Black Friday is an annual source of entertainment and amusement to me. Every year, it seems like a number of alleged adults at different locations around the U.S. end up acting like 3 year olds when fighting over discounted merchandise upon the day after Thanksgiving. Yelling, pushing each other out of the way, and pulling things out of each other’s hands are all things that happen somewhere on Black Friday. Everybody is so anxious to spend their money that they just can’t contain themselves!
Why are people so anxious to spend so much money? Well, I think that there are quite a few people that use Black Friday as an excuse to go out and overspend. You know, kind of like a built-in excuse to go overboard, as in “hey, it’s the biggest sale of the year, what was I supposed to do?”
Personally, I do get the idea that life is to enjoy, and there’s nothing wrong in buying some things that make us happy. But doing it as some sort of “retail therapy”, so to speak, may not be the smartest thing. We all have a certain level of income, certain fixed expenses, and eventual needs such as retirement, health care, maybe even kids’ college costs. Those things come first, right?
Well anyway, there are still a number of people out there who are actually smart with money who still like to shop on Black Friday. The thinking is that you can truly get deals on that day, so one might as well buy things that you’ll need to get. Things like actual needs for yourself and family, which might include gifts for the upcoming holidays. With that line of thinking, if you’re truly not spending more than you might not otherwise spend, I can certainly see how it could be worth it.
Now for me, being someone who doesn’t view shopping as a contact sport, I have a different approach. In my view, it’s the easiest and most effective way to save money on Black Friday.
What is that?
Don’t go out for any shopping, don’t surf the web to buy online. Simply put: don’t buy anything at all.
Boring? Perhaps. While many others enjoying their shiny new purchases, marveling over the goodies in their overflowing shopping bags, I’ll be settling for using the same old stuff that I had the day before. Nothing new to enjoy. Same old, same old. But remember, the difference is that I’ll have spent nothing, and can take pride in being resourceful and not wasting. If you don’t spend, and if you cut expenses – that’s one day closer to financial freedom. We all have our own version of excitement 🙂
Truth be told, I’m absolutely not all about the money and do spend quite a bit on the things that I value and like. Family and those closest to me mean the world to me, so all told I’m a spender with those people. I also like spending on life experiences, traveling to see things, etc.
However, in terms of running out and buying some big TV, household goods, clothes, etc – it’s just not a priority. Maybe it is for a lot of folks, and that’s fine. But I’m totally fine with doing absolutely no shopping that day, and having a family day doing other things. I did that last year, it worked out well.
I have a friend who told me a few years ago how his wife had “made” him go out to the stores in the middle of the night (like 3:00 AM) to stand in line for sales. As in, stand in line outside, in the cold. Hey, suit yourself, buddy. I’ll be sound asleep, bank balance maintained! 🙂
My Questions for You:
Do you see things differently, with regard to Black Friday? What’s your take on this particular day, and how it fits in the American experience these days?
What are your plans for Black Friday? Alternatively, if you’re reading this after the day has passed, what did you buy?
Your tip is probably the smartest idea I’ve seen on saving money on black friday! A penny not spent is a penny saved.
I’m of the mind that if you truly are going to buy something anyway and it’s actually discounted – go wild. Hopefully it’s with the click of the mouse and not a shopping cart, but whatever works.
My plans involve this computer and this chair I’m sitting in!
That’s what we’re going to do. About the same as every other preceding years. I don’t like crowds much.
I don’t normally do any Black Friday shopping. We have been meaning to upgrade our old tube TV to a flat screen for a while though and we should save quite a bit of money by getting the new TV on Black Friday. If the crowd is too big though I’ll turn around and go home.
I am not shopping on Black Friday! My wife and daughter will scout the sales.
I am staying in and chilling. I have no desire to fight ridiculous crowds. It’s a lot of gluttony. If I need something I will go online. I think my fiancee is going tomorrow to a couple stores. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!
Nice article Squirrelers. Society is too caught up with new and shinny things. Awhile back I think there was more pride in having things that last longer, but now people are too focused on consuming, consuming, and more consuming (too focused on wants, not needs). I prefer to waste less and utilize more 🙂
Home. On the counch. Wrapped in an afgan. Sleeping!
I do not give into the crazy consumerism on Black Friday. Memories last a lifetime … material possessions do not.
I often go shopping on Black Friday, but rarely buy much of anything other than breakfast and an ornament. I just like to be out and about and enjoy the festive mood.
This year though, we did buy something substantial: a new dishwasher. Ours has been having issues for the past couple of years, and on Thanksgiving it refused to open. Once we were able to pry the door open, it did still work, but I think it’s on its last legs. So we went ahead and ordered a new one, which should be here in a week or so. We got 25% off, so that wasn’t horrific.
I got some practical stuff on Black Friday but have no desire to stand in line outside stores. I saw some footage of people going crazy in Walmart and I am SO glad to be far far away from all of that madness! -Sydney
Squirrelers- I’m with you. I don’t want to shop at all on Black Friday. I’m an adult and when I want something throughout the year, I buy it. I may try to find a good deal, but I don’t save up my wants for Christmas and ask others to give unto me….in fact, my family gets mad at me because I don’t want anyone to spend any money on me at Christmas (as I said, I already get whatever I want or need). I guess that makes me a big Scrooge! (or so my wife calls me).
Yes, the tips you offered are smart and informative. I like them very much.However, shopping doesn’t mean spending money. Sometimes,it does mean saving money. Because shopping in Black Friday isn’t avoidable and If we only purchase things that we need,we will spend too much while enjoying the pleasure of shopping. I like shopping,especially shopping online. I love to shopping and saving online with free online coupon codes & deals or cash-back. Saving money and to be frugal are important, shopping and saving is also pleasure.