"Black Friday: Because only in America people trample each other for sales exactly one day after being thankful for what they already have."
Do you love Black Friday deals a lot but hate the maddening crowd? If so, then there’s a good news for you. There’s no need to stand in a queue and push your way through the crowd. There are plenty of other alternatives that can help you shop and save at the same time. Here are a few of them.
Black Friday shopping alternatives
1. Prepone or postpone:
It’s a myth that you can get heavy discounts only on Black Friday. Plus, retailers don’t offer discounts on all the products. You’ll find that price of some products has not changed from the previous month. So, you can easily buy those products later while being away from holiday crowd.
In fact, it’s wise to buy some items after the holiday season is over since you would get better deals on different items like:
Perfume: You can find 50% discount on perfume after Valentine’s Day.
Winter clothes: You can get 50%-80% discount on winter clothes after Xmas. In February, you’ll get even better discounts. But, the stock will be limited.
Jewelry: The best time to buy jewelry is right after Valentine’s Day since you’ll get 15%-25% discount. And, this is not all. Some retailers are ready to give 60%-94% discounts on jewelry.
2. Buy used items:
If you’re buying for yourself, then obviously your first choice would be to buy latest tablet or computers. But, if you want to gift a laptop or computer to someone, then consider shopping secondhand.
You can get used jewelry, clothes, books, tablets, etc. in good condition for a fraction of what you have to pay for a new item.
3. Visit the local stores:
I love to wonder in and out of local shops. You can shop comfortably without battling with the maddening crowd. You can park your car easily without fighting for a parking space.
The only drawback is that you may not get to see a huge collection at a super-low price like you see in big chains. However, sometimes these local stores offer deals on a smaller scale. You can take advantage of those deals.
4. Check out online deals:
You know why Cyber Monday is so popular nowadays? It’s because you can shop at your home or office or anywhere else within a few seconds at a low price. Cyber Monday gives a tough competition to Black Friday sales.
Last year, I bought a dress on Cyber Monday at 70% discount. The in-store discount for that dress was exactly same? Then, what’s the logic behind standing in the crowd and do shopping on Black Friday?
Find other alternatives
Perhaps the best ways to save money on Black Friday is consider this day as “Buy Nothing Day”. There is no need to succumb to the constant pressure to shop. Instead of shopping, you can do other things such as:
- Bake something nice
- Host a potluck party with Thanksgiving leftovers
- Watch a movie
- Go for a hike
- Visit a museum
- Donate old clothes
- Hang out with friends or family
