Every year, people across the nation head out in the wee hours of the morning after Thanksgiving in search of the best deals on…well, everything. If it has a price tag on it, you better believe someone is out there looking for the most affordable way to bring it home by Christmas. After all, there is no other time of year when you can buy high-end electronics, cookware, clothing and everything in-between for low(ish) prices.
So, no shade to Black Friday. Everyone has a right to use their time as they wish as long as they are not hurting anyone else.
However, Black Friday doesn’t have to be all about shopping. In fact, there are plenty of other things to do if you’ve decided that Black Friday is not for you or if you just want to sit this one out. So, in light of the quickly approaching “holiday,” I have compiled five things to do on the day after Thanksgiving, instead of hunting down Black Friday deals.
1. Spend Time with Family
In recent years, Black Friday has become Black Thursday. Many stores across the nation close for a few hours on Turkey Day then re-open during the early evening to maximize sales. This means that a lot of people are missing out on family time to take advantage of Black Friday deals. This year, consider dedicating all of Thanksgiving Day (and the day after) to family time. Catch up with your cousins, check on family members near and far, and laugh — a lot. After all, how often do you get to have all your favorite people (and foods) in one place?
2. Support Small Business Saturday
Many people don’t know that the first Saturday after Thanksgiving is Small Business Saturday. SBS is all about discovering and supporting small businesses online and in your community. This year, SBS falls on November 25, so instead of tracking down Black Friday deals, check out the list of participating small businesses that the Small Business Administration has included on their website. Or, use the time that you would have spent on Black Friday shopping researching small businesses you want to support.
3. Nothing
That’s right. Nothing. Although doing nothing is almost impossible with every app imaginable at our fingertips, it just may be what you need this Thanksgiving. Doing nothing means that it is OK to let the day happen around you. Maybe you’ll do a little internet surfing. Maybe you’ll hang around the house, meditate, wake up without an alarm clock, make a dish that combines your Thanksgiving favorites or watch your favorite holiday movies. Doing nothing is about taking the day as it comes, sans Black Friday madness.
4. Save Some Money
It’s true – Black Friday is packed with amazing deals. That flat screen you’ve been eyeing is finally below $500, so you’d actually be saving money by getting it now, right?
Wrong. Although you may not be spending quite as much on that TV during Black Friday as you would on a regular day, you are still spending money. The only money that is truly saved is that which is not spent. This doesn’t mean that you can never buy the things you like, but saving money this Black Friday is a good way to advance your other goals, such as starting a business, purchasing a home or car or building a nest egg. After all, what you save today is what secures you tomorrow.
5. Set Some Goals
For some, this alternative to Black Friday will feel more like work than play, but setting goals does not have to feel like a chore. After your second or third plate of Thanksgiving leftovers, take some time to think about the goals you had this year. Did you reach them or are they still pending? What are next year’s goals and how will you work harder to reach them? Play some of your favorite music, grab some wine or eggnog and get started on a vision board, plan or list of what you want to achieve before the end of the year and what you are striving for next year.
