Cutting through the mire of offers, once-in-a-lifetime discounts and adverts is the trick to winning the day on Black Friday.
Isn’t Black Friday a guaranteed win?
Although it can seem like a consumer’s dream, going in with a plan and making some reckless decisions can quickly turn Black Friday into a nightmare. The sheer buzz of marketing and promotions makes it easy to be sucked in to thinking you are getting the bargain of a lifetime.
But the reality is that unnecessary or borderline purchases can quickly cause a lot of financial stress.
Going in with some composure and a sound plan can really help you win on Black Friday.
Where to start
Sounds easy, but how do you really turn the tables on multi-billion-dollar retailers on Black Friday?
First, don’t forget that retailers have the advantage of professional merchandisers and advertisers to pull you in. They also have sophisticated algorithms and data telling them what you buy, how you buy and when you buy. It’s David versus Goliath!
But when you apply some simple tactics, you can take control. However powerful a firm’s advertising may be, you hold the purse strings until you hit the dreaded “confirm purchase button”, so use this advantage in your favor!
Calm not crazy
Retailers thrive on whipping consumers into a spending frenzy on Black Friday.
To combat this, whether you are shopping instore or online, make a good old-fashioned list! This is the most simple but effective way of avoiding rash decisions that can lead to untold stress and anxiety later in the month when you see the full extent of the damage. In short, stay calm and don’t let the retailers win.
If possible, formulate your plan over a period of 6-9 months before Black Friday. Jot down any new products you find yourself wishing you had on a regular basis. Also, write down any products that are beginning to show their age and causing you the hassle. This way you won’t be scrambling to remember everything when November rolls around.
Shop around
Another feature of Black Friday is that retailers really want to avoid you shopping around. Websites are designed to be as sticky and enticing as possible. Tricks such as time-limited offers or low stock alerts are all designed to create urgency and impulse.
Put simply, ignore this. Shop around and see if the so-called unmissable price really is unmissable, or if it would be better to be missed.
Another key thing to remember on Black Friday 2021 is to not cut corners on the normal research you would do. Especially for larger purchases of a few hundred dollars or more, make sure you check out some independent user reviews or Trustpilot ratings.
Sometimes the best purchases are the ones you don’t make
If you are not sure about a product or how good the price is, walk away. It may feel disappointing at the time, but you will feel a lot better about it in the long run. There are always other sales – so keep your nerve!
| For the second year in a row, American Christmas is holding its INCREDIBLE Warehouse SALE EVENT! They are unveiling an incredible selection of Trees, Wreaths, Garland, Collectible Ornaments, Nutcrackers, Lit Motifs, and resin Christmas-themed props big and small. You never know what you will find inside the Warehouse and all priced 80% off retail. You will also get the first opportunity to shop the new Christmas In America Retail Store before it officially opens on Monday, October 18th. This is a 1 Day Only Sale! SUNDAY, 10/17 – Doors Open 9 AM – 4 PM Stop by to take a look at the new additions. Everything is limited, and I know they’ll disappear fast! On-Street Parking is available. And, Face Masks are required to enter the sale event. Hope to see everyone there! American Christmas 30 Warren Place Mount Vernon, NY 10550 |
I know it’s a little early BUT there are only 113 days until Christmas…Last year I partnered with the most amazing Christmas decor company American Christmas. They create some of the most gorgeous Holiday decorations all over NYC from Saks to Cartier to Rock Center and so many more. Throughout December, they held a huge spectacular warehouse sale where our readers were invited to come and buy some of the most beautiful decorations that had been featured in previous years at some of their famous client locations.
In addition to the business-to-business side of American Christmas, they are about to open a gorgeous retail location, Christmas in America next month to the public Here they are planning a fabulous Christmas experience extravaganza. Not only will you be able to find everything to decorate your home but also they will be holding special event photos with Santa, holiday workshops, and decorating classes. Also starting in October, we will be hosting some special SAFE events with Christmas in America to help you get into the Holiday Spirit. If you have a minute, drop me an EMAIL letting me know what types of lectures, classes (wreath, Christmas trees, outdoor, etc) that you would be interested in. I luckily was given a sneak peek into their Holiday wonderland. I cannot wait until we can all go and see it together!!!
