Hello Consumers!
Good news; Black Friday is almost here! For those who don’t live in America, here is what happens on this glorious day of shopping and mindless consumerism:
- Wake up at 2am and drive to the local big-box store.
- Stand in line shivering in the cold for hours, waiting for the store to open.
- Once the lights come on, run in like your life depends on it. Don’t be afraid to shove and trample fellow humans.
- Don’t forget that violence, profanity and even fights are all part of the experience! When in
RomeWalmart, riot!
This blog is all about anti-consumerism, but even a frugal fool like me can’t resist this kind of fun!
The Official 1500 Days Shopping Guide
I want to help all of you out with your gift shopping, so I’ve put together the shopping guide to end all guides:
- I’ll help you find great gifts for that pain-in-the-ass brother or hard-to-shop-for mother!
- What do you get for the dog that has everything? I have your answer!
- Do you know which store has the best deals on your next TV? I know you already have 6 of them, but treat yourself; you deserve it!
- Do you know where to get the hottest toys of the year? I’ll show you where to find them.
- What do you do if the mom in front of you gets the last Pickle Me Elmo? I’ll tell you the best way to wrestle it from her arms. Kung Fu action isn’t just for GI Joe!
I’ve thought long and hard about these difficult situations and come up with a comprehensive shopping guide. You simply can’t go wrong with my suggestions.
Today, I present you with the Official 1500 Days Shopping Guide:
Stay home
Play in the snow
Interact with your children
Play games with family
Don’t buy anything
Drink beer
Go on a hike
Call an old friend
Play boardgames
Don’t buy anything
Put the phone down
Have the neighbors over for dinner
Talk to each other
Don’t buy anything
Watch home movies
Love your family and friends
Join the 10s who have signed up already!
Subscribing will improve your life in incredible ways*.
*Only if your life is pretty bad to begin with.
My kids had so much fun with a giant box last week, I am seriously thinking about seeing if I can find a HUGE box to give them for Christmas… so don’t be surprised if my husband blogs about me being arrested dumpster diving behind Best Buy for a refrigerator box…
Mrs SSC recently posted…Detailed Grocery Review: October 2015
My art teacher used to get large boxes from independent appliance stores. (Sometimes they’re easier to work with than the big box stores) Fridge boxes make great portfolios for older kids’ art work.
Haha — I LOVE that idea!
Our Next Life recently posted…Our Next Life By the Numbers // Our 100th Post!
Hilarious! Better than my friends’ suggestion of “coal” for the sibling and SIL who have a list of criteria of what makes them happy. (Including shelling out $30 to ship said gift across country because shipping from a retailer like Amazon is “cheap”).
It makes me angry that I worry so much about trying to please people who want for nothing when there so many people out there who have so little. I can’t change my relatives, but I’m trying to focus my time and energy on other things.
“It makes me angry that I worry so much about trying to please people who want for nothing when there so many people out there who have so little.”
I know, right? The energy I put into forced gift giving in the past could have been used so much better.
Give them a gift of donating to a charity in their name with a card about how it’s great that you and they live such wonderful lives, so you thought it’d be nice to help someone who really needs it. Tough for them to bad mouth that, and you do some good! Most of the adults in my family have been doing that for awhile (although there’s usually some small gifts here and there).
I don’t want the couple in question to upset others at Christmas, but this would be a great idea for birthdays. Thank you.
So perfect! We’ve convinced our family on one side (no kids) to do no gifts this year besides time together, and the other side to do just modest homemade gifts or gifts of experience (I’m hoping to get a round of bowling), and I’m SO EXCITED! No more stuff!
Our Next Life recently posted…Our Next Life By the Numbers // Our 100th Post!
Love it, perfect! We make an exception for children, but no gifts for adults!
Hey, you must be having some server issues or something. I can’t see your list of products and gadgets to buy! Where are the deals??? Must… have… deals!
Black Friday is always a great family bonding experience for us. Here’s a photo of us at Walmart last year. Ah, memories. http://i.imgur.com/qBqSo0X.jpg
Matt @ The Resume Gap recently posted…An Introduction
Awesome photo! I hope you got that gadget you wanted!
OMG…that picture is hilarious! That is so true!
