It's a very hectic time with Americans celebrating Thanksgiving, and everyone else pretending we're Americans, as well. Well, mostly brands and retailers, isn't it? I don't know what the rules are like in your country (or if there even are any rules, at all), but here, it's been Black Friday for about three weeks now in a bizarre version of Groundhog Day without Bill Murray (and then, really, what is even the point?).
I was going to say that hopefully, it will be winding down soon, but it doesn't look like it. With Christmas just around the corner, we're probably gonna be hearing about these unmissable deals for a couple more weeks at least.
So, instead, I will ask you.
How did you fare?
DId you get a good deal? Snag yourself a couple of goodies you'd been eyeing for a long time? Did you resist, and could you have put up a better fight? Are you haunted by the fear that you've missed out?
I've tried as much as I can to avoid these so-called deals as they're seldom actually good (I think we've all seen those experiments where people go to Y store a month before Black Friday, scout out an item and price, then find it again on BF at a higher or at least the same price). Still, as it's that time of the year and I do love preparing gifts, I've been making small, careful incursions into the retail world. Once or twice, I've gotten sucked into the spiel. At the end of the day, we all just want a good deal. We all wanna win.
The only thing I actually got, though, was the oven, and I'm fairly pleased to have checked the website just now and yes, seems like I did get a very good discount, indeed. Still, I'm pretty sure that for each one "deal" you actually get on BF, they con you into spending money on three other different things that you didn't actually need and that weren't actually at a significant discount at all, so who's gaining here?
The house always wins, Pinnochio.
But on a more positive note, since it is December, the above is not true in your life, perhaps for the mere haphazard reason that there is no house. There is just the status quo, your innermost fears, and whatever else might be holding you back from the life you've longed for. In which case, the question bears repeating.
How did you fare?
Did you get a good deal? Are you haunted by the fear that you've missed out? How is 2024 rounding up for you?
For me, 2024 seems like wandering into the store only with a vague idea of what I wanted, and it becoming more and more so the more I lingered. Only seems like it, though. I knew what I wanted, and though I didn't know how I'd go about getting it, it seems I got some of it, regardless. I'm quite pleased about that. I look back on how the year started, and think was that really this year? So much has changed. Some things, I gained clarity on, some I'm left even more perplexed about. I had some hell yeah moments. Took advantage of a couple of things just because they were good deals.
You know, it's a fool's game, going around acting on FOMO. After all, you're always gonna miss out on something. It's also pretty foolish not taking what you want if it presents itself to you. So best make the most of it.
I think some things, I paid for in full, in 2024. Either I was too impatient to wait for them to be on sale, or they're one of those things that cost the same all the time. Either way, they were worth it. Make sure you spend willingly, not begrudgingly, 'cause that poisons everything.
Others, I did and sometimes wonder if I should've done different. But then, maybe in some parallel universe, I did the other thing instead, and am thinking something completely different. You can't know. This year, though, I gave myself a lot of time on all the things that felt important in deciding. It's something I struggle with. I'm an impulse purchase girl at heart. So in 2024, I've been practicing taking a walk around the block to see if I really want it or if it's just I-don't-have-it jitters.
The thing I like best, though, is that I'm feeling more peaceful and more grounded than I did around this time last year. I get it. I see not being where I want to be (or is that just me being impatient for the next brilliant thing?), but I see it as a learning curve. As it all is. And it makes a difference in how you relate to the world.
This isn't really an end-of-the-year post. Not yet. Still a month to go yet, and so much can happen in 30 days, but it's a getting-there post. Slowly wrapping up and winding down.
How did you fare?
worked my fckin face off right through the black friday weekend. Was fckin horrible (i work in a kitchen as a kitchen porter smack bang downtown)...
but once the night shifts were over, each night found me smoking up a tremendous bowl of reefer.
Sunday i went particularly heavy...didnt stop until i heard Cuban people singing in the air...
