Is Black Friday shopping worth it? There are obviously great deals to be had. But is it worth it? Do you spend more money than you should on things you don’t need? I think that’s part of the problem with Black Friday, buying deals you don’t need because it’s such a “great” deal. I’ve found myself getting into the mentality as well. It’s easy to fall into the trap. Thus you are “spending” money to “save” money.
The next question is it is worth it financially? People wait in line for door crasher deals overnight. From thursday night or early Friday morning to be first in line and grab the “special” deals. Is it worth it? What is your time and energy worth? What do you make an hour?
My DH asks me that now. Previously when we were both graduate students, the deals were too good to pass up, like an external hard drive, and we made $9/hr each. But now since we’re making more money, is a savings of $50 or $100 worth standing out in the cold?
I think yes and no. Yes it’s somewhat fun and can be exciting. But it’s probably not worth it financially, instead of working a little harder and earning a bit more money to just “afford” the purchase. And besides you really have to ask yourself, is it worth buying? Were you going to purchase the product anyway?
What do you think about Black Friday? Is it worth shopping?
10 responses so far ↓
1 Meg // Nov 28, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Nope. Not going. I do most of my non-grocery shopping online these days where I can take time to look up reviews, compare prices, etc. The only thing I have planned to do outside the house is go to the library.
Last night I told my mom-in-law how on my side of the family we’ve decided to not buy gifts and instead just get together on Christmas for a nice family dinner. She thought that was a great idea, so we’re including her, too.
I have a feeling we’ll get a few small Christmas gifts still, but I’ve made it known now to everyone close to us that we’re not planning to give gifts and we don’t expect them. I can’t tell you how relieved I feel! And everyone I’ve told also looked relieved — especially since my husband and I are hard to shop for.
2 Stacey // Nov 28, 2008 at 3:15 pm
I go with my mom every year – it’s more about the “Black Friday” tradition than about standing in line at 2 a.m. and spending lots of money. We usually start around 8 a.m., get lots of great deals, and avoid the crazy crowds.
We’re also trying to minimize, and set a limit on gifts for immediate family only – parents, brothers and sisters.
I spent $100 today: $50 for gifts, $50 for Lee jeans that my husband needed anyway. Everything was at least 50% off, and I’m done shopping for the year and under budget. Yes, I was going to buy everything anyway – and now I have it for half off.
Well worth my time.
Have a great holiday season!
3 Jenna // Nov 28, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Nope.
I’ve worked too many Black Fridays to ever willingly step into a store. No deal is THAT good, no discount THAT deep. People get nutty and mean – no need to set my nerves a jangling for that.
Granted, all the gifts I’m giving this year fall into either made or knowledge given (ie – books or lessons for something folks want to know about. In some cases I’m paying for a class, in others I’m teaching.) so there really isn’t anything I need from the big stores.
4 Beef Up Your Piggy // Nov 28, 2008 at 8:17 pm
LAL, I agree with this post. I think most people run out to the stores because they get caught up in the hype of it. It should be for getting good deals on things you planned to purchase anyway.
5 fengshui // Nov 28, 2008 at 9:00 pm
I don’t do the “black friday” shopping trip. I’m not a morning person, so going to the mall at 4 or 5 am is like getting up in the middle of the night for me…… No deal is worth it. I suppose if we REALLY needed something, like if the washing machine broke, and there was an advertisement for like a front loader for $399 or something outrageously cheap, I would consider it, but it would have to be the deal of the year to get me to some crazy stuffed mall in the middle of the night…..
6 Mike // Nov 29, 2008 at 10:41 am
I don’t think so and I’ll bet this guy really doesn’t think so…
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/ny-limart1129,0,7044659,print.story
7 Mary@SimplyForties // Nov 29, 2008 at 11:29 pm
Nope – never been, never going. My sister used to go because it was the one day of the year she could leave her kids behind and go shopping for the day. She always liked it but, other than ditching the kids, I could never understand the allure of the crowds and lines.
9 LAL // Nov 30, 2008 at 11:38 am
I did buy a few things, I’ll talk about it later.
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