Back in 1939 President Franklin D. Roosevelt decided to try a little experiment: he moved Thanksgiving from the last Thursday of November, up one week. According to Time.com, merchants wanted more between Thanksgiving and Christmas to allow for additional shopping time. A couple years (and some misprinted calendars) later, Congress made it official by declaring that Thanksgiving would be observed on the fourth Thursday in November.
It seems FDR’s effort to please retailers and extend our holiday season was a steppingstone to another annual tradition: Black Friday. And this year just so happens to be one of those “shorter” shopping season years with just 26 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
According to NRF.com, 165 million Americans are expected to shop over the five-day weekend (from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday). It’s almost an even split between in-store shopping (at 47%) and online (41%). Whether you’re shopping out of tradition (28% of shoppers) or because it’s something fun to do over the holiday (21%), we’re going to assume that 100% of people want to have an enjoyable time and find a good deal or two.
You’ll find hundreds of great tips and tricks online to help you make the most of the biggest shopping events of the year; we’ve narrowed it down to a few of our favorites here.
- Budget. It all starts here. How much do you want to spend? How much can you spend? Don’t break the bank. Make a plan and stick to it! Then track the amount by category (gifts, decorations, food, etc.) or by person (Grandma, Tommy, Sarah, etc.), but make sure you keep a running list of what you’ve spent from the budget. Keep all receipts in the same place too.
- Lists. Make a list before you start shopping. Most retailers have shared their Black Friday ads (and did so extra early this year), so you have no excuse. Know what you hope to buy from which stores and when. Check out this helpful article by USA Today for a quick rundown of all the major retailers so you can map out your shopping strategy.
- Avoid impulse purchases. Stick to the tips above so that you can avoid any extra purchases. Retailers want to get you in the door so you can buy all the things. Try using a reusable shopping bag instead of a cart to keep the costs down (it’s also easier to navigate the crowds).
- Cyber Monday. Just remember, if you don’t score that big-ticket item on Black Friday, there’s always Cyber Monday, where you can shop with your phone or laptop from your cozy couch. And you don’t necessarily have to wait until Monday to grab a great deal online; many will be available early.
- Kindness is FREE—which makes it the best of all the Black Friday deals! And we all need a little reminder sometimes. That $15 toy you’re playing tug-of-war with is not worth losing your cool. Be kind to others while you’re shopping because a little of it goes a long way.
There you have it: a few simple tips and tricks to make the most of this weekend. AND, we have some Black Friday deals for you too—so be sure to check in with your Xyngular Distributor for all the deets or click here.
