I fall victim to Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals every year. The best way to describe my relationship with shopping is something my mom always says to me: “I don’t have one of everything – I have five of everything!” We’re cut from the same cloth. My love of shopping came from her.
In the past, I would have my mom on standby, texting and calling her to get her stamp of approval.
But on Black Friday, as I walked through the mall, I was shocked to see such a swarm of people. As I saw the lines go out of the stores, I thought to myself, how much is this really worth?
“A study in 2019 found that up to 80% of Black Friday purchases are thrown away,” according to an article by Population Matters, a UK-based charity that works toward improved sustainability. “These unwanted cheap goods, made from poor-quality unsustainable materials, end up in landfills or are burned in incinerators.”
This statistic is really shocking. What can we do to be better?
This year, I made a list of things I wanted to buy throughout the year. Then, when Black Friday hit, I either bought what I had been eyeing or realized I didn’t want them anymore.
It’s much easier said than done, but as the Black Friday sales come to an end and new holiday sales start up, try to think twice before you shop.
Sometimes, the best gifts come from the heart!
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