3 Tips To Stop Black Friday Fatigue and Avoid Overspending

It's that time of year again!  I don't know about you, but I have been overwhelmed with the constant stream of advertising, offers and aggressive marketing messaging hitting me in the lead up to Black Friday.  Every year is the same, and it seems that despite whatever is going on in the world, nothing has changed!

If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed this Black Friday/Cyber Monday period then I hope these 3 tips to avoid overspending this Black Friday will help you.

1.  Have an action plan

The key for not getting caught out in spending more money than you have, or had planned to spend on Black Friday is to make sure you have a plan!  We all know that going to the supermarket on an empty stomach with no list, is a bad idea!  In the same way, trying to navigate all the marketing messages and newsletters landing in your inbox with no plan as to what you're actually in the market for, is an equally dangerous situation to be in.  

Take a few minutes to think about what it is, if anything, you're looking to buy.  Does something in the kitchen need replacing?  Have you still got a few Christmas gifts to purchase, or would you simply like to treat yourself to something you've had your eye on?  Having an action plan will help you avoid overspending on Black Friday on unplanned and potentially unnecessary items.

2.  Click the unsubscribe button 

We know it sounds a bit counter intuitive - we, as an online brand advocating unsubscribing to email communications!  However, our brand values do not advocate for feelings of overwhelm, overconsumption, temptation to fall into debt and the many other issues that come with being bombarded with sales and offers, which particularly likely over this Black Friday / Cyber Monday period.

If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed with the sheer amount of newsletters and promotional messaging lighting up your phone notifications and landing in your inbox on a daily basis, the easiest thing to do is to hit that unsubscribe button.  It may just be a temporary thing, whilst you wait for the noise to subside, or it might be permanent if you feel that the messages landing in your inbox are taking away, rather than adding to your mental well being. 

This may all sound a little serious, but with the so many of us being attached to some form of technology for the majority of the day, too many notifications can become a real stressor particularly on Black Friday, where temptations can become too great to resist.

3.  Be mindful

It can be all too easy to get carried away in the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.  It is worth remembering that the retail landscape has changed over the years, and these days there are more than just a couple of sales a year.  So if you don't buy something on Black Friday, it's a pretty safe bet that you'll probably still have a chance to get the item discounted at a later date.

Therefore, it's worth stopping and asking yourself if you really need and item or if you would just like it.  Is it essential?  Can I afford it?  If the answer to these questions is yes, then by all means enjoy yourself and buy the item!  If not however, pause and wait.  Perhaps save up a little more, find an alternative to the product on the pre-loved market or ask around family and friends to see if anyone has something similar to give away.  Although not the same as 'the shiny new thing,' your peace of mind and bank balance will thank you later!

Conclusion

Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the weekend in between can be a really tempting few days.  Well actually, it's more Black Friday week these days!  Utilised in the right way, the discounting over this period can be really useful in saving your hard earned money when making purchases you've planned for. 

It's just worth having these few tips at the back of your mind if you find yourself becoming overwhelmed or feeling at risk of being carried away this Black Friday.  We're definitely not against purchasing new, nice items for yourself or others.  It's conscious, considered consumption that we promote, for the sake of not only ourselves, but for our planet too.

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