General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhat we all need to do BEFORE Thanksgiving
Let's make sure this Administration has the absolute worst Black Friday in history. Why you ask?
Because MSM will be all over why such terrible numbers this year, plus they will not be painting a rosy
picture of the economy under dumpie's leadership with his tariffs.
Go get your Christmas shopping done NOW, do not procrastinate, I'd stay away from the big chain stores
if you can, go to second hand stores & pawn shops. Consider giving cash instead of gift cards.
A few years back I kept watching the price of a certain TV at Walmart hoping to get it on sale, when their
black Friday ads came out their new sale price was higher than it had been all year, and their after
Christmas sale it was still higher than normal.
These big chain stores do that every year fooling people with their 24/7 advertising. You save money
shopping before Thanksgiving anyway so get out there and save yourself some money this year.
Plus we'll get MSM talking about how bad the economy is and that has to help our side since they
very seldom say anything nice about us.
Chasstev365
(6,588 posts)RedWhiteBlueIsRacist
(1,409 posts)Not much more I can do. In fact, I pretty much consider the end of every year as Lemming Season.
Dave Id
(200 posts)I spent 38 years in retail dealing with that crap. I have no interest getting involved on the other side of it now that I'm retired.
popsdenver
(851 posts)do you remember when there WASN'T any such thing as "Black Friday"????? I don't remember any such term......
Hekate
(100,016 posts)
at which point their books/accounting ledgers go into the black. The terminology is a holdover from the days when ledgers were filled in using ink pens credits written in black ink, and debits written in red ink. Being in the black was a good thing.
The winter holiday season is when nearly all the childrens toys are bought. Frugal people like my late Mom buy winter gear for their kids and wrap the cutest pieces up as gifts too. And on and on. People feeling festive decide to splurge on themselves and others.
And the merchants books go into the black starting the day after Thanksgiving, in America. Black Friday, hurray.
Yes, much of this country goes nuts and overspends during the season, and Black Friday has devolved into just another marketing ploy. You and I are perfectly free to choose our own behavior.
I dont participate in that one-day frenzy in fact, for certain items that I personally want and I think are overpriced, I wait until Dec.26, when much of it is 50% off. When my children were toddlers I scored some very nice toys and stuffed characters for the next years birthdays and the next Christmas by doing that.
(At least this year DU isnt arguing over whether the term is or isnt a slur)
popsdenver
(851 posts)and how it got it's name......but after years in Retailing, in the 60's, 70's and even the 80' there wasn't anyone in retailing calling the day after thanksgiving..... Black Friday.....
It was created to hype the holiday, just like mother's day, father's day, valentines day, etc
electric_blue68
(24,650 posts)SusieCreamcheese
(12 posts)I'm an atheist and a vegetarian so no god stuff or turkey stuffing for me!
RedWhiteBlueIsRacist
(1,409 posts)KS Toronado
(21,783 posts)
slightlv
(6,959 posts)This year, money is so tight thanks to trump that we're skipping xmas altogether. If we celebrate in any way, it'll be with splurging on a roast and potatoes and veggies for supper. That's gonna be expensive enough, right there!
Hotler
(13,562 posts)Shut down the CC usage. deny the banks their fees. Stop spending as if Biden is still president.
erronis
(21,787 posts)Goonch
(4,091 posts)
Ray Bruns
(5,750 posts)bdamomma
(69,090 posts)in the pocketbooks let them suffer with decreased spending. National Strike should take place.
EYESORE 9001
(29,257 posts)I believe its gonna be the blackest of Black Fridays anyway, and that their sales slump wont get redeemed by after-holiday sales.
Wednesdays
(21,200 posts)There will be mega thousands of government workers who won't be willing to spend much money. If they're even able to buy things at all.
synni
(613 posts)We won't be able to afford spending this holiday season, if we have to funnel that money into keeping food on the table.
Boomerproud
(9,045 posts)nt
Ilsa
(63,556 posts)always the start of my spouse's work "lockdown" until about a week after New Years Day. No overnight family holiday travel, spouse doing shiftwork. He was in finance/technology.
Ilsa
(63,556 posts)It's not even post-Halloween. Had a modern, youthful, sentimental tone to it.
KS Toronado
(21,783 posts)The big stores must know sales are going to be down this year if they're already advertising hoping
to offset slow sales they see coming.
Wednesdays
(21,200 posts)I think there was a little bit of a rebellion against that, so they're back to starting in October. But yeah, around here we were getting TV ads in August.
Ilsa
(63,556 posts)early October, maybe late September.
(I drop in to a HL about once every two weeks with my disabled son. He enjoys looking at everything, and the wandering helps me get my steps in.)
