This year, instead of going nuts for the TVs on 20 per cent markdown, the 3 for 2 on (more) Lego (ooops I’ve already done it), the fast-fashion BOGOFs, why not take a break. Save your sanity and your credit card. And blackball black Friday.
Aaaaaahhhhhh, see…bet you feel more relaxed already?
There’s a number of ways you can counter the Black Friday madness – some must-buy children’s Christmas presents notwithstanding.
You DO NOT NEED TO BUY ANYTHING on Black Friday. You may feel Amazon is a necessary evil in the run up to Christmas (and you are not alone), but you could make Black Friday Avoid Amazon day instead.
For feel-good Black Friday, try Ethical Superstore, which is giving you 20% off and donating to the Newcastle Westend Foodbank with every order over £30.*
Bet those discounts will be just as discounty on Saturday, Sunday, and during the 30-odd days left until Christmas.
Yet with more than half of Brits wishing they were better with money, according to OnePoll, it makes sense to try to make the most of your cash this Christmas.
Here are our Golden Rules to have a better Black Friday this year:
GOLDEN RULE 1:
- Only buy things you would have bought anyway. It’s not a bargain if you are spending money you would not otherwise have spent, is it? You’re quids DOWN on the deal.
GOLDEN RULE 2:
- Assess the cost per use of the item to work out its true value. Cheap might look like a bargain, but it’s not if you only wear it twice because it’s a bit crap really, is it? This is your excuse to spend a bit more on quality. The cost per wear or cost per use is your guide to true value – not the price label you see.
GOLDEN RULE 3:
- Work out what are needs, and what are wants. There’s a lot of novelty nonsense around at this time of year and retailers’ very existence depends on their ability to tempt you, so that is what they do, with a bombardment of marketing via post, email, sidebars – you name it, they will make their way into your consciousness because they know their target market. So this line between needs and wants can become very blurred and it’s up to you to be strict and really straighten it out.
GOLDEN RULE 4:
- Create a budget, make a list of all of the people you need to buy for and what (roughly) you would like to buy for them. Then, divide that budget up accordingly. It might mean that Auntie Pam only gets a pair of socks, but she’ll be happy with that, honestly.
GOLDEN RULE 5:
- This one only applies if you have kids under 3. Take it from us, they don’t care what’s in their presents, they just want lots of them. So go to a charity shop and go crazy on things priced at £3 or less. It’s the cheapest and most guilt-free way to bulk up their present corner on Christmas day. And then it doesn’t matter whether they play with them or not.
GOLDEN RULE 6:
- See the words ethical, local, fairtrade, eco or organic, and if it is something you would get anyway and doesn’t cost a ridiculous amount more, then go for that. You will be making a smaller contribution to tat mountain, reducing transportation miles, buying quality (probably), and generally doing the world a favour. Amazon has its place, but may we suggest limiting it to 10% of your total supply source this Christmas.
GOLDEN RULE 7:
- One for me, one for the foodbank or shelter. Go ahead and go nuts buying things for family and friends, but don’t forget about those in greater need. The use of foodbanks in the UK has risen significantly over the last few years, so you can really do your bit for your local community if you consider some additional purchases for the foodbank or shelter. Check out the reverse advent calendar idea on YourBestFriendsGuidetoCash
*Good With Money receives a small payment for customers we refer to Ethical Superstore.
