Thanksgiving is a day to be with your family and friends, eat delicious food, and reconvene with your high school friends who you haven’t seen since August. But on Thanksgiving Day, once the clock strikes midnight, Black Friday begins. Department stores are now opening their doors at midnight this year to give shoppers even more time on Black Friday. With an estimated 152 million people waking up early to commence their holiday shopping, my question is, is it really worth it?
Think of all the people you need to buy gifts for: you parents, siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, friends…the list goes on. With stores offering holiday deals one day a year, the sales can be hard to resist. Several stores heavily reduce prices for the day, which inevitably gives them unbelievable for business. However, there are some downsides to Black Friday:
1. The Crowds
On an average shopping day, you’re bound to face long lines. And on an average day, this line will last no longer than five minutes. However, on Black Friday, these lines could be up to 20 minutes long. Stores are overflowing with frantic people who are in search of the perfect gift on a time crunch. With all of the crazy, rushed people, it could bring out the bad side of everyone. And with only one more sweater left, who knows what fights could break out in the store.
2. The Prices
The problem with Black Friday is the tempting sale prices. With sale price on top of sale price on top of sale price, you may end up spending even more money than you had originally intended to spend for the holidays. Sales can be tricky this way, leading you to think you’re saving a lot of money. However, when you buy an extra gift or two “because it was SUCH a good deal!!!!” you may be the one losing the end of the deal.
3. The Holiday Experience
The holidays are not supposed to be a crazed time. They’re supposed to be fun and a nice way to spend time with family friends. Black Friday is the complete opposite of the true holiday experience. As cheesy as this is, Black Friday sucks up the meaning of the holidays and turns them into a frantic, materialistic event.
So, my fellow Her Campus Tulane readers, I advise you steer clear of the Black Friday hype. Holiday shopping should be a fun experience, not an overwhelming one! Many stores offer sales throughout the entire holiday season, so there will be plenty to take advantage of. Happy holidays!