facts that will make you skip black friday

[LWolf]

9. I've been skipping black friday for decades, lol.

For anyone who really needs the push, though, that video offers some good incentives.

I remember a few black fridays before they were universally named "Black Friday." So long ago that, while there were plenty of shoppers, the mall wasn't really crowded. I was there, not for "deals," but to pat myself on the back for getting my shopping done early and AVOIDING the later crowds.

Four decades later, I not only left "black friday" shopping behind with the 70s, I left malls behind, as well. It's been 20 years since I stepped foot inside a mall, except when my job sent me to a conference in Houston a dozen years ago. The hotel was ATTACHED to the mall, and that's where we had to go to eat.

I don't do much shopping. This year, I'll shop locally for what I can get locally, and online for what I can't. I'll always give the locals a chance first; but I already know what is out there in my small town. I might ask a local place to get something for me that nobody is carrying. I've done that before.

Really, we don't spend much money. We have a family pool, and a budget. Each adult gets one gift within that budget after we draw names from the hat. We started this process when the economy crashed, and it's worked for us. We'll enjoy the meal and tree; we'll watch movies and play board games and enjoy being with each other. The gifts are a small pleasure, but not the main event.