Frasier Balzov
(4,666 posts)That will be their first impulse.
woodsprite
(12,512 posts)TommieMommy
(2,456 posts)kimbutgar
(26,364 posts)I havent used either of them yet but when I was I the store the other day the TV was $300 more than what I paid and the cell phones were $100 more each. I will take your advice and do my Xmas shopping the next few weeks and boycott Black Friday. Ive also been buying stuff from Temu.
OMGWTF
(4,945 posts)kimbutgar
(26,364 posts)twodogsbarking
(16,447 posts)IbogaProject
(5,294 posts)And after the Super Bowl for TVs is a good way to save. Doesn't help with toys for kids but for adults an IOU is appropriate.
Ray Bruns
(5,750 posts)That wont be hard. Between Amazon laying off 14000 workers and the government shutdown, nobody will have any money anyway.
popsdenver
(851 posts)But the sales demise this year, will be even greater , starting in January 2026 if the Trump/Putin/Miller Regime is still in place...........
BidenRocks
(2,466 posts)Way to go tariffs!
Trueblue Texan
(3,944 posts)Though in fact, I tell them that every year. But this year I'm paying down a bunch of vet bills and I don't want to go into debt for Xmas. I plan on giving the grandkids the things I've already purchased at Costco earlier in the year, giving some art supplies I've been accumulating and never used, and for the adults, I'm giving homemade spice mixes and paintings I've done. I'll troll the estate sales and 2nd hand stores to see if I find any treasures to give, but I don't plan on going the retail route this year. That's how my economy is rolling this year.
SARose
(1,782 posts)My husband and I are working on a cookbook full of our grown childrens favorite recipes - with pictures of them as children.
Throwing in some old family recipes, too.
We are having the best time playing remember when.
We always make a donation to our local non-profit emergency food pantry for our adult grandkids. Two younger one still receive presents.
Each family also receives a basket of Christmas mix and, of course, their favorite cookies!😬
Trueblue Texan
(3,944 posts)It's something I've been wanting to compile for a while now---years, actually, but never got myself inspired enough to do it. Thanks for the inspiration! I love that you've added photos! Makes it so much more special than just a collection of recipes.
SARose
(1,782 posts)But so fun! Good luck.
DiverDave
(5,191 posts)My list is getting a hearty "HAPPY CHRISMAKAWANIKA" from me.
That's all I can afford.
ProudMNDemocrat
(20,368 posts)Being that I have 3 granddaughters, my adult children have all that they need. So I will give them at least $100 each.
Plus, I sew. So if they want something in particular, they can ask.
Christmas shopping done. I will be putting in money for the younger Granddaughters College fund account. They have 2 other sets of grandparents as well who contribute.
Coventina
(28,851 posts)Small, independent, and often overseas.
I know that it is far more expensive. I am able to do it because I have cut overall spending drastically.
I haven't bought any new clothes at all. I'm making do with what I already have.
By overseas: I mean small, handmade, fair trade organizations.
swong19104
(548 posts)For the holidays once and for all. Its just stupid and only caters to manufacturers of useless trinkets and the retailers/pushers who should be doing something better with their lives.
erronis
(21,787 posts)markie
(23,715 posts)Buy nothing!
Captain Zero
(8,585 posts)Fuck Republicans
Fuck Tariffs
FUCK TRUMP
If he dies before Christmas, cremate him and Chuck out his ashes where the East Wing was.
KS Toronado
(21,783 posts)Need him buried in a public place where we all can piss on his grave. That or we could put him on a
small boat and let the Navy target practice on him like they do to Venezuelan boats.
electric_blue68
(24,650 posts)swong19104
(548 posts)Be selfless and dont.
electric_blue68
(24,650 posts)👍
KS Toronado
(21,783 posts)I know I sure do, and this year is unique in that we're trying to make dumpie look as bad as possible.
electric_blue68
(24,650 posts)KS Toronado
(21,783 posts)I go to auctions and estate sales during the year, were I find all my birthday and Christmas gifts.
Relatives always look forward to what I find them. Love those wide open eyes and smiles.
electric_blue68
(24,650 posts)H2O Man
(78,155 posts)Great idea.
joanbarnes
(2,054 posts)KS Toronado
(21,783 posts)
joanbarnes
(2,054 posts)Diamond_Dog
(38,940 posts)One size fits all, as my hubby likes to say.
Raftergirl
(1,730 posts)partaken in Black Friday. I cant think of something Id rather do less.
I do enjoy going to a Christmas Market, but just to browse and pick up things that strike my fancy. Usually its alcohol and condiments kind of things.
Hassler
(4,621 posts)wolfie001
(6,375 posts)Am I yelling? Oh well! Or any holiday season for that matter.
ms.pamela
(46 posts)KS Toronado, that is exactly what I have been doing. Today I visited a thrift store and found beautiful items of porcelain and fabric.
