I LOVE Black Friday. Kind of weird for a woman who really hates to shop, I know. I used to hate it! Absolutely hate it! But one day it occurred to me that 99% of the Black Friday shoppers were people who were willing to get up at wee hours to get a gift for someone they loved.
I realize The MOM Initiative is a ministry to moms and this is where I’m supposed to give you all those wise warnings about NOT getting caught up in all the hullabaloo and materialistic madness that begins when the Black Friday ads show up in Sunday’s paper, but I get Black Friday. Even though I’m not a shopper, I totally get Black Friday.
To the stores, it’s most likely their biggest money making day of the year. For the shoppers (or lingerers-if you’re like me), it’s a time to get the best deal you can so you can buy something special for the one you love.
So, today, I’m going to be fair and balanced and share the 5 do’s and the 5 don’ts of Black Friday…
DO ~
1. Plan ahead. If you’re going to shop for a certain gift, check out what’s on sale and what’s not before you head out. Make a map or list, even if it’s a mental map (although I need to see it for it to make sense, so maybe a written map would be better…just sayin’), and itemize your shopping extravaganza in order of price and importance. Which store has the best sale on the most important item you want to buy? Make a map and make a list of the items you want to buy and which store you want to buy the from.
2. Check the weather. It’s really no fun at all to be standing in line out in the cold or in the rain when you’re unprepared. If you go out on Thursday night, you’ll want to be sure you know what the temperature and rain forecast is for that night and the next day.
3. Have a budget. Knowing how much you can financially afford will prevent you from finding yourself in debt over the Christmas holidays. Christmas is a time for giving, but not a time for going into debt.
4. Go with friends. I don’t shop much. So for me, Black Friday is more about a chance to hang out with my friend Dawn then it is to find the perfect deal. If I’m looking for one specific item on Black Friday, then I actually buy something, but if it’s not on sale, I still go out and brave the cold and the crowds because I love hanging out with Dawn.
5. Have fun. Don’t get frustrated with the traffic. They’re out there doing the same thing you are.Take it easy, laugh a lot, drink lots of coffee and just have fun. You can even use your time as an opportunity to share Jesus with people standing in line. Maybe even take a big thermos of coffee or hot chocolate and share it with others in line.
DON’T ~
1. Don’t go if it’s going to stress you out. Black Friday can be a blast, but not if you’re going to get stressed out by the traffic, the crowds, the noise, and the long lines. Momma used to say, If you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen. Well, if you can’t stand the chaos of Black Friday, don’t go. You’ll be much happier at home. 🙂
2. Don’t be a complainer. If they don’t have what you wanted in stock (and you know that’s bound to happen!), please don’t take it out on the poor cashier. They’re just doing their job and working on the busiest day of the year. Instead, take that opportunity to go out of your way to be nice to the employee. I’m sure they are going to be worn out and remember…they don’t control inventory.
3. Don’t take a non-shopper unless you’re a non-shopper too. The only reason Dawn and I have a blast on Black Friday is because neither of us are shoppers. We may stand in line for a certain item because it’s a great price, but most of the night we just meander through the mall, drink coffee, and laugh at our non-shopping selves for being out on the biggest shopping day of the year.
4. Don’t go in debt. There. I said it again. When you’re a mom, you love to give gifts to your kids, and it’s hard to NOT buy your kids great gifts for Christmas even though you know you can’t afford them. But as soon as your first bill comes in, you’ll regret that you went in debt to buy Christmas gifts.
5. Don’t forget about the real reason for Christmas. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the craziness of Christmas shopping, but don’t forget who we are celebrating. While you’re out, find ways to bring Christ into the conversation with the store clerks or the other shoppers. Go prepared to give candy canes with the story of the candy cane attached to them. But don’t forget why we celebrate Christmas.
So….are you going shopping tonight? Tomorrow? What would you add to this do and don’t list for Black Friday?
Below is a free download of The Legend of the Candy Cane. Some say it’s true, many say it’s not. Whether it is or isn’t, there’s beauty in creating symbolism for little things like candy canes as a way to point people to Jesus. Perhaps the creator of the candy cane wasn’t from Indiana, and the reason it was made was not to point people to Jesus. But we can choose to use it as a way to say how sweet it is to know Jesus. The pure, unspotted Lamb of God who shed His blood so that we might be forgiven. The One who is our Good Shepherd and our solid Rock.
Download The Legend of the Candy Cane by clicking this link or by clicking on the picture above ~ It’s free. 🙂
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