Are you fed up with the hype around Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the pre-Christmas 'sales bonanza' day when retailers attempt to offload as much produce as possible ahead of the festive season?

If so, you might consider taking part in Buy Nothing Day instead this Friday.

Now in its 24th year, Buy Nothing Day was the brainchild of Vancouver-based artist Ted Dave, who conceived it as a "day for society to examine the issue of over-consumption".

Since 1997 it has been held on the same day as Black Friday, in a pointed response to advertisers' efforts encouraging consumers to spend more – and there are now associated campaigns in dozens of countries across the world.