For many in the Northeast declining temperatures, and an unexpected snowstorm that wreaked havoc for drivers and transportation systems alike, left millions in a state of agony. As such, a reprieve is critical. Thus, with another Thanksgiving just hours away, preparing meals and setting the scene for moments of familial (both biological and non-biological) bonding is a friendly welcome. Thus, as stomachs become stuffed, some will tap out early. Others, on the other hand, will eat, drink, give thanks and begin setting their plans into motion: conquering the fiscal beast known as Black Friday shopping.
According to Nicole Spencer (NBC’s Better Watch), “Black Friday is one of the most historic holidays, tracing back to the inception of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1924.” Moreover, “In the mid-60’s, the day after Thanksgiving was given its famous name by the Philadelphia Police Department to describe the chaos of shoppers creating traffic jams around stores downtown.” For this reason, Black Friday has become synonymous with Thanksgiving. But, in recent years, the tradition of standing on lines at 12am has slowly dissipated with individuals opting to shop online. As a result of this shift, e-commerce has boomed giving rise to Cyber Monday. Spencer notes that in 2017, Cyber Monday out-performed Black Friday bringing in a total of $5.6 billion compared to Black Friday’s $5 billion. As such, while Black Friday may not be the be-all of saving while shopping that it used to be, but it is still lauded as the prime opportunity to successfully bargain shop. The key to a victorious Black Friday shopping spree lies in early-action planning. It is no secret that holiday shopping is stressful and can unearth the worst in an individual. Therefore, consumer experts urge having a full-proof strategy in place that is aimed in minimizing feeling overwhelmed. As such, the first step is to have researched competitive prices early. Remember, Black Friday has transformed from a 24-hour sprint to a 30-day marathon of deals, promotions, and savings. Thus, be sure to have tracked the various deals and their expiration dates prior to embarking on your shopping journey. Likewise, because technology has made researching and tracking twice as easy, James K. Willcox of Consumer Reports urges individuals to visit the following sites to track the very best in deals: www.bfads.net, www.bestblackfriday.com, and www.dealnews.com. Moreover, Willcox writes, “Major retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart have their own shopping apps to scan products and price shop online.” However, should the ship have sailed on the 30-day comparative shopping experience, do not for another opportunity to score big is available: loyalty rewards programs. Loyal customers of the leading retailers, who have also signed up for online accounts, often receive access to promotions and deals first. Such access allows customers to earn rewards for purchases. An additional perk of signing up for an online account is quality information on items in stock and the option to pick up items at the store. Another chance to conquer Black Friday shopping rests in the realms of social media. Facebook and Twitter feeds are apt places for your favorite retailers to advertise deals and as a result, your timeline will be flooded galore! Willcox notes, “Retailers will often reward customers who like or follow them with special alerts to Black Friday discounts and incentives.” However, with all things that glitter on social media, be wary of deals and promotions that are too good to be true or require disseminating personal and banking information to qualify. With your plan constructed the next step is to budget, budget again, and budget once more! Because of this, utilizing the weeks to month prior to Friday to create a budget and to create a list divided into columns (ex: Needs | Wants; For Myself | For Others) helps to stay on track ultimately meeting your shopping goals. Likewise, budgets and lists helps to resist the urge to impulsively buy items thus eliminating buyer’s remorse. Moreover, have a concrete plan regarding payment method. For instance, if you’ve decided to use a credit or debit card to pay for purchases, stick to the plan. Resist flip-flopping between debit, credit, and cash if you can. Depleting accounts and accruing debt should not be the sum for your total lack of control.
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