How you will survive the Black Friday 2021 sales apocalypse

In 3 steps. I got you, soldier.

Today, befitting to every shopaholic on a budget's favourite holiday, I'll be introducing a carefully curated survival guide for all you responsible impulsive buyers and spenders out there.

Now, this is on the pre-assumption that you are indeed, an impulsive buyer that can't say no to discounts. Much ideally, you'd only aim to check out items that have been idling in your cart for over a month or two. BUT NO HONEY, that wouldn't have an impulsive side to it, would it? No, we shall be the worst type of consumer (from a consumer's point of view at least, retail brands will thank the angels for our spending abilities), and only crave the sweet rush of adrenaline *this* close to the Black Friday sales itself.

There's no point crying over a currently empty cart with a heart burning for retail therapy. If this sounds all too familiar to your case, here's a list of 3 things you wanna consider before you let the big % discounts get straight to your heart without letting it through your head.

Quick disclaimer: as you could probably tell from the sarcastic tone, I am trying to dissuade the impulsive buyer in all of us. But there is such ecstasy in impulsive retail therapy that, sometimes, cannot be postponed - it's best to think through all purchases, after all. But there's no shame in spending if it's within the budget you've set for yourself!

1/3. Will this product fit your current lifestyle?

Emphasise on: current. Why, you ask? How many times have you bought new weights, work-out clothing, water bottles, other complements you think would make you more incentivised to work out - only, you haven't actually started the working out bit yet.

It's always better to test the waters with a single foot than jump into it wholely. Ultimately, it wouldn't be the kit that pushes you to the gym - there's no point in spending a whole lot with the pretence of discounts when at the end of the day, you'd: 1. Still spend a lot of money that 2. You wouldn't have spent at all.

When thinking about building new habits, try to start it with what you already have accessible to you. E.g. you're thinking of getting into photography - start with your phone's camera and explore it to the max, take time to think about what style of photography you like and what camera and lens suits it, then commit to purchasing the equipment.

It may be the case that, whilst playing around with the camera settings on your phone, you realise you don't like it as much as you thought you would. Hold the check-out button for that camera, even though it's on sale now and might no longer be in the future - it's still very possibly less worth it than you think it would be, since you may not fully utilise all features the camera offers.

2/3. Cost per use

Ugh, equations. I know, I know. Stick with me here.

Cost ÷ no. of times you would see yourself using it for = cost per use

This goes both ways:

a. You decide whether or not the product you're about to buy is worth the price you technically would part with each time to use it.

b. You decide on a specific cost per use for an item and then see if the cost and the number of times you see yourself using the item will agree with the cost per use - this can help with deciding if the quality (that you perceive of the product) is proportional to the no. of times you get out of it. You can always look at the reviews for the product to have a gauge on its quality.

3/3. Look for gaps in your current catalogue, not alternatives

You have a mixer, a blender, a steamer, an oven - but you're missing a wok. You get the wok. You can't cook fried noodles with a steamer (that'd be a sad bowl of noodles), you need a wok.

You have a spoon, a fork and a knife - you don't need a spork.

This is on the pre-assumption that you only cook to eat, and to eat to satisfy 1 out of the 7 MRS GREN life processes that classify you as a living thing.

But you get the gist.

You have a white top with two pockets in the front, you're looking at a very enticing white top with three pockets in the front. All other elements of the top are identical. It is highly unlikely that with the purchase of the top there will be an equal or close to equal amount of usage of both tops.

Another way to see it is that they are just so similar. And unless you're a fashionista the rest of us can only aspire to be, two tops that are only slightly different from each other will only appear to be alternatives for us mere averaged-fashion mortals.

Unless the difference is a contrast you really care about, classify the product as alternative and move on with the next thing the website's algorithm picks out for you.

Quick summary:

#1 Current lifestyle fit?

#2 Cost per use?

#3 Do you already have something similar?

That's it folks! 3 quick and easy tips to use as a manual to check off, a checklist, if you will, for your black friday 2021 shopping. Wishing you the best of luck, soldier!

P.S. I've been taking some time settling into the new rhythm of the IB, hence my MIA for the past few months. I'm back! The TYPF's Sunshine Sundays Newsletter is making a comeback (even though it literally only has 1 issue to date), and so will the Funsies section of TYPF! If you want to be notified of new posts here on The Young People's Finance, the best way to do this would be to be on our mailing list, TYPF's Sunshine Sundays. Albeit the caveat of both being published alternatively every week due to the current hectic schedule (bless you IB), it'll be a comeback to remember! (I'm writing this here to set up expectations for myself and so that I am now held accountable to the internet).

P.P.S. No, not IB as in Investment Banking; IB as in International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme aka a Pre-U programme your girl is currently drowning in (yet weirdly enjoying).

Instagram: @theyoungpeoplesfinance

Rae.