My wife made the trip out on Black Friday, once just once. Prior to us getting on finances on track. Now we just kick back and enjoy some family time. We’ll be enjoying a Star Wars movie marathon over Thanksgiving weekend, on and checking social media for the carnage.
Brian @DebtDiscipline recently posted…Does Peer to Peer lending fit into your Portfolio?
Star Wars movie marathon! Do you have room for one more? 🙂
From your last post, curious…. why VGT and not QQQ?
If you do the compare on finance.google.com QQQ seems like a better option? Probably because it also has biotech mixed in but still heavily IT/Tech.
I see what you mean about QQQ. The answer is that I was trying to go with Vanguard stuff and didn’t look much beyond that.
They do seem to have a lot of overlap except for the biotech that you mentioned. Biotech has had such a great run that maybe the returns will equal out in the future.
Did I not have enough coffee or I’m having eyesight problem? Because I don’t see any buying tips! I’m shocked because Mr. 1500 words are gold, now I don’t know what to do for my holiday shopping!
Kidding aside, I never understand the crazies behind Black Friday. Luckily we don’t have such crazy shopping tradition here in Canada. We just have a holiday called “Boxing Day” on the 26th. That day is pretty crazy when it comes to people bringing out their polar bears to protect their spots in the que.
Tawcan recently posted…Guilty pleasure
There are tips, you just have to look under the covers…
I want all the things on your thoughtful list! ALL THE THINGS! It’s a good thing the list isn’t very extensive. In fact, I did some calculations and all the deals you mention will cost me exactly $0.00. I better start budgeting!
Maggie @ Northern Expenditure recently posted…Financial Ethics
Perfect.
Anyone who is having issues seeing the list might want to try a Firefox or IE browser… I can see the list using those but NOT when using Chrome.
Funny, I could only see it when I used my wife’s Macbook using Safari. A new Macbook Pro is on the Shopping guide btw. 😉
Oh! There is actually a list there. I thought the joke was that you were supposed to buy your PITA relatives a whole lot of nothing. (I can’t see the list without viewing the source code)
Now that I’ve read the list I love this post anymore. It’s a regular working week for us Canadians, but I think spending time with ones you love and doing things that are meaningful to you captures the spirit of the holidays mores than buying a bunch of stuff.
Another suggestion is to jiggle the cords, restart your modem or slap your monitor.
Unfortunately, I can’t see the awesome list, either. But I definitely agree with the craziness that takes place at stores not to be named (W*l*a*r*) *ahem* Two years ago I had a night alone on Thanksgiving so I thought I would do a drive by of the local Toys “r” Us. I was disgusted to see a line stretching around the building at around 6PM that night. So sad that people “buy” into the idea that consumerism is what makes the holiday special. Love the dino pic!
Mrs. Money Monster recently posted…Hump Day Headlines: Spending Wisely
The list is there! Look deeper!
The dinosaurs love posing for the blog. They think they’re movie stars. Their little dinosaur minds do not comprehend that this blog isn’t going to lead to a part in the next Jurassic Park. Just last week, they asked for yet another raise. Sigh…
I’ll admit, I fell for it. Refresh, tried different server, etc., just to make sure I wasn’t missing anything.
-DP
DP @ Someday Extraordinary recently posted…Confirmation Bia$
You’re on the right track. Keep looking for the Easter Egg. I’ll reveal it on Monday.
I cant see the list in chrome or IE. Or is that what im supposed to be looking at? A blank page!? I could see that, youre saying “dont spend your money shopping!!”. The guide is to do nothing. Just have a blank stare on your face during the whole holiday shopping season.
Now that may be not so bad advice after all!! Haha.
Alexander @ Cash Flow Diaries recently posted…Top 6 Gift Ideas For A Real Estate Professional
Nothing pithy/sarcastic/perverse written in white text or meta tags? Lost opportunities…
Great idea! I just updated the post. Who can find what I did?
Yeah that wasn’t there yesterday. I think there is subliminal message in your subliminal message. The first 3 down spell out SPI. So I should buy everyone a trip to South Padre Island?!?!?! I’ll pack my trunks.
Correct, another reader suggested it.
Never been to South Padre Island, but I’m a sucker for beaches! Book it. FI party!
YES!!! (We get experiences (tickets, memberships, outings) for birthdays and Christmas for us and our four kids – and I’ve even gotten some extended family on board!)
