off,” said one shopper who we spotted at Big-Kmart in Deptford.

We found hundreds of people walking around Christmas Village in Center City, looking for specialty items, that they may not find in the big-box stores.

Retailers are projecting an increase in holiday sales this year. Shoppers are convinced the deals are worth the wait and better than years’ past.