Black Friday is fast approaching and some sales are already in full swing. Discounts can make us all a bit vulnerable to emotional spending so here are 6 great ways to be mindful this Black Friday!
Make A List Of Wants
Before sales get too out of control, try putting together a list of things you actually need or want. What are some things you’ve been meaning to buy that you keep putting off? Are there any regular staples in your life that you might be able to stock up on with a discount? Are there any gifts you could buy for others?
I am personally going to try and purchase all of my Christmas gifts over the Black Friday/Cyber Monday week/weekend. I’ve made a list of things to purchase for myself and for others and am going to do my best to stick to it. Try not to get sucked in to the buy 5 get one free deal if you were only planning to buy one in the first place. You didn’t get one free, you bought 5!
Make A “NO” List
This is something I’m going to try out this year and I truly think this might be a game changer. Not only should you make a list of things you DO want to buy, try also making a list of things you DON’T want to buy.
Do you always get sucked into buying new cute sweaters even though you have a million in your closet already (guilty!)? Do you feel like you might buy some new skincare even though you have a bunch of half used bottles at home? Have a NO list that you can refer back to when your emotional spending starts to run high.
Have A Spending Limit
Black Friday sales make us all a bit vulnerable to emotional spending on a “good deal”. However, if you’re spending $500 to save $150 when you only wanted to spend $150 in the first place, you’re not actually saving anymore, you’re spending $500… Take a look at your spending this month, give yourself a realistic spending limit and stick to it!
Wait 24 Hours Before Purchasing
If you’re going to be shopping online like me, try to wait 24 hours before actually purchasing your items. Place everything you want in your shopping cart then walk away for a bit.
Most Black Friday sales are actually the full weekend or might have even started already. Even if it’s only a few hours, try walking away from the shopping cart for a little while. Take some time and come back to re-evaluate your purchases before you pull the trigger. This is a great way to be mindful of your spending this Black Friday. More often than not, you’ll realize you added something emotionally and might not want it anymore.
However, if you’re still excited about every single item in your cart when you revisit it hours later, you can feel good about your purchases and buy it all guilt-free!
Research Research Research
Taking a step away from one store for a while might also help you find a better deal somewhere else! Unless you’re set on a specific item from a specific brand, make sure to look around and make sure you’re getting the absolute best deal.
With that being said, you may also want to consider supporting local small businesses this season. Take a second to peak at some local businesses in your area before you buy from the big guys!
Remember the big stores don’t do a little “jig” when they make a sale. Make someone “jig” this year!
Use Cashback & Coupon Apps
Finally, don’t forget to use apps like Rakuten and Honey to help get you higher discounts or straight up cash back for your purchases!
I hope you’re able to take away something from this post to help you stay mindful of your spending this Black Friday. Happy shopping everyone!
Leave a Reply