Why I Said NO to Black Friday: The Truth About Fake Deals and Real Happiness!
Hey friends! Can we talk about Black Friday for a second? Every year, it feels like the world goes into overdrive, screaming at us to BUY! BUY! BUY! But this year, I did something different—I didn’t buy a single thing. Not one. And you know what? It felt amazing. Let me share why skipping Black Friday was the best decision I made and how you can rethink your holiday spending too.
The Truth About Black Friday Discounts
Are Black Friday deals really worth it? Spoiler: Not always. Retailers are clever, especially online giants like Amazon. They use tactics like raising prices weeks before Black Friday so they can slash them later, making it look like you’re scoring a huge discount.
Tools like Honey and CamelCamelCamel can reveal the truth about these so-called deals. They track price histories, showing whether a sale is real or just a marketing gimmick. For example, I used CamelCamelCamel to track a set of seat covers for my car, and I was shocked to see it was cheaper earlier in the year! I guess I will just keep waiting for that true price drop.
When I realized how often these “deals” are just smoke and mirrors, it made skipping Black Friday an easy decision.
Why I’m Choosing Experiences Over Things
Instead of chasing discounts, I’ve been focusing on creating experiences with my family. It’s a decision that has brought so much more happiness than any product ever could.
Think about it: how long does the excitement of a new gadget or outfit really last? A week? Maybe a month? But experiences—those create memories that stick with you forever.
For example, I recently took my two nephews to the children’s museum as a birthday gift, and it was such a hit. The kids had a blast exploring all the exhibits, and we couldn’t stop laughing when they danced their hearts out at DJ Turkey’s dance party. That’s a memory I’ll treasure for a long time, and I know they will too.
In fact, the experience was so meaningful that I decided one of my daughter’s Christmas gifts this year would be a membership to the same children’s museum. It’s the kind of present that keeps on giving—fun, learning, and time spent together as a family. Now that’s a gift worth giving!
Choosing experiences over things has helped me save money and prioritize what really matters.
Do I Really Need This?
One of the biggest questions I asked myself this Black Friday was: Do I really need this? More often than not, the answer was “no.”
We already have more than enough stuff in our home—clothes, toys, gadgets. Honestly, it sometimes feels like we’re drowning in things! When we moved a year ago, I donated so much stuff—and yet, we still have a ton of things! It’s honestly overwhelming at times. I’ve made it a habit to regularly go through my daughter’s playroom and toss broken toys or donate items she’s outgrown. No matter how much I clear out, it feels like there’s always more.
The truth is, we don’t need more things. What we need is more time together as a family—making memories, not messes. That’s one of the biggest reasons I skipped Black Friday this year. The last thing I want is to bring in more stuff we don’t truly need.
Black Friday often tricks us into thinking we need more. But by focusing on what I already have, I was able to avoid unnecessary purchases and save money for what truly matters.
How Tools Like Honey and CamelCamelCamel Saved Me Money
I used to love chasing Black Friday lightning deals, but now I rely on tools like Honey and CamelCamelCamel to track prices year-round. These tools have completely changed the way I shop online.
- Honey: Automatically applies coupon codes at checkout to save money instantly and tracks prices.
- CamelCamelCamel: Tracks Amazon price histories, showing whether a discount is actually a good deal.
For example, I was scrolling through Instagram a while back when an influencer was raving about a “huge sale” on a watercolor set. It sounded tempting, but I decided to double-check using CamelCamelCamel. Sure enough, the “sale” price wasn’t a deal at all—the set had been listed for the same price just weeks before.
That moment was eye-opening. Armed with tools like CamelCamelCamel, I started uncovering the truth about so many so-called discounts. Most Black Friday deals weren’t as amazing as they seemed, which made skipping the sales an easy—and empowering—choice.
What I Learned by Skipping Black Friday
You know what happened when I skipped Black Friday? Absolutely nothing. No stress, no FOMO—just peace of mind and more money in my bank account.
Instead of spending the day scrolling through deals or fighting crowds, I will spend it going to the park with my family and going on a nature walk. It is so much more fulfilling than buying things I don’t need.
By opting out of Black Friday, I learned that skipping the sales doesn’t mean missing out. It means making intentional choices about where my money—and my energy—goes.
Final Thoughts: Why You Should Rethink Black Friday
Black Friday is marketed as the ultimate shopping day, but it’s often more hype than reality. By stepping back, I’ve learned to focus on what truly matters:
- Avoiding fake discounts with tools like Honey and CamelCamelCamel.
- Valuing experiences over material things.
- Prioritizing needs over wants.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by Black Friday madness, I encourage you to try something different next year. Skip the sales, use price-tracking tools to shop smarter, and invest in experiences or quality items when you truly need them. I’d love to hear your thoughts (and any fun no-spend-day stories!) in the comments.
