Why I’m Not a Fan of Black Friday

November 27, 2015

I have to admit that I’m not actually a fan of this day. I think it encourages blatant consumerism and I’ve talked to too many people who overspend on Black Friday and have credit card bills for the rest of the year. It’s easy to go overboard and spend more than your budget would allow since the sale prices, commercials, and constant chatter about shopping are impossible to escape.

When I was a kid, my mother owned a Hallmark store. What that meant was that after Thanksgiving dinner, the family would often take a quick trip to the shop to make sure that everything was ready for the onslaught of people who would be lined up waiting for the store to open. I was fortunate enough to see adults engage in fistfights over a limited edition Hallmark Christmas ornament…more than once!

So what are your Black Friday plans? If you happen to be one of the people brave enough to venture out into the vast retail shopping wilderness today, be responsible, stick to your budget, and be alert for people flying down the aisle ready to tackle you for the item you’re about to put in your cart. However, I think I’m going to take my kids to a movie and avoid any and all retail stores today!