Honestly, with the task of Christmas/Holiday cards, you can never start too early…..I just started working with the stationary company Basic Invite, Truly Custom Invitations. The Holidays are when most people create a personalized card that tells their family’s story for the past year. So much time is spent picking out just the right card, with the right sentiment, with the right design, and the just-right family photo(s). Most recently Basic Invite sent me their new Custom Christmas Card and Custom Holiday Card assortment. I know there are so many online card options but besides their unbeatable prices and value, plus innovative products found nowhere else, here are a few other reasons why I chose to partner with Basic Invite to tell our family’s 2021 story:
Basic Invite is one of the few websites that allows customers almost UNLIMITED COLOR OPTIONS with instant previews online. Once you select a design, customers can change the color of each element on the card. With over 200 colors to choose from, your finished product is sure to be exactly what you want. This is what sets Basic Invite apart from almost any other online stationery company.
Basic Invite lets you see instant previews that allow you to adjust your Custom Christmas Cards or Custom Holiday Cards until they are just right.
Basic Invite provides FREE ADDRESS PRINTING WITH EVERY ORDER!!!! Import your list of contacts to save yourself time when sending your Christmas cards. You NEVER have to address another card again.
Basic Invite has over 40 different ENVELOPE COLORS to choose from. With so many options, customers can make their envelopes match the invitation. All of the envelopes are peel and seal so they can be closed quickly and securely.
With all of these unique creative options, Basic Invite can assure your family that your card will be truly your own and one of a kind. Basic Invite, truly believes that this is important because no two families are the same!!
And the most important thing, in my option…THE LOVE GUARANTEE!!! At Basic Invite you can shop with confidence that you will love your card when you receive it or they will reprint until you do.
Lastly, Basic Invite works with designers all over the globe to bring you an incredible hand-curated selection of festive Christmas and Holiday invitations. And 2021 will be THE Holiday season to make up for the lost time of 2020 and celebrate!!
Right now Basic Invite is offering 15% off with coupon code: 15FF51 on all orders so it is the perfect time to get online and find that perfect card for your perfect family!!!!!
On this blog, I have written about my friend Leeann many times.. She is the one with whom, I have been friends with since middle school and a few years ago she moved to Maine for a HUGE career opportunity (even though all our lives, including college, we never lived apart for more than 45 minutes AT THE MOST from each other).
Well, Leeann is uber creative and pretty cool. She’s the type of person who calls Robert DeNiro, Bobby, and sat across a table from Lady Gaga, mentioning that they both went to Sacred Heart. She created a logo for her 50th birthday party and when building her house, designed a special DJ Booth for all future dance parties! The first time I saw it in action, I was honestly speechless!!! So when I saw the graduation party she threw for her daughter, Winnie, last weekend, I had to share…It was perfection and honestly I wish I had been as clever to have thrown it myself!!!!
All photos by the talented @digitalmacphotos
I love the bamboo place settings and navy cloth napkins…and notice the custom logo designed for the party!! And do not forget to check out the menu…5 families got together and provided all the food themselves….
The Farm To Table theme was perfection. The chambray runners were perfect with the gorgeous paper flower centerpieces with pearl and gemstone centers made by Susan McNeil, @petals.susan. She ships nationwide and her bouquets are fabulous. Def. on my mind for future gifting….
Leeann made sweet tea and served it in individual mason jars chilled on ice..
How fabulous are these?…Half orbs made completely from paper flowers at each of the graduate’s places in their college colors, which will also become a keepsake that they can bring with them next year to their college dorm rooms.
Now for my favorite part, look at this academic-themed giant candy bar…each selection of candy was cleverly named and labeled. See below, animal crackers “teacher’s pets”, $100 grand bars “college debt“, tootsie rolls “honor roll”, gummy worms, “book worms”, smarties “smartypants”, ring pops, “class rings”, etc etc. LOVE IT ALL!!
And lastly look at this incredible light show that she did for the dance floor with a combination of LED lights, paper lanterns, professional lighting, and of course in true Leeann style a huge disco ball. What a party...Leeann, I hope you plan my next one!!!
I really struggled with this year’s gift guide for Mother’s Day. I wanted to incorporate some self-care items, with some special goodies with a few luxuries thrown in. Really something for everyone. The past year has really taught us that less is more and the people in our lives and our home lives really are the most important. So I have a few special choices to really treat mom.
Cake// 1 Hotel Candle//Tunic Dress// Barista Keurig Machine// Pucci Top//Juicer//Godiva Gift Box// Milk Bar Truffles//Cube Diffusers//Gucci Bag//Bliss Bath Gem// Floral Bouquet// Shower Steamers//Baked By Melissa Cupcakes.
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