If you’re like me who got sucked into Black Friday shopping beginning late last Thursday night, you’ll understand why I refuse to set foot into another Black Friday event again. If you’re one of those people who like to constantly be pushed out of the way and somehow have all of the patience in the world to wait in lines full of hundreds of people, then you should stop reading. For the rest of you Collegiettes who would rather be in bed and hear about your friends’ chaotic Black Friday experience the next day, I’m here to reaffirm all of your thoughts and warn you why not to attend the yearly event again.
1. Say No To Crowds
Taking your time, examining the items, seeing the best deals you can get at your own pace… everything you CAN’T do while Black Friday shopping. With crowds of people lined up all around you starting in the inside of the stores and wrapping around to the outside of them, there’s no such thing as taking your time on Black Friday. Huge crowds of people rush from one store to the next to make sure they get the best items at the best price, making you obligated to become one of those people, sucking you into the black hole of Black Friday. There’s no playing nice. Therefore, I’d rather not play at all.
2. Sale Items = Last Season
If you didn’t know, now you know. Stores around the country host Black Friday sales to get rid of last season’s clothing/items, making room for the upcoming year’s new styles, trends, and products. We have a short two week period between Thanksgiving break and winter break, so why not wait until winter break to do some shopping? This is when stores begin to lay out their newest apparel after all of the Black Friday sale items have disappeared. Who wants last season’s clothes anyway?
[ pagebreak ]
3. Tired From Turkey
We’ve all heard the myth that eating turkey makes you tired. Black Friday shopping has been starting earlier and earlier as the years go by, but people have been staying out later and later. If you’re going to enjoy your Thanksgiving meal, aka putting yourself in a food coma, I hate to break it to you Collegiettes, but you’re not going to have the energy to go Black Friday shopping. Black Friday shopping takes everything out of you. Mix that with turkey, mashed potatoes, and every other Thanksgiving dish and you’ll have a recipe for disaster. If you’re tired before you even step into BCBG, you know you’re wasting your time. Take it from me who could barely keep her eyes open on the drive over to the mall. Who wants to shop when they’re exhausted? I’d rather be sleeping.
4. Spend More Than Needed
Every girl after Black Friday shopping: “Oh my god, I just spent way too much. No more shopping for me (until next week, of course).” All Black Friday does is make you spend more than you need and/or want to. Yes, there are great sales, but the amount of money you spend on the excessive amounts of items/clothing at sale price is the same amount you’re spending if the items were regular price, if not more. Once you start you can’t stop, so why not start at all. Wait until the madness ends and actually put some thought into what you need for yourself and your family/friends for the holidays. Nothing’s better than showing off one item you love rather than a few items you like.
5. Online: Sales and Sanity
You’re only home from school for a limited amount of time, so why not skip the Black Friday lines and instead do some online shopping while spending time with your family/friends? It’s the best of both worlds. Forget about the food coma you’re in, the hordes of people, the inability to take your time. Grab a cup of coffee, put on your warm, comfy socks, and plug in your computer charger while you scroll through all of your favorite store’s websites for great deals. Three days after Black Friday, Cyber Monday approaches and you can get even more online. All of this AND you can keep your sanity. What’s better?