Black Friday and Cyber Monday Shopping Tips

Sales Sales Sales!
Black Friday is the name given to the day after Thanksgiving. It begins the unofficial season for Christmas shopping. Retailers have long cottoned onto this and have huge discounts and bargains to entice shoppers to buy more. The Monday after Black Friday now being touted as Cyber Monday. A term thought up by marketers to encourage people to shop online for exceptional deals. The phenomenon has come to Europe too in recent years. We don’t generally celebrate Thanksgiving but have copied the bargain shopping part! 

I know what you’re thinking, that I’m going to ask you to boycott Black Friday altogether…

Well no.

But I will share a few tips with you to make sure you don’t end up with loads of crap you don’t want or need.

Overconsumption is harmful for the environment, it takes a lot of energy to produce all the things that we enjoy buying. In order to consume less, make sure that you really love and need the item before you head to the checkout.

Firstly make a list of anything you need to buy. Do you need to buy Christmas gifts for family and friends? Is there an investment piece that you would love to add to your home or wardrobe that you usually can’t afford?

Is there a particular place that you can find these items? Instead of aimlessly walking around or browsing online. Try listing the shops or websites that you want to visit before you start. This will help you remain focused and be less likely to pick up random things that you’ll regret later.

Can you buy the item sustainably? Ethical and sustainable brands will often give sale discounts too. And it’s an excellent way to support them if you can’t afford to do so at full price. Secondhand and vintage shops can have Black Friday discounts too. Buying local or from small businesses are other ways to shop more ethically this season.

Another point is that retailers are offering discounts for longer so there isn’t the need for a huge mad dash to buy everything on one day. It is possible to buy with intention during the Black Friday sales, just use the same thought and care you would use at other times of the year. To shop sustainably, you need to think mindfully.

If you don’t need to buy anything, it can be worthwhile unsubscribing from all the store emails. They are relentless at this time of year and really encourage spending. If you need to buy something, the chances are you can find it yourself!

For tips on what not to buy check here.

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