3 Reasons Black Friday ruins holidays and why I still go.
Obviously, it would be unacceptable for your ‘keep it simple’ girl not to write an article about Black Friday, so here it is. And it might not be what you expect.
With Thanksgiving just a day away I found that there are two camps of people. The “I can’t wait for all the deals” crew and the “Thanksgiving is for family” team.
As someone who has shared her heart on less being more and simplifying, well…everything, it might come as a surprise that I kinda dig Black Friday. There is something to be said about the savings you can get and the fun that can be a part of the trips. But, and this is very important, but if this part of Thanksgiving is a tradition that leaves you feeling or doing any of these things, it might be time to rethink it.
It makes you anxious
If the idea of heading to the store on Thanksgiving Eve or the post-meal morning leaves you feeling less than excited, it’s okay! If battling crowds, traffic, and long lines make your heart race and your palms sweat, then you might be a bit anxious in all that chaos. If settling into a warm cup of coffee, more dessert with the family or a cozy bed sounds better than high-five to that. There is ALWAYS another deal to be had.
You overspend out of excitement
When you walk through the doors of Target on a Black Friday, it’s hard to know just where to head first. Sale signs everywhere, doorbuster deals, limited offers! It can make your head swoon and leaving you saying over and over, “that’s such a great deal.”
Here’s an apparently well-kept secret. If you didn’t plan to purchase it and you don’t really need it, it’s not a great deal. Because zero cost will forever be better than a low price. So while a 100 pack of Sharpies is a great deal when you get them for 14.99, chances are you’ll end up with a massive bin full of half-used markers by next year. I wouldn’t know this personally. Okay… maybe I do.
You can combat over-excited spending by merely having a plan. What items did you know you want to purchase, and is there a deal worth the excitement? Just ‘browsing’ on a Black Friday will ultimately lead you to overspend.
Before I started on this journey, I recall a year when I went with my mom and sister to Target. I didn’t really need anything. I hadn’t planned and decided to go along for fun to see ‘what they had.’ But the time we left, I had spent over $400 in ‘gotta have’ deals, and except for one item, I can’t tell you now what I had purchased. Embarking on an intentionally simplified life and home keeps me from buying for the sake of a deal.
You put deals over quality time
Thanksgiving is a time to gather with family and consider the things in life that we have to be thankful for. Yet, fantastic marketing teams all over the world have created a frenzy on this very evening to reset our thoughts not to what we already have, but what we don’t have. Kind of ironic, huh?
If our focus switches from family to stuff that takes you away from people who love you, the point of the holiday is lost.
Our family is pretty hit and miss when it comes to Black Friday and Thanksgiving. After spending time together eating a delicious and grand meal, a few of us like to scan the ads and talk about what stuff is going to be where at what price. From there, usually, my mom, sister, and I will wrap up in the kitchen. After dessert and coffee are done, and almost everyone has settled into something or packed up to leave, we will venture out to our local area.
For me, this is an extension of family time and a tradition I enjoy with my mom and sister but never one that supersedes the day itself.
So ask yourself, is black Friday shopping an extension of my tradition or is it stepping on the toes of a more important one.
At the end of the day, I will choose simple and calm mover hectic and hurried. I will prioritize people over stuff and conversation over clearance items. Still, I don’t believe we can’t enjoy both traditions. But, only if we stay mindful about the time we are spending with family, our emotions behind the shopping and chaos and our financial ability to pay for all those deals.
Happy Thanksgiving from Your Reclaimed Life!
