Is Black Friday Shopping Worth the Savings?

Black Friday is just around the corner, and this year, stores are welcoming eager shoppers even earlier. Many people are ready to skip their relaxing Thanksgiving to snag some deals. But that’s not my plan.

Yes, Black Friday promises plenty of discounts, but spending so much time for minor savings doesn’t make sense to me. Why wait in line for hours just to save $10? You could make more money working a minimum-wage job for that time. Plus, the deals aren’t always exclusive; you can often find similar bargains at other times or online.

Speaking of online shopping, it’s the best option for most deal hunters. You can find almost all the great offers online, enjoy them from the comfort of your home in your pajamas, and avoid the stress of crowded stores and long lines. But not all deals are online, and you’ll still need a speedy internet connection to snag the hottest ones.

Besides being seven months pregnant and wanting more sleep, I’ve skipped the Black Friday chaos because I’ve already finished most of my Christmas shopping. While some like the thrill of Black Friday shopping, I’ve been picking up gifts stress-free throughout the year.

For the younger kids, I bought clothes right after Christmas last year; they grow predictably, so it’s easy to guess the next size. I found toys during the toy clearance at Target in August. For adults, I often grab discounted gift cards from places like Costco or Sam’s Club, and even Vons has good deals. I can give them as gifts or wait for a store promotion to get more value from the card.

For example, you can get $100 worth of Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf gift cards for just $79.99. You could split this into smaller gifts, giving them to four people for less than $20 each, or use coupons and promo codes on their website to buy coffee and mugs. While some might see coffee and gift cards as basic gifts, they’re practical and appreciated. In contrast, chasing Black Friday deals might lead to gifting things people don’t want.

You might call me the Black Friday grinch, but I recommend enjoying a peaceful Thanksgiving with your family and getting a good night’s sleep instead of chasing sales.

So, are you planning to join the Black Friday frenzy this year? If so, when do you plan to hit the queues?