Nice! Unlike memories of opening some plastic thing, those memories will last forever.
Thankfully Black Friday hasn’t really caught on in Australia, but I heard about it on the news a few years back. I honestly thought that it was another one of those American things (like Halloween) that people try to bring to Australia but it never actually takes off.
Thankfully I don’t have to hear about it any more though since I rarely watch the news, don’t read newspapers, and do my best to avoid advertisements entirely.
The whole thing seems even more ridiculous given that you could probably buy the same crap for the same price the whole year round if you exercise your googling skills for about 10 minutes. Haven’t these people heard of online shopping?
InsiderAccountant recently posted…Are you working in an obsolete job?
Give thanks that dumbass Black Friday (or Halloween) hasn’t caught on. It’s all nonsense perpetuated by TV commercials and neighbors trying to keep up with each other.
“The whole thing seems even more ridiculous given that you could probably buy the same crap for the same price the whole year round if you exercise your googling skills for about 10 minutes.”
Yep! Or better yet, really consider whether you need the new piece of junk in the first place. Some big-ass TV for $300 may be a great deal. Never spending the $300 is the best deal of all.
I plan on doing almost everything on your (very hard to see) list. Except play in the snow. Not a fan of snow.
Not a fan of snow???!!!!
I’ll forgive you though because you found the secret list. Watch out for flying snowballs though when you’re in our neck of the woods.
The list published with the font color same as background color in Firefox. I had to highlight the section to get a relief image of the text. Seems others are having the same problem…
Financial Velociraptor recently posted…Buy to hold SPDR Series Trust – SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF (KRE)
Bingo.
I have to admit I have been black Friday shopping but I’ve never done the 2 am wake up or lines. Just get there around 8 am… But its been a few years since I’ve gone and I’ve actually gone with a very specific list usually. Spending never got put of hand but I’m glad not to go anymore.
I have really started seeing all new products in a negative light. I feel like if we stopped making clothes for an entire 5 yrs there would still be enough in circulation to clothe everyone…. So I really try to avoid new now.
The Roamer recently posted…Weekly Pain & Gain: One bad thing on top of another
I always work on Black Friday, and love it. It’s never quieter in the office than the day after Thanksgiving. Last year we did a 3 hour snow hike on Thanksgiving itself and it was awesome. Then dinner at a restaurant. Probably one of my favorite Thanksgivings.
Norm recently posted…Frugal Failure: I Paid $40 For A Pencil
Snow hike + dinner >>> waiting in line to buy a bunch of crapola.
OMG, that’s exactly what I’m getting Mr PoP! =)
FWIW, though, Black Friday sales online are the best. Last year we got Mr PoP a bunch of new work clothes (the need was dire) by buying them online on Black Friday. Buy 1 Get 2 Free plus free door-to-door shipping without having to dig through piles of clothes looking for the few “slim” sizes that might be in stock and easy local returns even after Christmas when the stores aren’t insane? Don’t mind if I do!
Mrs. PoP recently posted…I Called And Raised Our Cable Bill
Nice work. Needed stuff like clothes with the convenience of online shopping is completely acceptable. Do let me know if you find a black Black Friday NSX.
This list is fantastic. My family doesn’t know it yet but everybody’s iPhone and our cheapo Androids are going into a basket on top of the fridge as soon as we arrive. Anybody who HAS to have their phone will be baking cookies and doing dishes for everybody else.
I’d love to figure out how to get my family to stop focusing on the gifts for Christmas. I really just want to spend time with them and would prefer they come and visit rather than giving us stuff.
Also anybody who buys a $60k item for a “gift” without discussing it is cruising for a divorce in my world.
Mr. Benny recently posted…12 Tips to Save Thousands on Holiday Travel
“I really just want to spend time with them and would prefer they come and visit rather than giving us stuff.”
BOOM!!!
Exactly.
Whoa! I’m planning on buying everything on that list! What a coincidence!
Thias @It Pays Dividends recently posted…Dividend Payout #18 – Shape Your Brain
I buy 2 things the day after Thanksgiving, gas for my car if I’m low, lunch with friends. Great local restaurants no where near shopping for the win!!!!!
You left a favorite off your list…
Watching football. That is what my hubby and I plan to do.