After the Thanksgiving festivities slowly wind down, we naturally force ourselves out of our food-induced coma and race to the nearest shopping center, to wait in line for hours in the cold, in hopes of saving a ton of money. Fast forward a week later when the Black Friday dust settles and you’re at home looking at your credit card bill in awe because you aren’t sure how you possibly could have spent so much in one weekend. But they’re mostly gifts for other people?! Come on, don’t fool yourself. You know better than to believe those designer boots you bought on sale are going to be worn by anyone else except you. Nice try, maybe next year.
How to make up for overspending
Got a little caught up in the holiday this year? (And yes, I just referred to Black Friday as a holiday.) Thankfully, many stores have return policies, so you can either return some of those impulsive purchases. Exchange them for something you actually need or take the store credit and use it toward a gift for someone else. This is the season of giving; stop using sales as an excuse to buy yourself presents.
Cyber Monday
The only thing more exciting than coming home from the mall with a bunch of stuff, is coming home to find packages from online purchases on your front door step. From Cyber Monday, to now cyber week, retailers are offering cyber deals the week of Thanksgiving and many times the week after. If you were smart this year and skipped the crowds to shop online, you may have noticed the sales came a little early this year. The plus side to buying online is many times you are given the option to return within two weeks, no questions asked. Aside from the return policy, who doesn’t love shopping from the comfort of their own home?
Next year, do your homework
If you choose to partake in the craziness of Black Friday again, have a plan. Don’t be a rookie and head into battle unarmed. Study the ads, compare prices at leading competitors and follow stores on social media for deals and promotional codes. A few days or even weeks before, create a budget and outline, not only the people you need to buy holiday gifts for, but also any upcoming events that may require a new outfit, pair of shoes or present for a gift exchange. If you stick to the plan, you’ll be more efficient in the mall and hopefully leave without any regrets.
