The week of Thanksgiving consists of your email getting bombarded with promises of heavy discounts from Black Friday (or earlier) to Cyber Monday (or later). You see an email from one of your favorite retailers with the subject line, “Open this for our Black Friday deals!” You open the message and are disappointed to see that the sale is only 15% off. Why?
Consumerism has caused us to expect deep discounts every year around Thanksgiving. Black Friday is nothing but an American gimmick for you to buy in excess; there’s absolutely no reason for us to feel entitled to a sale every year. In some countries in Europe, sales are regulated by the government and occur only twice a year–in winter and summer. Companies cannot randomly have sales because they feel like it. Could you imagine only shopping sales twice a year?
I’m not saying you should avoid Black Friday at all costs, but instead of impulsively shopping that “great deal” you found, think about buying only what you need. I was considering looking at sales and shopping around but I’m extremely intentional with what I buy. I hate having a lot of clutter and having a lot of options stresses me out. My closet tends to fill up when I make less calculated purchases.
I’m only purchasing two items during the Black Friday/Cyber Monday season, and they’re things I realized I needed a few weeks ago. I didn’t need them immediately so I decided to wait. It would be hypocritical of me for me to tell you guys that you shouldn’t shop at all since I’m buying something, but if you’re going to shop at all, seriously think about if you actually need what you’re buying; try not to over consume. Be mindful, make calculated purchases, and always be intentional.
Oh, and always prioritize shopping with small businesses.