Those things that cost the same during the year are probably things that are "fair-priced"... The rest are overpriced, and on BF, they are probably the closest to their "real value"... In my opinion, all in all, it's not about "getting a deal", but paying the "fair price" 😃
As I needed some stuff for reforming the shower tub, I wanted to give a chance to the "physical stores" and I went to a couple, but the prices were crazy high... It looks like walking around trying to find a deal makes no sense anymore... In the end, I bought stuff for the "regular" price, as, I suppose, those things had no space to be cheaper...
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Oh I agree. I find I have an idea in my head of what things are worth, and look for that, regardless what the occasion is (Whether it's its actual price or some "crazy deal").
That's terrible. I guess it's harder and harder for "real" stores to compete with online, which makes it impossible to support them when you really want to. Crazy.
Good luck with your shower tub, though, and thanks for picking my post! :)
I know... And I always try to give a "chance" to small shops, but the difference in price of over 20% is too big! I would pay 5-10% more, but not that much... In the end, they could buy online and resell for 10% too!
You are welcome! In the meantime, one part of the shower tub arrived, waiting for the second one... 😃
I feel the same! It's really annoying that they've rigged the system in such a way that now regular people like you and me get pissed off (not always, but you do hear it sometimes) at small businesses for their "high" prices, when it's just the cost of trying to keep their business afloat.
Hope your tub's all pieced together by now! :)
So far I did not buy anything on the black friday. But I intend to buy a drawing tablet and software for my birthday/ christmas. Who knows maybe sellers will put a discount closer to christmas. So far it has not happened.
Good luck!
Thank you.
It really does feel like Black Friday has turned into Black Month, doesn't it?
Over here, the sales started early too, and it's been a bit overwhelming with all the "unmissable deals" everywhere.
I did manage to snag a couple of things I had my eye on, so I guess that's a win.
!PIZZA
!BBH
Yeah, I actually grabbed a really good late deal after I wrote this post :D Did feel a little bad for lambasting the sales :)) Thanks!
We had the best timing imaginable for our move because these Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals were happening after we started moving in. We found the clothes washer in the new house was a "mold bomb", mold had grown inside of the machine to the point even bleach won't kill it, so we had to get a new washer/dryer. We got a few other things for the house that were heavily discounted because of the holidays. How was 2024? Well, it was the most challenging year of my life thus far and hopefully 2025 is better. I'm trying not to let this past year change my outlook too much. I want to start 2025 with optimism and a sense of hope. Speaking of hope.....I hope to get back to traveling.
Oh wow good thing you caught it before you moved in and got infected! And lucky that you found a good deal on a new washer - they seem to cost an arm and a leg here, the fancier ones at least.
If there's anyone with the strength to take what was good/valuable in a challenging year and go forward (still) with hope, I'd say it's you. Happy travels in 2025! Any return to Europe foreseen for the future? :)
We didn't realize until we ran the clothes washer for the first time, unfortunately. The water just reactivated the mold. Appliances are super expensive, pretty much everything here is 2-4x more expensive than it was pre-pandemic. The new ones are being delivered next week though so we'll be excited not to have to drive back to our old condo to do laundry.
Thank you for the words of encouragement! 2024 has been a real test. The one overseas trip I have planned in 2025 is the 4Daagse walk it the Netherlands in July. I have my number already but can't officially sign up for the event until early January. It's common for applicants to try 4-5 successive years before they get a spot so hopefully there will be a little beginners luck involved. : )
I bought a vacuum robot the other week which I posted about, still haven't found a lower price than that anywhere else, so I'm pretty pleased with that purchase. I also got myself a new kettle last week, my current one is so noisy I can't even hear the
TV when it boils water. I always Google everywhere before I buy something to make sure I get the best deal, normally it works out ok
Did you realise it's Cyber Monday today? Where did that come from? I hadn't noticed it in previous years
I saw the post about the vacuum! How are you liking it so far? I always wonder when I go to the stores whether they're worth it or not, though you seemed quite content when you first wrote about it.
Me neither! I wrote this post last night, then this morning had my inbox flooded with Cyber Monday offers, boy, they'll take any opportunity, won't they? Like you put socks on today, yay, here's 20% off!
$PIZZA slices delivered:
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