Five Reasons to Skip Black Friday Sales

This year has definitely been full of challenges and changes for many people. We’ve learned a lot of hard lessons about needs and wants. We’ve learned to be thankful all year for what we have instead of just thinking about gratitude during the holiday season. These lessons in gratitude and identifying needs have only reinforced my dislike of Black Friday. Here are some good reasons to skip Black Friday sales this year and one reason you may want to hunt down some deals.

 

Thankful vs Storming Stores

I’m sure I’m not the only one who thinks it’s a bit odd to spend a day being thankful for what we have and then storming the stores a few hours later fighting crowds to buy more stuff. Each year Black Friday starts earlier and earlier with some stores even kicking off their sales the evening of Thanksgiving. This takes people away from their families during an important holiday celebration just so stores can open a few hours earlier.

Related Post: Volunteering as a Family

 

The Illusive Doorbuster Deal

Most of the best Black Friday sales are Doorbuster deals. These are meant to get you in the door so you’ll spend more money than you intended. These deals often have very limited quantities. The chances of you actually snagging a Doorbuster deal is pretty slim. But now that you’re in the store, what other deals can you find? And while you’re there, why don’t you just pick up this, that, and the other thing? Stores offer these deep discounts on a few select items because they work well at enticing people to spend, spend, and spend some more.

 

Blowing the Budget

All of this leads to overspending. Even people who have a set budget and a good idea of what to get everyone on their Christmas list, can find themselves overspending during the excitement of Black Friday. Many people don’t actually set a budget. They use debt to get through Christmas and are left with hefty credit card bills after ringing in the New Year.

The allure of snagging great deals while buying awesome gifts for our families is strong during the holiday season and especially on Black Friday. People love to share their bragging rights from their Black Friday experiences, but how many share their overspending stories? It’s not something people are proud to share.

 

Big Companies Will Survive This Year

Small businesses have been hit especially hard this year. Far too many have closed permanently. Amazon, Walmart, Target, and other massive retail chains will survive. Small Business Saturday helps bring attention to the importance of supporting small mom and pop shops in our own communities. Please consider shopping at small stores this year to help prevent more from closing for good. When shopping online, step away from Amazon and search out smaller shops and even handmade producers. This is more important than any other year. This simple change can help a small business survive.

 

Holiday Planning for a Challenging Year

The holiday season can be difficult for some people – especially this year. Many people have lost family members to illness. Many have been out of work. Some haven’t even been able to return to their regular work yet. This is a great year to change things up and give the gift of memories rather than stuff.

When families fall on hard times, they often fret about talking to their kids or extended families about their difficulty keeping up with their usual holiday spending habits. This year, more than ever, people will understand and will appreciate having those conversations as they may be in the same position too. Here are some holiday ideas for a challenging year.

 

One Reason to Participate in Black Friday

The crowds on Black Friday have always been enough to keep me out of stores. This just does not sound like a fun way to spend my time no matter how tempting the sales. But believe me, I AM tempted by some of the sales. I was explaining this to a friend last year and she pointed out that many people need to shop Black Friday sales just for their basic needs. That really hit me.

We’re not talking about flat screen T.V.s, laptops, or smartphones. We’re talking about clothes and shoes for kids. This year more people may be relying on these types of Black Friday deals. Just don’t be tempted to put a new laptop on the credit card while you’re shopping for deals on essentials. Resist the impulse to blow your Christmas budget. Make a plan and stick to it.

 

Skip Black Friday

Start a new tradition this year by opting-out of the insanity of Black Friday. Say no to crazy crowds, the illusive doorbuster deals, and overspending. Say yes to supporting the small businesses in your community and sticking to your budget no matter what it looks like this year. Skip Black Friday with the massive retailers and say yes to supporting small businesses this year.