Tips like these helped us pay off $127K in debt. You can read our story in Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After.
There are parts of Black Friday that I LOVE and parts that if I’m honest make me shudder. I’m a bargainista to the core and so scoring a great deal brings a unique satisfaction, knowing that I’ve been responsible and wise with the money God has blessed me with. However, the excess, the competition to snag a deal that sometimes turns ugly, the consumerism – all turn my stomach.
Proverbs 4:23 instructs, “Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts.” The Message
It’s easy for even the savviest of shoppers to fall into the pitfalls of excess and unkindness on Black Friday. Here are seven of the methods I use to shop on Black Friday without selling my soul.
Take the Debt Free Pledge
I’m a firm believer that before you do any Christmas shopping at all, you should take a Debt Free Pledge. In Keep the Happy in Your Holidays: 21 Ways to Save Time, Money, and Your Sanity, I share my personal pledge I take every year. Simply printing out this promise and either placing it on your fridge or even in your purse will help center your spending. Begin by pledging that you will not spend money you do not have this year (or ever).
Compose a Grateful List
There’s some irony in the fact that we spend all or even just a portion of Thanksgiving recounting our blessings and then turn around the very next day with an insatiable hunger for “things.” Before you write down a single purchase you plan to make, compose a list of what you already have and praise God for even the simplest of things. Walk through each room in your home, and take a mental note of what you already own. This simple act can both prevent unnecessary purchases and center your heart on what truly matters.
Set Time & Money Boundaries
No one should ever wander the aisles of any store on Black Friday without boundaries. Aimlessly shopping without any particular purchase in mind guarantees you’ll buy 100% of the things you do not need. It’s wise to set both time limits and money limits on yourself on Black Friday. So either set a timer on your phone or plan to meet a friend for coffee. Bring cash only to set a firm restriction on how much you’ll be spending. Boundaries aren’t meant to steal your joy, but to keep your feet (and wallet) from trouble.
Shop with a Targeted List
In a similar way, you need to know specifically what it is you are shopping for this Black Friday. Vague generalities or waiting for something to “hit” you will yield useless purchases and overspending. Check out the Printable Christmas Budget Forms to begin listing what items you’d like to buy for whom this Christmas.
Bring a Friend
A little accountability keeps all of us on steadier ground. Choose to bring a trusted friend on Black Friday to keep your spending in check. Don’t bring that one friend who will encourage you to overindulge or who spends wildly. Instead, choose someone who loves you enough to say, “Enough is enough.” Shopping with a friend also provides a great opportunity to help one another and
Skip Gifts for Yourself
One of the biggest pitfalls I see Black Friday shoppers fall into again and again is the “Oh, I’ll just buy a little something for myself.” trap. Whether it’s a fancy coffee to keep you awake or that adorable scarf that’s a steal of a deal, you shouldn’t be shopping for yourself during the holiday season. I’m certain someone will give you gifts this year. Don’t let this temptation get the best of you.
Purchase Practical Needs
Believe it or not, I LOVE shopping for items we need to replace in our household on Black Friday. In the past, I’ve purchased towels, crockpots, coffee pots, sheets, and a number of other non-glamorous but necessary items on Black Friday. Let everyone else duke it out over the Beats headphones. Steer your cart toward more practical needs (remember you’re only purchasing items you truly need, after all).
Black Friday can get a bad rap. We all shiver when we see footage on the news of shoppers in fist fights or trampling each other. We hear horror stories of unkindness and excess. However, it can be an awesome opportunity, too. If you are celebrating the birth of Jesus, everyone in every aisle should detect that there’s something “different” about you. You should spread love and joy wherever you go. When we see this special shopping day not as an excuse to fill our carts and even worse our souls with items that will never quench our desire, we completely miss the boat. You have the opportunity to impact another human soul while you’re shopping, to be kind, to look others in the eye and let them know they matter. This year, let your light shine much brighter than an LED bulb. Crank up the wattage and let other know that God loves them so much that He sent His son to the earth to be born, die, and rise again!
For more tips on Black Friday, check out:
- 5 Christmas Shopping Temptations to Avoid
- 5 Can’t Miss Black Friday Shopping Strategies
- Winning Black Friday Strategies
- 5 Surprising Black Friday Purchases
- Smart Black Friday Shopping Tips
My book is now available: Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After. You can also check out Inspiration to Pay Off Debt: 30 Days of Encouragement from the Queen of Free
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