Friday, November 27, 2020

Secondhand Savings vs. Black Friday Madness

This is the day that has come to be known as "Black Friday" and that title is quite apt because it has become a dark day indeed.  Black Friday has become a day of such avarice and such appalling, monstrous behavior all in the name of saving a few dollars.
I've never been Black Friday shopping that I can remember and I never wish to participate in such an awful concept.  There are better ways to save money than trampling people to death while rushing with the mob to buy big screen tvs.
Black Friday may look a little different this year with all these "social distancing" rules in place, but I don't see how the ugly spirit of it could be changed with a few more feet between customers.  As a seasoned shopper, my advice is that there is a better way to save.
Case in point:  today's outfit is 100% thrifted--apart from the headband--and while at retail price it would likely have cost me in the neighborhood of $150 to $200, purchasing all these secondhand meant that this entire look came in at under $50. And no one died in the process!
Secondhand shopping is such a great way to not only save money, but to make a little as well.  My children used to wear school uniforms which they inevitably outgrew and needed replaced with longer hemlines and sleeves each year.  None of the schools around here required that uniform but theirs, so I bagged everything up at the end of each school year and sent it off to ThredUp.
It felt good to know that some money savvy mama was going to save a little on her children's uniforms and I was going to earn a little store credit towards buying a few things for my kiddos, and ThredUp made a little commission for their troubles.  Everyone wins.
If I may offer another little tip: I've notice that a lot of stores have better sales on those same Black Friday items at other times of the year.  But people don't seem to notice that they're paying more in November than they would be if they'd bought it at the Labor Day sale in September because now there is a stigma of "lowest prices" attached to Black Friday so people don't pay attention or question it.  You may be putting yourself and others in harms way while being duped on the "savings."
If Black Friday shopping is something you love, I won't take that from you, but I'm also not going to stand in line with you or help you mercilessly beat someone to get the last ceramic ashtray that says, "rest your butt here" because it's on the Black Friday sale bill for only pennies of the original price.  Just stay safe and humane if you can and I'll be here at home saving money the secondhand way.

Post a Comment

Thank you for stopping by! I read every comment and I always try to respond. This is a polite and respectful blog, so please keep your comments polite and respectful too, or I will delete them. ;)
I ALSO DO NOT PUBLISH COMMENTS WHICH ARE INTENDED TO DIRECT TRAFFIC TO ANOTHER BLOG OR WEBSITE! It's cheap and tacky, so don't do it.

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

© Bleu Avenue. Made with love by The Dutch Lady Designs.