Photo Credit: denipet
If there’s something I hate worse than debt when it comes to money, it’s a frenzied shopping spree instigated by the companies to give you a false sense of savings.
That’s right I said it. I HATE Black Friday and all that it stands for! I can think of 100,000 better uses of my time as well as my money than camping out in tents the night before the doors open, and then participating in the human version of Running of the Bulls.
People need an excuse to spend money and the stores have given them Black Friday!
Online shopping ROCKS – I love buying stuff from the comfort of my own home! LOVE IT!! Not only can I avoid the crowds, but I have the ability to do more research before I click the buy it now button. Online shopping still has it’s downsides so be careful. Only buy from trusted online stores and sites.
Black Friday deals start before Black Friday – Many supposed deep discounts start way before Black Friday. I say supposed because it’s real easy and common for a store to mark up in-demand items so they can “slash” prices leaving the consumer to believe they have won.
The great deals that lure shoppers to the stores are purposely in low supply – Almost every year you hear about how fast the “deal of a lifetime” has sold out. Sadly, if you want to get some of these huge deals, you have to be crazy, or dare I say stupid enough, to camp overnight in front of the store in question.
The economy sucks – Store sales are slumping this year so there’s every reason to believe that you will be able to get the discounts you want now through Christmas. Wait out the storm and see for yourself why stores will continue to do everything they can to get you in their store this Christmas!
Shoppers rage – We’ve all heard of road rage but have you paid any attention at all to the madness and violence that happens in the name of getting a good deal from shoppers in the past? Nothing worse than getting mauled by an angry consumer!
Crowd volume is immense – Need I say more? Herds and herds of drooling consumers standing and walking shoulder to shoulder in crowded aisles with that crazy look in their eyes that says “touch the last one and you’re dead”. Ummm yeah…I’ll pass!
Stores are starting Black Friday on Thanksgiving Day – “Hi family, hi friends…I am thankful for everything I have! I know the feast just started, but now I must go shopping to buy myself some deals.” The International Council of Shopping Centers conducted a survey that says “74% of purchases will be on non-holiday items for shoppers themselves, rather than gift items.” There’s that excuse I mentioned above.
The likelihood of impulse spending is much greater -You see a “deal” that is too good to pass up, and even though you don’t need it or have already finished your shopping list, psychologically, the urge to buy it in order to get the savings is too much. So you convince yourself that passing on the deal is stupid, and you buy it!
Black Friday encourages debt – Say it isn’t so! The excuse used when spending on Black Friday gives people the extra incentive to spend money they don’t really have all in the name of getting a deal they couldn’t otherwise get. Don’t be a FOOL! Have a Debt Free Christmas and avoid paying interest on your Christmas list well into the new year even if you are brave enough to face the raging crowds.
Safety and security – Whether you want to admit it or not, there are people out there waiting for unsuspecting shoppers to make a mistake. They know you have money, credit cards, and if you have bags, they know you have expensive gifts. Unless your mail carrier is a psycho (could happen) ordering online is much safer.
BONUS REASON: You’re a man – Sorry ladies but you know it’s true! Men don’t do shopping like women do shopping. When men go shopping, usually there’s a point and purpose to their trip. They know what they are buying, where they are buying it, and the exact route they will take to get there. Most men, unless the marketing plan of stores has hypnotized them, hate crowds. I know I sure do! Even before we became financially responsible I did everything I could to avoid giving in to this shopping frenzy!
There you have it folks! My top ten reasons for staying away from the stores on Black Friday.
Do what you will but hopefully this post will cause you to be more aware of the forces behind this massive marketing strategy. I’m going to save money by staying at home, and in my opinion that’s the best deal of them all!
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
You have my vote on all of these. Personally, I much prefer waiting until the Monday and Tuesday after Black Friday to do my shopping. The crowds are gone and the shelves have been restocked, and it’s smooth sailing where ever I want to go.
Definitely a good choice Kevin!
We have done some of our Christmas shopping already, but fully intend on doing the rest in December. We don\’t go hog wild on Christmas though so it\’s not a crisis if we don\’t get the same deal that someone who camped out got. LOL
In most cases I agree about Black Friday. It can be a pretty harmful day to your bottom line and it can encourage overspending – even if it is on reduced priced items. Most years, i avoid it like the plague.
On the other hand, I have to admit that the one time I went shopping on Black Friday, I actually had a lot of fun. And yes, I’m a guy! 🙂 I think it just had something to do with the fact that it was such a festive atmosphere, people were having a good time, the store was handing out hot cocoa and cookies, etc. Plus, I was shopping for a specific item that I was buying anyway – and got it for over 1/2 off.
So – yes, I think it can be bad – or it can be good if you plan ahead, set a budget and only buy what you planned on buying.
Yeah I admit, I have trampled a few people in my day. Just joking. 😀
I have definitely been a part of this and even received a good deal from time to time, but for me the crowd alone makes staying home worth it. I think the key for people is to shop on their terms and not some slick marketing campaign. That’s where it gets dangerous for most people.
Most people use credit and buy on impulse instead of having a careful plan and spending cash. Unfortunate but true. 🙂
I knew you would be in control my friend! You are having “Baby’s First Christmas”! Congratulations dude, and have a terrific Thanksgiving tomorrow. 😀
Brad, this is a great post. You’ve listed many good reasons to stay put, and I’m sure we can all think up a few more. Here’s the biggest reason for me – more gifts, larger gifts, and more costly gifts never equate to more love. My second biggest reason is simply that I don’t see any reason to start doing something that I’ve never found a good reason to do in the first place.
Also, I realize some partake in shopping as a type of sport, but for me, I don’t think it should be a contact sport with potential for injuries and death. If I wanted that, I’d simply ride through the snow on my motorcycle – seated backwards.
I’ve been accused of being an Ebenezer Scrooge, and that’s okay with me, but aren’t we completely ignoring that this is all supposed to be about a mass for Christ? What do credit cards, debt and loot under the tree have to do with celebrating the birth of someone else?
What a goofy consumer-oriented game. I’d rather play Monopoly.
I agree man! Christmas has been turned into something that waters down the purpose in the first place. I\’m in no way against people buying gifts for their loved ones, I just think it needs to be done with intelligence rather than false hope of being loved more or doing so without considering the financial implications. Be SMART! 🙂
I would pay to see you riding through the snow on your motorcycle backwards. LOL Have a Happy Thanksgiving my friend!
I love online shopping as well, and have no plans for Black Friday. Good post 🙂
Thanks Yana, and Happy Thanksgiving! 🙂
What could possibly bring out the worst in Americans more than “Black Friday,” which uses a phrase describing the stock market crash and the misery and suffering that caused near the turn of the last century as a cutesy come-on to hustle materialistic dim wits who follow the bovine herds over to the local mall. Every year since this parasite of a holiday-season bummer began, I think of George Romero’s old zombie film, “Dawn of the Dead,” where hordes of brain-dead zombies descend on shopping malls because it’s what they used to do when they were alive. Now the zombies show up because corporate America and it’s multi trillion dollar ad machine has found another way to brainwash them. Once at the mall, in true holiday spirit, they will push, shove, beat up, and in a few well-publicized cases even kill to accumulate more stuff at a supposed sale price. It does, to be honest, sum up what Christmas has become in the United States of Advertising. Merry … something or other.