The countdown to Black Friday has started, and retailers are opening their doors even earlier than last year. Many people are planning to skip a relaxing Thanksgiving to line up for those enticing deals. But I won’t be among them.
Sure, Black Friday has tons of discounts, but is it really worth the time and effort? Why spend an hour and a half waiting in line just to save $10 on something? You’d be better off working a minimum wage job for that time. Plus, many of these deals aren’t that special and can be found at other times of the year or online.
Speaking of online shopping, this is where most people should look for deals. Most of the great offers from retailers are also available online. You can snag these deals while relaxing at home in your pajamas, without the stress of crowded stores and long lines. Not every deal is available online, though, and sometimes you might wish your internet speed was faster to grab that hot item.
Besides being seven months pregnant and cherishing my sleep, another reason I’m skipping Black Friday is that I’ve already finished most of my Christmas shopping. While some people take pride in doing all their shopping on Black Friday, I’ve been buying gifts throughout the year without the stress.
For the younger kids in my family, I bought their clothes right after Christmas last year. They’re always growing, so estimating their next size is easy. I got the toys during Target’s toy clearance in August. For the adults, I usually go for discounted gift cards from places like Costco or Sam’s Club, or even Vons, which often has good deals. I can give these as they are, or wait for a store deal that adds more value to the gift card.
For example, you can get $100 worth of Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf gift cards for $79.99. You can split these into smaller amounts and give them to four people at less than $20 each, or use them to buy coffee and mugs from their website with coupons. Even though some may think gift cards and coffee are boring gifts, they’re practical and likely to be appreciated. On the other hand, buying random Black Friday deals could end up with you giving unwanted gifts.
You might call me the Black Friday grinch, but I suggest enjoying a peaceful Thanksgiving with your loved ones and getting a good night’s sleep instead of chasing sales.
So, what about you? Are you planning to shop on Black Friday this year, and when will you start lining up?