There’s nothing more American than standing outside Target at four in the morning on a Friday waiting for the doors to open. Your Thanksgiving meal has been digested and the line you’re in loops around the block. Welcome to the heaven and hell of black Friday.
I love deals as much as the next person, but year after year, it seems that black Friday is beginning to take over Thanksgiving. What was once a simple time to get good deals has become some people’s post-dinner tradition. That being said, you can’t always beat movies for a dollar. There are always pros and cons to Black Friday shopping.
Deals.
Pro. They’re obviously everywhere. Computers with $100 off deals and DVDs for lower than $5. If you’ve checked the ads before and you know what you want, then it’s easier than ever to find what you need and what you want. You might just haul bags out of the store after a successful shopping spree.
Con. Some of the deals aren't even that great, but the thrill of thinking you’re saving a ton of money can be a seller. Then there can be the problem of buying just to buy. I certainly didn’t need the entire series of "Gossip Girl" on DVD, but I know own it because I had no control.
Time.
Pro. Nothing says family or friend bonding like standing in the cold at the wee hours of the morning waiting for stores to open. Plus, it can be kind of fun to be up late scouring for good finds. It’s an even better deal to be able to use Black Friday as an excuse to lie around for the rest of the day.
Con. With fewer people wanting to stay up, more stores have started opening earlier, like 6 p.m. on Thursday night. While that’s fine, if you don’t want to get up, it starts to edge over into Thanksgiving time. Although most people think of Thanksgiving as the one we have to celebrate a little before Christmas, it is still one to enjoy. Family time is rare, especially as a college student, so you should get as much out of it as you can. Plus, pumpkin pie is something to be slowly cherished, not quickly shoved into our mouths.
Craziness.
Pro. Black Friday is insane. And we all know it. There’s nothing like it, though. Once the doors open at the store, you know you have to be ready to run. There’s a rush of excitement when you first enter the store and the bounty of deals is ripe for your taking. There’s nothing like running through aisles and aisles of half-off Tupperware and TVs.
Con. Even if we exclude the fact that there have been many injuries every year at Black Friday, there’s a general craziness. In the thrill of running through the stores, it’s insanely easy to just start throwing things in your cart. So while you might not need a new microwave or trashcan, you just might end up with one. Or more than one.
While it is certainly the time for deals, there are always good and bad things about this infamous day.
