Black Friday: Are You Really Saving Money?

Black Friday is the largest shopping day of the year. Next to the new Cyber Monday. Are you really saving money, or is it just the hype?

What could you do to save more money? Time? Sleep, etc?

There are ways to save money on Black Friday, you just have to know how.

1. Go With A Plan.

Look at all of the ads. Have a list and idea of what each person wants for a gift. Research the ads several times. Look to see if there are any items that you could get second hand. Toys at a consignment shop are gently used. Maybe grab a box, clean it up and spend way less than if it were new. They have Black Friday sales too.

2. Have A Budget.

Every year in January my husband and I set aside an envelope for Christmas. We have a budget in mind for each person. So we handmake gifts, restore gifts, shop at consignment shops or online to find good deals all year long. We do buy new items, but it is usually a couple.

3. Reuse items.

Do you send clothing and other “stuff” to the goodwill? Maybe brainstorm them into Christmas gifts. With Pinterest almost any new idea is out there to restore something or be creative.
Who made the rule that EVERYTHING has to be new. The stores would not be in business if they were not making money on Black Friday. Think about it. What can you do to put more money in your pocket?

4. USE CASH ONLY!!!!!

I can’t stress this enough. If using a credit card use some discipline and stop. Make sure that what you spend on it can be paid off by the next billing cycle. Don’t think in payments! Why pay on something that you don’t have anymore?

Many people may not realize this, but most millionaires do not spend a lot of money. They drive second hand cars and shop consignment shops. Millionaires do not use a lot of credit.

The concept of spending alot of money and having a general lack of contentment is created from commercials and TV.

Christmas sales are a good time to get a larger item that one would not usually be able to afford. Last year we were able to get a new TV since our old one went out. The Black Friday sale really helped us to get something we needed but could not afford.