‘Cause we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl
You know that we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl
-Material Girl, Madonna

This year has flown by, hasn’t it? We’ve seen so much happen, and we still have over a month left! Besides Thanksgiving, the last great thing of 2020 to look forward to is Christmas.

I bet you’ve got a million people on your list you have to buy for, and some of them have expensive tastes. Be it the new Xbox, a bigger TV, or a dream vacation, there’s a reason why the holiday season is one of the most profitable for retailers.

A long, long time ago, somebody started this tradition of giving on Christmas. Back then, it meant something as basic as a jar of spices, or something handmade. Today we break the bank and spend top dollar on those we love, to ‘show them how much we love them’.

Unless you want to be paying off a hefty credit card bill for the next year, you’ve gotta have a game plan. Fortunately, capitalism has the answer to this – Black Friday.

Taking place right after Thanksgiving, Black Friday has become a beacon of hope for holiday deal-seekers.

How did it get that name?

In the 50s, police officers named the day because of the chaos that ensued following Thanksgiving. People would flock to the cities for football games, which forced them to work late shifts to contain it.

It wasn’t until the 80s that retail chains started using the term to describe the increase to their profit margins (known as being ‘in the black’).

Retailers all over the country would offer steep discounts on anything from electronics to toys to stir up a shopping frenzy.

With the rise of e-commerce, much of your shopping can be done online. This eliminates the need to line up at a crowded store only to find that the jerk in front of you bought the last Instant Pot.

A quick YouTube search will show just how chaotic Black Friday can be. That’s why it’s better to take advantage of a good online deal and get it shipped directly to your door! These online deals often mirror the brick and mortar stores, so there is often little reason to venture out into that madness.

If you’d rather bypass Black Friday altogether, you’re not out of luck. Many retailers offer discounted items all the way up until Christmas, so keep an eye out on your flyers.

Here’s another tip. Waiting for a deal on a specific item? Apps exist that let you search their database of flyers, and even notify you when it goes on sale!

Saving money over the holiday season is just one piece of the puzzle that is your financial plan, and we work all year round to get yours in top shape. Give us a call at 513-563-PLAN (7526) or book online and chat with us about your goals and dreams today!

Regards,
Nikki Earley, CFP®