Why You Shouldn’t Go Shopping On Black Friday

There are a bunch of Black Friday ads out already along with articles all over the place that share the tactics and strategies for efficient bargain hunting. This post won’t teach you how to make the most of this shopping holiday but it will advocate the utter disregard of its existence.

I do not want to be a sucker for Black Friday and I’ve also made it a day that I will not spend a penny on shopping.

Here are my reasons that you shouldn’t go shopping on Black Friday:

1. You worked too hard for your money.
   The National Retail Federation states that the average American consumer will spend $683 on gifts during the holiday season. How many work hours is that equivalent to? With the recent interest hikes on credit cards, carrying a balance during this time of the year is not a good idea.
2. You don’t have camping gear.
   If you don’t own a tent, just give up now because your hopes and dreams of a 50-inch HDTV for $200 have been shattered. You will never beat the truly dedicated shoppers who have set up their campsite 2 feet from the doors of your local Best Buy.
3. You can’t use the restroom for HOURS.
   Great, you are among the first five people on line but there are still 2 more hours before the store opens. And, you’ve been chugging espresso shots in addition to the large coffee you are holding to keep you awake. Need to go to the restroom? Too bad you cannot. The fifty people behind you are secretly hoping you drink more because they can’t wait to move up on the line as you sprint to a restroom with a leaking bladder.
4. You might die.
   Last year, an employee was trampled to death as the doors to Walmart opened at 5 a.m. well, you don’t predict that you’ll be run over by a mob of bargain-hungry shoppers, right? But, so did this employee – therefore, you shouldn’t trust your psychic powers.
5. You are broke.
   Open your wallet and take a good look. You almost maxed out all your credit cards. Your balance on your checking account is low. There are two $1 bills and a coupon to McDonalds. If you can’t afford it, stay home. Keep that money to reduce your debt.
6. You are licking the bottom of the barrel.
   Many of the items on sale on Black Friday are leftovers – stuff people didn’t want. Even at super-low prices, you may find that these items are worthless to you. But, why do you still feel like going to that store? Well, that’s the whole point of the large discounts. This is a classic foot-in-the-door marketing technique to get you to buy things you didn’t expect to buy but you did so any way.
7. You know Black Friday is a marketing sham.
   Black Friday is all about the hype and the “tradition”. Who really wants to stand on a long line in freezing temperatures while running on 4 hours of sleep and a Red Bull? With hundreds of people around you taking something home with them, you’ll want to grab something yourself as well so you don’t feel left out – even if you have to pay full price for it.

If you feel that these reasons do not convince you to stay home and you insist on shopping on Black Friday, please remind yourself to be safe and stay money-wise.

(Photo credit: dalangalma)

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