Earlier this fall I found an antique Japanese vase for my daughter and son-in-law and a Siamese porcelain cat for them as well. For a good friend I found a lovely piece of pink depression glass as she collects it at Vincent De Paul. eBay is a great place for finds as well. I plan on giving most of my friends and family food baskets this year and have been scouting out local food items to fill them. You can make soaps and bath salts from scratch, everyone loves them. If you sew or you can create lovely things too. So many crafty things to do even jewelry making is fun.
mercuryblues
(15,964 posts)jmowreader
(52,739 posts)Black Friday has been getting worse every year for about a decade.
Why, you may ask? Five words:
BLACK FRIDAY ALL MONTH LONG
When I first started newspapering fifteen years ago, Black Friday sales were only one day long - the day after Thanksgiving. As we speak I've got six pallets of Black Friday circulars from three different national retailers in my racking, I expect circulars from three more, and all their sales run from November 1 to November 30. EVERY retailer is doing it so if you wanna stick to the traditional Black Friday thing you are going to be at a distinct disadvantage in that everyone's already spent their Christmas budget by the time they're starting to make turkey-and-stuffing sandwiches to eat while they watch the Philadelphia Eagles maul the Chicago Bears.
Got news for ya: if you're calculating Black Friday sales numbers on what goes through the registers on November 28 - public service announcement: Thanksgiving is November 27 this year - you are going to be SADLY disappointed because the consumers had 26 days to buy, buy, buy before Black Friday hit.
calimary
(88,323 posts)Good ideas and good yummies both! And you dont have to worry about getting the right size!
FakeNoose
(39,213 posts)I mean, if I want a discount I can go to the flea market and buy 2nd hand stuff, am I right? But if I want to shop at Walmart, Target, or any other national brand store I have to pay for the privilege. I'd better realize that there are no bargains, because they have to make their profit FIRST.
But your bigger point is that we need to make sure that the "Black Friday" sales are a bust ... and we're not playing along. I'm totally with you on that. I can shop in November early or later in December, don't buy on Black Friday or the Thanksgiving weekend.
Another thought - we used to make Christmas gifts. We used to sew, knit, crochet, bake, whatever - handmade Christmas gifts for the people in our family who don't really need anything more. They don't need another gift card, video game, book or DVD, they would be quite happy to just spend some time with their loved ones. Or maybe receive something that was hand made for them with love. That's what is meaningful about Christmas, not buying more stuff they don't want and don't need.
Trueblue1968
(18,876 posts)I will tell my family they are paying my bills. That is what they get.
PikaBlue
(374 posts)We are exchanging only a few gifts this year, virtually all of them practical items. (Only the cat is getting a fine gift of a new scratching post. Actually, it's less of a gift and more like a bribe but to a cat those concepts are one and the same.) I'm not buying a doggone thing other than fresh food items for the next several months. I'm tired of lining the pockets of billionaires who are onboard with denying essential food support, decent wages, affordable housing, and basic medical care that is affordable and accessible, to most Americans. We plan to spend the holiday season baking bread, dabbling in some craft projects, and listening to Christmas music that was popular in the 1940s. It's going to be our best Christmas ever, because nothing says "Celebrate Baby Jesus" like turning over the tables of the money lenders. 😇
IzzaNuDay
(1,172 posts)Though for the things I want, buy from small businesses or Etsy.
Jack Valentino
(3,812 posts)KS Toronado
(21,783 posts)Good to know other groups are also using "black Friday" to make dumpie look bad.
ultralite001
(2,220 posts)Buy one...
Give one...
This is my new go to when shopping for pantry + other household staples... I will donste the second sets
to our local food pantry... because so many families + seniors in our area will soon be hurting gators...
Thankful for the little we have + happy to share w/ those in need...
elleng
(141,338 posts)Have already accumulated and ordered a bunch of new books for my 4 grands, ages 11 - 5, 2 boys, 2 girls.
Books are largely history, FIRST ones I ordered are Jane Goodall and Harriet Tubman.
Also about the World, with maps, photos, quizzes; including Most difficult places to live!
Natural history - series of adventures including national parks.
The Six Triple Eight, the black woman battalion of World War II (they delivered the mail!!!)
No mail, No morale!
Nothing frivolous for MY grands!!!
electric_blue68
(24,650 posts)returnee
(714 posts)
targeted boycotting is more effective than general strike.
In addition to choosing which company you wish to target, consider boycotting one of our main enemies: legacy media.
The more organized such action is the more effective it would be.
Just a thought.
Jilly_in_VA
(13,391 posts)Never have, never will. Not even online. We do go to a gem gem show on the Saturday of that weekend, primarily to schmooze with other dealers and maybe I buy something there, but that goes directly in the pockets of the dealers and not anywhere else. Everything else will just wait. Much of my shopping will be done before or after, and a great deal of it from small business.
KS Toronado
(21,783 posts)See my #76 above if you have time how I shop.