Thanksgiving has come and gone, and that means the holiday shopping season is now in full gear. Most stores like to have some major sales on the following Friday, and this year was no different. Stores opened as early as midnight in some places, and others had deals so hot there were people camped outside the store at all hours of the night waiting to get their hands on whatever it was they were looking for.
But these sales come at a cost. Waking up extremely early, fighting with hundreds or thousands of other people looking for the same items, the long lines when checking out, and the stress that comes with it. Is it worth it? For many people, it is. And there really are some really good deals to be had. But, the problem is that the excitement of these sales, even though the deals may be legitimately good, can cause people to buy things just because it’s a good deal, and not because it’s really needed.
For me, you couldn’t pay me to head out to the stores on Black Friday. I don’t like the crowds on a regular weekend, so I think my head would explode if I had to deal with people on the busiest day of the year. My wife likes it though, and she did head out with her relatives and picked up some good deals. Of course, it wasn’t a crazy shopping trip to find the best deals possible, but we had a list of some gifts to buy, and she only picked up stuff we would have had to buy anyway. I’m more of an online shopper myself. There are plenty of deals out there, and if you can find free shipping, it makes leaving the house almost unnecessary.
So, what about you? Do you like shopping on Black Friday? If so, where did you go, and what deals did you find? Or, do you hate shopping like I do and avoid the stores at all costs? And if you’re an online shopper, since today is Cyber Monday, do you have any deals you’re looking to score today?
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Author: Jeremy Vohwinkle
My name is Jeremy Vohwinkle, and I’ve spent a number of years working in the finance industry providing financial advice to regular investors and those participating in employer-sponsored retirement plans.
