In the fall and winter of 2007 I decided that for once in my adult life I was going to be wise about my spending. My older sister for years had been preaching the virtues of starting her Christmas shopping in September. I on the other hand hit whatever venue was open in December 24th, from a rundown, indoor flea market to the countries’ most congested, over priced mall. Suffice it to say I wasn’t bargain shopping and my only concern was to find anything, and I mean anything, to place under the Christmas tree. I spent three times as much as I should have on some rather interesting gifts. I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to my sister for giving her that Jerry Reed album.
So when September 2007 rolled around, I was bound and determined to begin my holiday shopping 3 months early. I must admit that I wasn’t exactly in a thrifty state of mind and because I had more funds available, I spent even more than the previous year’s last minute splurge. This flabbergasted me. My attempts to be a responsible adult by spreading my Christmas shopping over 12 weeks had been a miserable failure. Then it came to me. I realized my problem wasn’t where or when I was spending my money, but how.
I needed a strategy. I spent September and October at home. Instead of jumping at the first sale that came along, I waited for the one day of the year when shopping wasn’t a leisurely activity, but rather a blood sport. That day is the day after Thanksgiving. Otherwise known by mothers and pundits alike as "Black Friday". The most hectic retail day of the year always seemed to me like a frightening mess. Against the better judgment of my husband, we both crawled out of bed at 4:30 am to brave the crowds, and came back empty handed.
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That’s right. Total amount of money spent on what should have been the most economically rewarding day of the year: $0. Every store was a zoo, and by the time my husband and I reached our first destination, the best deals had been nabbed. Incredulously, I had to come up with plan B. I spent the next week scouring the Sunday newspaper ads, and noticed something strange. The last 3 or 4 weeks before Christmas had the best deals of all. I grabbed a pen and began circling every electronic trinket and cashmere sweater that offered, and each at a tremendous discount. I did some number crushing and I was actually saving money!
So here is a message to all of you out there who are counting the days until November 27th: Sleep in. Wait until almost the last minute to do all of your Christmas shopping. The savings are amazing, the crowds have been thinned out, and you’ll keep enough money in your wallet to buy yourself a little token of appreciation.
Tags:
shop,
holidays