Author of The Ultimate Guide to Frugal Living and the online course Bloom Where You’re Planted
Usually, after the biggest shopping day of the year, I scour the internet for a montage of shocking videos for an annual Black Friday Hall of Shame. This year, there weren’t enough badly behaved people to make an article.
Unfortunately, it’s not because of a new era of civility. It’s because nobody has the money to shop for Christmas, and if they do, they’re not battling it out in person.
This is important because it solidifies what we in the Preppersphere and alternative media have said for years: an economic collapse like we’ve never seen before is coming.
Crowds were sparse at retailers on Friday.
According to Reuters, there was “no sense of urgency,” no lines waiting to get into the stores, and parking lots were uncharacteristically easy to navigate at shopping centers.
Those who did shop weren’t just randomly grabbing things off the shelf because they were cheap. They shopped strategically for things that they planned to purchase.
The outlook even before the day began was concerning. Retail Dive reported:
Heading into the holiday, some estimates showed that while in-store shopping could make a return, inflation (which was up 7.7% in October according to the Consumer Price Index) could thwart consumer spending, as shoppers expected to get less for more money.
Predictions showed higher-income shoppers tightening their budgets, and discretionary spending at some big retailers decreased throughout the year as consumers dealt with rising grocery bills.
Several retailers lowered their outlook for this quarter before the shopping event even started. Target tightened its Q4 outlook in November after earnings came in below expectations, and e-commerce native ThredUp did the same despite its focus being on secondhand goods — a category that could normally do well for consumers looking to save.
All of this laid the groundwork for a not-so-joyous holiday season for shoppers.
Alarmingly, a lot of people who did shop did so with “buy now, pay later” purchasing. With the dismal economic outlook, that may have been a critical mistake. Rod Sides, global leader at Deloitte Insights, warned:
“We now have much higher interest rates, and they’re gonna start to hit any credit card balances. With buy now, pay later, it tells you the consumer is challenged…in the long term, it’s a warning sign.”
Online purchases were up.
One sector that saw a merry and bright day on Friday was online shopping, setting a record with $9.12 billion spent. That’s an increase of 2.3% over previous years.
Whether this is enough to overcome poor performance in retail storefronts remains to be seen.
The outlook is worrisome.
The media has trumpeted the online numbers as a victory but downplayed diminished sales at brick-and-mortar outlets, saying that the outcome of Quarter Four remains to be seen. Retailers already have a glut of unsold merchandise due to inflation, and they could be left holding the bag with even more inventory if they over-purchased for this season.
It’s very clear that many shoppers are worried, and it’s affecting their holiday buying habits. The New York Times reported:
Even before the start of the season, some shoppers were already cutting back on discretionary purchases, leaving retailers with an unusually high level of inventory. They want to unload as much of that as possible before the start of the new year.
“The more sales merchandise that they move through now the better,” said Kristen Gall, president of the online platform Rakuten, which offers cash-back deals. “Because if you get caught holding a lot of inventory in January and February and consumers pull back because things feel significantly more recessionary, that’s where the worry comes in for retailers.”
Using deep discounts to increase sales can cause other problems for retailers.
There are risks for retailers, however, in relying more heavily on deals. The practice erodes profit margins that buoyed them during the pandemic, when many Americans spent plenty on all sorts of goods and retailers did not feel the need to entice them with too many deals. There are also worries that shoppers will become so accustomed to sales that they will only buy when promised a lower price.
This isn’t stopping retailers who are desperate to move inventory, though.
Adobe expects that discounts will hit record highs (upwards of 32%) this holiday season, as retailers contend with oversupply and a softening consumer spending environment. Computers, electronics and toys will hit all-time highs: Discounts for computers are expected to be as high as 32% (up from 10% in 2021), while electronics discounts are set to hit 27% (up from 8%), and toys at 22% (up from 19%). Other discount categories will include televisions at 19% (vs. 11% in 2021), apparel at 19% (vs. 13%), appliances at 18% (vs. 4%), sporting goods at 17% (vs. 6%) and furniture & bedding at 11% (vs. 2%).
The biggest discounts are expected to hit between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday.
Even if retailers have big sales numbers, the real number that matters is profit. And so far, that’s looking questionable.
(If there is no money in the bank, how will you survive a winter power outage? Check out our free QUICKSTART Guide to learn more.)
