Pleading Insanity

Every year for the duration of the soon-to-be 8 years my husband and I have been together, I have been invited on his family's women-only shopacolypse event that occurs on Black Friday. And as long as I have been old enough to understand what Black Friday is, I have despised it- first for my inability to get anywhere as a younger adult, then for the absolute greed and gluttony I believe it exemplifies now. In fact, last year I'm pretty sure I blogged about how to not want to buy stuff, and how I checked out of Black Friday by leaving town for the safe and quiet comforts of Alpena, MI, a tiny town waaaay up north and out of Black Friday's storm path. This year, though, I must have lost all sense of reason, because I have RSVP'd to shop with the rest of the freaks on the Day After Thanksgiving.

It all began with my husband's and my desire to have a new TV. Do we need a new TV? Nope. We just want one, so I'm having a really hard time justifying me standing in a line at 4am while human beings punch each other for a chance to take home an IPad. But Jake and I are very, very cheap. Tightwads, even, and we are just cheap enough to tolerate the most flamboyant display of American materialism so we can save a few hundred bucks. I'm still trying to convince myself that it won't be that bad, but I have a sinking feeling that not only will the experience be bad, it might be terrible.

I looked through a few pre-Black Friday ads today, and like any other person, was lured by the suggested "savings" on things I wouldn't even consider buying unless it was on sale. I save a lot more by not buying anything. Maybe I've gone totally crazy to think I can live with myself if I shop on Black Friday. Maybe I won't go. Maybe we'll just keep watching our movies (that we rent from the real video store in person) on our burned out, prehistoric Sony until it absolutely has no picture left at all...or maybe I'll be that jerk at Best Buy at midnight, waiting in line, just to see what its like.

Comments

[Patricia]

I have always avoided the Black Friday specifically for the reasons you stated, gluttony and greed. Also, the presents I buy for people usually aren't something found at Black Friday sales. However, I suspect that most people shopping on Black Friday aren't shopping for others but for themselves - again, gluttony and greed.

I'd forgive yourself for this once in a lifetime transgression. :)