Black Friday Alternatives: Four Better Ways to Spend Your Time

Black Friday is one of the most highly-anticipated shopping events of the year. Millions of Americans flock to their local malls to take advantage of the supposed doorbuster deals. However, the truth is that Black Friday is vastly overrated. In fact, there are plenty of alternative ways to spend your post-Thanksgiving hours that are much more productive – and enjoyable. Here are four Black Friday alternatives to consider:

1. Finish Creating Your Holiday Budget

Before heading to the stores, it’s essential to have a detailed holiday budget in place. Creating a list of everyone you plan to shop for, setting a target price for each item, and determining an overall spending limit can help prevent overspending. If you haven’t already mapped out your budget, Black Friday is the perfect time to get to work.

2. Make Some Extra Cash

Often, creating a holiday budget may reveal the need for additional funds. Fortunately, there are still plenty of ways to earn extra money before the holiday season arrives. One way is to sell unused clothes or items online. Alternatively, shoveling driveways, participating in online surveys, or even trying out a new side hustle can add some extra cash to your budget.

3. Plan for Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday

If you’re determined to shop during Thanksgiving weekend, consider planning for Small Business Saturday or Cyber Monday instead. Small Business Saturday, designed to support local businesses, is the day after Black Friday. Cyber Monday is a shopping event that takes place entirely online, allowing shoppers to skip the long lines and crowds.

4. Relax

The holiday season can be stressful for many individuals, with travel, family time, and shopping often adding to the pressure. On that note, consider taking a day to unwind, relax, and destress. Instead of joining the masses at the mall, grab a good book, a cup of hot cocoa, and curl up by the fire.

Black Friday may promise excellent deals that are difficult to resist, but it’s important to remember that it’s not the only way to save money during the holidays. By finishing up your holiday budget, earning some extra cash, planning for other retail holidays ahead, or just taking a day for yourself, you’ll be the real winner this Black Friday.