There’s a sign in front of a church that I pass by that is advertising for an upcoming “financial planning” seminar. The sign has a picture of some snake oil salesman-looking guy holding a bundle of cash and says “Normal is Broke, BE WEIRD!” I’m not sure what kind of financial planning seminar would be held in a church but I hope it doesn’t involve praying for more money. 😉
Right after I pass that church I get to the Walmart, which seems to be a much more popular place for people to spend their time and money, because Walmart is always packed and I only see people at the church on Sunday. Maybe the church needs to take marketing advice from Walmart and attract people there by having sales.
I guess it’s the whole “SALE!” thing that is on my mind, mostly. But it ties into the idea of financial planning because the two ideas seem to be diametrically opposed.
Because I don’t watch television, don’t listen to commercial radio, have Ad Blocker on my browser and stopped subscribing to the local “junk mail disguised as yesterday’s news” newspaper I am mostly insulated from all of the “it’s on sale” mentality that gets people all excited about Black Friday. But I hear people at work all the time making plans to go shopping on Friday because “they’re (whoever “they’re” is) is having a sale on (INSERT NAME OF ITEM HERE).
Kathy & I just don’t buy stuff. Other than trips to Lowe’s to buy the few things we have needed for our house, we buy food, wine and gasoline for the car. I will admit to making a few trips to Best Buy while I was rounding out my Sonos system, but that’s it. We went to Target a few weeks ago and bought a few things that we needed, and realized that was the first time we had been there since January. And it’s not because we shop somewhere else – I haven’t been inside a Walmart in probably 5 years!
Just for fun I pulled up Walmart’s (and this is not a slam at Walmart, they just make a convenient example) Black Friday ad and looked through it. In a 39-page ad, there isn’t a single thing I would buy now. It’s not that there isn’t anything I would have, but generally if there is something I need I already have it, and if I need to replace something I have, I usually can’t wait until it’s on sale!
Admittedly, some of the sales are pretty good. If you just happened to be in the market for Beats wireless headphones ($280 – really?) $149 is a pretty good price. I liked the idea of Skullcandy earbuds for $9, but if I needed a set I would already have some that I paid $18 for and wouldn’t be laying up extras “just in case.” About three quarters of the pages are for clothes and junk toys that I wouldn’t buy for anyone’s kid. And best of all, if you don’t have the money for all this stuff, they have special financing available! Take 24 months to pay for this year’s crap! What a deal!
I’ll admit that the excuse that a lot of people use is that they are buying Christmas gifts, and to a certain extent that is probably true. But I’m not as concerned about who the stuff is for as I am that people feel like they have to buy stuff at all, for them or for someone else.
Anyway, I’m really not judging. Really! Some people enjoy the thrill of the chase, some have money to burn and shop just for fun. I choose to do otherwise. So do what you want, buy what you need and remember to share some of your good fortune with others less fortunate than you. What am I doing for Black Friday? I usually go to work on that day since I often figure it’s a lousy day to waste a vacation day on. This year though we’ve decided to do something a little different on Black Friday. We’re going to the beach for the weekend. Have fun!
I’m with you on the Black Friday nonsense, Tom. I don’t think Barb and I have ever been to a mall (or store) on the weekend after Thanksgiving. Well, except for the grocery store. I think there’s actually fewer people at the grocery store around Black Friday. They’re all at WalMart. I just don’t understand the apparent need to accumulate “stuff”. Why would you want to stand in line and then fight with other people to buy a cheap, poorly made big-screen TV?
Speaking of TV, though, I will admit that I watch it. Although I am selective about it. I mean, what else is there to do in western NY in the winter? And you can’t look at photographs on the computer – or read – all day.
Hi Paul. I agree that a long cold western NY winter just might make me wish for a television, but I haven’t found a reason to buy one yet! 😉 I know all of this kind of crazy talk puts us in the minority, but I’m OK with that and think you are, too.
Last time I went shopping on the day after Thanksgiving was when my sister from out of state came to visit and had to pick up a few things. That was 15 years ago and it was an experience I will never repeat. But she had fun and that’s the important thing. I’m happy to stay home and rest.
Thanks, Ken. I hope you had a good holiday weekend, especially without all that shopping! 🙂
I like Paul’s name for it, “Black Friday nonsense.” What intregues me are those who will spend a hundred dollars or more believing they are saving twenty-five dollars. I believe in saving the hundred dollars. I definitely want to avoid the crowd.
Well, with free financing, why not, Monte? Most people just don’t seem to have the same money sense as some of us old dudes.
We don’t have Black Friday in Australia (though considering how Halloween has caught on, I give it another year or two) but it seems to me that our stores have sales all year round. It used to be twice a year–mid year and after Christmas–but now it’s pretty much anytime which makes me wonder about the RRP set on things and whether they are real or not.
Anyway, people can go broke saving money when it comes to sales, as Monte hinted in his comment.
Like you, I don’t watch TV, listen to radio or read newspapers (physical or virtual) so I don’t feel tempted to buy stuff. And when I do decide I want something, I will often talk myself out of it once I realise I don’t actually need it. Of course, this does have its downside; my wife thinks I am very boring 😉
Cedric, I doubt that your wife finds you boring…she’s probably glad that you leave more shopping money for her!
I like the expression of “going broke saving money.” Good one!
Wise words, Tom, together with fine images! (I especially like the backyard from North Carolina).We share this ignorance of TV and ads and all the like – there are much more interesting things in the world that I also want to direct my kids’ interest to than consumerism and commerce. Black friday has no direct counterpart here in Germany, but the pre-Christmas sales campaigns give us taste of those things. And the fascination of shopping seems to work in all social classes, so continuation is guaranteed.
Thank you, Markus. It’s interesting to hear that you have a similar experience from your perspective.