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So Many Offers, So Little Time

Black Friday. It’s nearly two weeks away. The special ad sections will likely be arriving at your doorstep, and people are already cataloging all the rumored offers. What will you buy? What will you “save” on? Look at those incredible deals in the special ads! I haven’t seen [Insert your item here] at these kind of prices anywhere! Wow, glorious corporate gods, you’ve smiled upon us today.

The infatuation and energy is enough to forget what we’re actually celebrating next week. Hopefully you can read through my dripping sarcasm to realize that Black Friday is not a favorite of mine. In fact, I think it’s a travesty and an assault on families all over America. My family included, we compromised plans for Thanksgiving in order for a Fortune 500 company to reap the rewards of increasing consumer demands and take my relative away.

Goodbye Holiday, Hello Deals

Following a slew of similar announcements from stores including Target, Best Buy and Macy’s, Walmart said Tuesday that it will hold two major sales events at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Thursday, two hours earlier than last year.

–USAToday

This year, many retailers will be encroaching even further on family and friend time by opening at 6 PM on Thanksgiving. The early start is forcing people to rethink the concept of “Black Friday.” Rather than recognizing what we are thankful for, helping others, and bringing people together, this holiday has been entirely co-opted by major businesses for gargantuan profits.

Marketing campaigns of epic proportions convince us that now is the time to save – the only time. The fact is Black Friday deals are temporary, and most if not all items will eventually hit these prices. These “steals” and “deals” are made up to capitalize on psychological vulnerability.

The Answer: Buy Nothing Day

There’s an alternative to mall trampling stories, waiting out in the cold, and losing our Thanksgiving dinners. It’s time to start talking about Buy Nothing Day. Started by the protestors at Adbusters (credited with starting Occupy Wall Street), the holiday from Black Friday tells us one thing: resist the urge and enjoy your friends, family, and what you already have.

This horrible holiday of consumerism only comes once a year. Try something different, and save your wallet the punishment of swiping away your savings accounts for “once-in-a-lifetime deals.” Life is about more than a low price and your time with those you care about is truly priceless. There are only 30,000 days to make this special, and it doesn’t start with a weekly ad.

For more information about Buy Nothing Day: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buy_Nothing_Day