The average American will spend nearly $1,500 this holiday season. And Black Friday (the busiest shopping day of the year) is the official beginning of the spending.
In fact, over 130 million shoppers will go shopping on that day. But the entire premise of Black Friday is based on the foundation of selling us things we don’t need.
If you don’t need an item on Thursday… why would you need it on Friday?
Or… what makes Black Friday any different than last Friday? If you didn’t need an item in your life last week, why would it be suddenly needed this week?
And yet many of us will succumb to the cultural expectation of shopping on Black Friday spending over $1,000 this weekend unnecessarily buying things we don’t need, adding to the collection of unneeded items already cluttering up our closets, drawers, basements, and garages.
Look around your home, you already have everything you need. If you really did need something, you already went to the store and bought it—well before a special Friday randomly placed after a holiday in November.
Your family already has everything it needs.
The things we buy on Black Friday are, almost by definition, things we don’t need. Only in America do we wait in line and push past others to buy items one day after giving thanks for everything we already have.
All those Black Friday ads you keep seeing—they are only there to convince you to buy something you don’t need.
And that’s exactly how they do it. Every advertisement, at its core, seeks to convince you that you will be happier if you buy whatever they’re selling. They stir up discontent and work to convince us that our lives will be happier, more convenient, more luxurious, or more impressive if we buy what they are selling.
The goal of advertising is to change our minds about what we need. As a result, what seemed entirely unnecessary last year has become this year’s must-have product.
But if it wasn’t needed last year, it isn’t needed this year.
How do we save our hard-earned money during Black Friday? We turn off the noise.
We turn off the messaging that is directly designed to convince us to buy things we don’t need.
This holiday season, rather than entertaining all the offers that will arrive in your email inbox, unsubscribe from as many retailer emails as you possibly can.
And see how much you save—not just financially, but in your humanity.
At the bottom of every email you receive this week announcing the biggest and best Black Friday sales, you will find a small sentence (usually in the fine print) that says, “To unsubscribe, click here.”
Go ahead, click unsubscribe. And turn off the noise.
At first, the project will seem unwinnable. But trust me, it is a battle you can win—and will be happier when you do.
At first, you might be clicking dozens and dozens of “unsubscribe” buttons every day. But slowly, the number of advertisements you receive in your inbox will get less and less. You may click 50 emails the first day… 40 emails the second day… 30 emails the third day… but you will be surprised how quickly they begin to subside.
When they do, you will discover a new level of peace and contentment in your life. You will discover a new approach to the holiday season.
Rather than being constantly bombarded with pictures of all the things you don’t have, you will be reminded of all the blessings you do have.
Thanksgiving will no longer become a day to map out your shopping path for Black Friday. Thanksgiving will become a day to give thanks for your blessings. Besides, if you are not content today, there is nothing you can buy this weekend to change that.
As you unsubscribe from the constant barrage of emails telling you that you don’t have enough, you will feel less manipulated. You will feel more like a human and less like a consumer.
And you’ll save $1,500 in the process.
Stephen Szilagyi says
Thank you for a reminder to give thanks for our many blessings. added comment: I am not able to open many of the articles included in the daily posts.
Christ'l says
“Only in America”? Oh no! Even in Belgium, Europe, people do embrace Black Friday and the opportunity to “shop until they drop”.
America gave us Haloween, Black Friday, Santa (we only had the Christ Child ans Sinterklaas december 6.), … and the traders are very happy with more opportunities to sell.
joshua becker says
Yes, thanks for the clarification.
minimalist hopeful says
Only in America do we wait in line and push past others to buy items one day after giving thanks for everything we already have.
Debbie says
I worked retail in a department store for 2 years. We opened at 5:00 pm on Thanksgiving ???. It was like a zoo as soon as the people came through the door. Most were nice, and some were horrible, screaming at the cashiers that the price was wrong, sometimes we had to bring the actual sign. Then they threw the stuff at us and left. Or said we changed the sign on the way back to the register. Most bought it anyway, but by the end of Black Friday we looked at each and said “ a lot of this will be returned after Christmas because the person didn’t like it, or need it. All that cursing for nothing..
Jennifer P. says
Brilliant and true — take it from a former advertising executive for 22 years. Advertising employees aren’t evil however. They are trying to solve problems for clients in ways that keep their pay checks coming, their mortgages paid, their families fed. They’re neither nefarious or brainwashes; if anything, they also fall for the “keeping ahead of the Joneses” way of life.
Grandma says
Good words about buying unnecessary things, but as others have said if it’s something you’ve put off buying that you need it’s good to wait for this sale day. I’m waiting for an ebook reader to go on sale so I can buy them for my grandchildren. This holiday season the gift theme is experiences not stuff. Unsubscribe it the best recommendation, it clears your head.
Suzanne krizanek says
Very good read ! My husband and I will retire in 2 years and we are are trying to leave with less so we can enjoy retirement with enough money and less clutter.
Kelly Dyment says
unsubscribe it is! Funny as I’ve kept a few, but really I know where to go when I need stuff again, so why be bombarded every few days?!
Liz A. says
I enjoy the article quite a bit. However, Black Friday isn’t only for self indulgence. I plan during the year what to give people for Christmas and look for it discounted. I’ve needed to replace my sheets for months, but I know Kohls will have them deeply discounted. Thank you again for your articles.
Linda says
I too just did the same thing because Kohl’s has their Black Friday sale right now as of after Midnight last night.
I have waited to get needed sheets, a sherpa throw, and a couple of new bras which are each drastically reduced and actually affordable with this sale this year.
I have unsubscribed from nearly every advertisement I used to get and it is really wonderful not getting all of that “stuff” in my e-mail any longer!
I understand though that many people shop without filling a real need but more of a want. I only actually shopped once in my life on a Black Friday about 15 years ago with my Sister at 4:00 AM in the morning to get 2 things we each wanted but could not afford otherwise. We did get our 2 items and then left the store as quickly as possible! And have never done it since! It was an experience though!
I appreciate everything I am learning on this site and I am sharing what I can with family and friends. It’s awesome!!!
Essdeen says
Living in Australia, the Black Friday sales are a relatively new thing. But as with other US traditions, such as Halloween, (which originated with the first born being taken to be a sacrifice) a substantial amount of the population embraces it, without knowing and understanding its true and horrible beginnings. It would be lovely if Thanksgiving was embraced, which is certainly worthy of adopting.
R says
I do believe Black Friday can be a way to save some money. Especially if you shop online and not in shops. I’ve had a list with things I want / need, for months. Because I know I can wait a couple of weeks to buy some of these things and I know these items will be on sale this week. BUT I do believe it is key no to give in to impulse buying.