How to save money this Black Friday
The big meal is over, the leftovers are stashed in the fridge, and it’s time to think about day two of the big Thanksgiving holiday: Black Friday.
Although the term “Black Friday” was first used in the 1950s to describe the holiday frenzy that happens the day after Thanksgiving, it became part of the common lexicon in the 1980s.
Over the years, Black Friday has morphed into a five-day shopping extravaganza that includes Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday.
For more on the history of Black Friday, check out this article:
If you’re one of the millions of Americans who are planning to look for some bargains and get your Christmas shopping done this weekend, use these tips to keep your own budget “in the black”.
Create a budget — and stick to it.
Sit down before you head to the mall and figure out realistically how much you want to spend.
Once you know your total holiday shopping budget, make a list of everyone you plan to shop for, and how much of your total budget you can spend on each person. Jot down some ideas of what you might buy for each person’s gift, and if you have items that you already know will exceed the gift budget for that person, cross that item off your list and forget it.
And then — and this is the hard part — stick to your budget. Remember, it’s the thought that counts. You don’t need to go into debt to show someone that you care.
