Blogging for Change

Alternatives to shopping on Black Friday

by Jesse Campbell on
11/23/2016
in Budgeting and Building Savings

 

For many, shopping on Black Friday is as much of a tradition as having turkey on Thanksgiving.  In fact, according to the National Retail Federation, nearly 138 million consumers are planning to head to the stores this Black Friday weekend. 

Of course, shopping during the Thanksgiving weekend can go one of two ways. If you've got a plan and a firm handle on what to buy and how much to spend, and if the deals break just right, you can potentially save a lot. If you don't have a plan, however, and you're easily swayed into making purchases that only seem like a good idea at the time, Black Friday can be a major bust.

Fortunately, there's another alternative - avoiding the stores this Black Friday weekend altogether. In truth, you know there are going to be great deals all season long, so skipping this "special" sales weekend is easier than ever. And if you're used to shopping on Black Friday weekend and need a few suggestions on things to do instead, here are 35 alternatives to shopping on Black Friday.

  1. Take a hike
  2. String popcorn
  3. Hang holiday lights
  4. Address holiday cards
  5. Volunteer for a local charity
  6. Watch movies
  7. Binge your new favorite Netflix show
  8. Play board games
  9. Build a puzzle
  10. Go ice skating
  11. Visit a museum
  12. Read a book
  13. Build a snowman
  14. Take a nap
  15. Make turkey soup
  16. Make a turkey loaf
  17. Make turkey sandwiches
  18. Make turkey chili
  19. Play football
  20. Watch football
  21. Cross country ski
  22. Go sledding
  23. Visit with friends
  24. Visit with family
  25. Go to the park
  26. Go to an indoor swimming pool
  27. Walk your dog
  28. Volunteer to walk a dog at your local animal shelter
  29. Do yoga
  30. Clean up your home
  31. Knit (or learn to knit)
  32. Go to the zoo
  33. Paint a picture
  34. Trim a tree
  35. Listen to holiday music

There are enough items on this list to safely get you through Sunday!  If you find yourself longing for the mall, try to remember that shopping should not be considered a hobby or recreational sport. 

And if you do choose to shop on Black Friday, be sure to properly prepare yourself before you even leave the house. 

This is an updated version of an article that was originally posted in November 2010.

Jesse Campbell photo.

Jesse Campbell is the Content Manager at MMI, with over ten years of experience creating valuable educational materials that help families through everyday and extraordinary financial challenges.

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