As Thanksgiving nears, chatter about what people seek to buy on Black Friday picks up. The idea behind Black Friday has stayed the same throughout the years, although now there are more things to look for and be aware of than in the past. Here are a few tips when making your list of what you need to grab this holiday season and whether or not you want to grab it on Black Friday.
Start looking now
Something sneaky that has happened over the last 20 years is people will gradually increase their prices and then slash those prices on Black Friday to make it “look like” they are on sale when it’s the same price that it was in October. If you are thinking about getting a certain kind of TV or video game system, check out the current prices so when you see those ads that have fantastic graphic design, you can look at the price and know if it is a good deal or if it’s just good at getting your attention.
Small Business Saturday
Although most people think of Black Friday and only plan for the big stores. Take the time to look at the small businesses in your community. Many family-owned businesses have sales on Black Friday and the day after, so start asking around! If you are on or near a base, odds are many Military spouse-owned businesses will be doing sales on handmade or unique goods.
Look at AAFES
If you live overseas, you might miss the bulk buying at 4 a.m., but AAFES, on base, often has pretty good sales on Black Friday for you to scope out. Grab one of their magazines by the front to see what they plan to offer so you know if you want to take advantage.
Buy Local
Prices are rising across the board, and the money you spend to purchase gifts also puts money in other people’s pockets for them to save or put towards gifts for those in their lives. Buying local on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, or even Cyber Monday can lead to somebody celebrating that they can get groceries or hit their income goals for the month. When you buy local, or even handmade, the gifts you can get are touching, and we’ll mean a lot not just to the person you are buying them for but also to the person you are buying them from.
Whether you wake up at 3:00 a.m. for Black Friday, head out around 10:00 when it’s less busy, or decide to purchase online, know that times have changed, and you don’t have to only be in line at 4:00 a.m. to get a great deal anymore. Black Friday has turned into four days of sales, so take your time to explore what is around you, look at prices, and decide what you want to purchase and from whom so you don’t feel the time crunch or pressure the day of.
Written by Aj Smit
Aj Smit is the author of the book Red Thread: Weaving an Embodied Life of Joy, speaker, glitter enthusiast, and professional weaver of Joy. She is a military spouse in S. Korea with a pup and houseplants galore. Aj has led various Red Tents, retreats, and workshops internationally over the last ten years to help others discover how to weave creativity and curiosity into their lives. You can find her on Facebook and Instagram at @TheJoyWeaver and TheJoyWeaver.com