POINT: Black Friday is fun for the whole family
Black Friday is not the nightmare some paint it to be. It’s crazy, fun and — if you know what you’re doing — the source of some fantastic deals.
I’ve been Black Friday shopping almost every year since I was a little girl, and it’s a day I always look forward to when Thanksgiving break rolls around. Yes, some people argue Black Friday is a pathetic way for Americans to greedily go out to purchase pointless stuff just after reminiscing on what they’re thankful for, but that’s not a fair perspective.
On Thanksgiving, my family and I always acknowledge what we’re thankful for, and we aren’t hypocrites just because we want to go out and have a good time finding deals later that evening or the next day.
Black Friday is a good thing; its sales provide some of the best bargains one can find. In my eyes, each year is a new challenge to find the best possible deals on items I would actually enjoy and use, and when I do, I feel accomplished.
This year, Black Friday sales began as early as 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. My family and I decided to tackle the crowd together while still enjoying the family holiday. We decided to start at Walmart, where certain DVDs were going to be available to our anxious fingertips right at 8 p.m.
There were crowds of people surrounding the bins, and when the Walmart associate gave us the go, a mini adrenaline rush ran through us as we tried to grab movies over one another. It was honestly fun, not a frightening mob of rabid consumers. And I was so excited when I successfully got all eight Harry Potter movies for a total of $20.72 before tax.
There’s no harm in getting good deals. I was able to find practical items such as durable, attractive dinnerware for just $4.99. Speaking from a college student’s perspective, deals like those offered on Black Friday can really help conserve limited funds.
Saving money is a positive thing, but even more important is the fact that Black Friday helps stimulate the economy each year. For you, the shopper, it’s several hours of an exciting rush while trying to find great deals. For the business sector, its a sign of bounty or struggle to come.
Some people think Black Friday is ridiculous and overrated, but if you haven’t experienced a day or night of Black Friday shopping, you have little room to criticize this American retail tradition.
As long as you're thankful for the things you have and aren’t blinded by senseless purchases, Black Friday can simply be a fun time that’s easy on your wallet.
Alex Niblett is a journalism junior.
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