Melody Hobson, a financial advisor on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” said we are facing the biggest economic crisis since 1980 and that “Black Friday” will be the big indicator of how well retail stores will fare during the holidays.

Black Friday is referred to as the busiest shopping day of the year and takes place the day after Thanksgiving. Many retailers decorate for the Christmas season, open very early and offer doorbuster deals.

However, if the day had to depend on me, there wouldn’t be such a day. I will tell you why.

I hate to shop for anything. Pulling my clothes off and putting them back on to try on a new outfit is very tiresome and time consuming. When I get that urge to buy something new, it is because I need it or really want it.

But the very last thing I want to do is get up early in the morning, stand in line for hours, and be pushed and shoved while trying to get into a store to buy an item before someone else gets it. I’d rather pay the normal price at a much calmer and safer time, because there are some real nuts out there willing to do anything to anybody in order to get that special sale item.

I am, though, in high anticipation of the day to see if people are going to cut back, which may indicate that people have lost their jobs or that they are fearful that in the future they may lose their jobs.

The good news, Hobson said, is that if you are out of work and are seeking any kind of job, there are a few businesses offering seasonal jobs. They include Radio Shack, WalMart, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Fed Ex, UPS, H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt Tax Service.

She said the tax services are already training people to prepare them for the 2009 tax service period, and Fed Ex and UPS need more people to handle the numerous packages that are mailed during the holidays.

More good news comes from Melody’s Gas Math Report. She said that gas prices are down over 50 percent since July and that the average price for a gallon of gas is about $2.02, which is down from $4.11 since July. The typical consumer would spend about $2,600 a year in gas at more than $4 a gallon. Right now that number is closer to $1,200, which is more than $1,300 in savings.

That is a big relief if you patronize “Black Friday” with that money and can come out of it without suffering any bodily injury.