Will Cyber-Monday be enough to save the weekend?
This has been the biggest shopping weekend of the year for decades.
The question that remains is whether Cyber Monday is going to be big enough to offset slow sales on Black Friday. Did people already spend their shopping dollars online on Friday? Adobe projects that today’s sales will top 11.9 billion dollars.
Business Wire’s analysis is moderately optimistic:
Adobe expects U.S. online holiday sales to hit $209.7 billion from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, representing 2.5% growth year-over-year (YoY). During the 2021 holiday shopping season, $204.5 billion was spent online (growing 8.6% YoY), with consumers uncertain about returning to physical stores due to lingering pandemic concerns.
Consumers are expected to spend earlier this year, as a second Prime Day (Oct. 11-12) kicks off before the holiday season begins. The first Prime Day event drove record online sales for the retail industry overall, with $73.7 billion spent in July (up 20.9% YoY). These discounts will entice some consumers to start their shopping sooner, impacting Cyber Week performance. The holiday season will also be impacted by an uncertain economic environment, as shoppers contend with elevated prices offline (food, gas, housing) and the rising cost of borrowing.
Cyber Monday is expected to remain the season’s and year’s biggest shopping day, driving a record $11.2 billion in spending, increasing 5.1% YoY. By comparison, Black Friday online sales are projected to grow by just 1% YoY at $9 billion, while Thanksgiving sales are set to fall to $5.1 billion, down 1% YoY. These major shopping days are losing prominence as e-commerce becomes a more ubiquitous daily activity, and as consumers see discounts continuing throughout the full season.
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Did you shop on Black Friday?
I made one purchase on Friday for an item that I’d been planning to buy, which I held off on until it went on sale. On Thanksgiving, my family and I discussed it, and we set our expectations for a smaller holiday this year. We intend to focus any gift shopping on needed items and small mementos instead of big splurges.
Unofficial OP Poll: Did you do any holiday shopping on Black Friday? If so, did you go in person, or did you shop online? Are you reducing spending this year?
Let’s talk about it in the comments.
About Daisy
Daisy Luther is a coffee-swigging, adventure-seeking, globe-trotting blogger. She is the founder and publisher of three websites. 1) The Organic Prepper, which is about current events, preparedness, self-reliance, and the pursuit of liberty; 2) The Frugalite, a website with thrifty tips and solutions to help people get a handle on their personal finances without feeling deprived; and 3) PreppersDailyNews.com, an aggregate site where you can find links to all the most important news for those who wish to be prepared. Her work is widely republished across alternative media and she has appeared in many interviews.
Daisy is the best-selling author of 5 traditionally published books, 12 self-published books, and runs a small digital publishing company with PDF guides, printables, and courses at SelfRelianceand Survival.com You can find her on Facebook, Pinterest, Gab, MeWe, Parler, Instagram, and Twitter.
I did all my shopping in September online. Practical gifts nothing outrageous scarves, hats, gloves (my kids work outdoors) long underwear since it’s going to be a cold winter. Whatever they don’t want they can give back to me for return.
I shopped online but only because I needed more food for my dogs and chickens. Really didn’t have anything to do with Black Friday. Can’t find the foods we need for our animals locally so I buy online.
Hard to shop and buy a bunch of stuff when you are virtually broke and credit cards are 98% MAXED-Out!!! America is DOOMED my friends. Hope you were smart and listened and have been prepping.
America is off the rails and has been for sometime. Since W. Wilson (Fed Res. act) several generations up to now have dropped the ball and things went downhill since the UN was formed and no win wars. Now generations born from the late 1960’s onward must fix what’s broken which incl: Public education to ban gender and other perversions taught now, U.S. asset backed currency ( only stable currency), the US exits the UN and expell foreigners inside the building, convert it to apts. No involvement in conflicts between foreign countries that are none of our business like the Ukraine and former US no win wars, no foreign aid freebies, bring back manufacturing jobs so families can prosper like my father’s generation (good paying jobs) and have a decent retirement, close the borders permanently (stop crimes: drugs and child trafficing). All this fixing things is unlikely since most people don’t care much about anything incl family’s future and so few even know about globalism or believe it is real.
My husband and I went to walmart. We bought mostly needed items but also picked up a few toys to donate to the giving tree. We’d already bought for our kids. Christmas is not lavish at our house. We mostly give our kids needed clothing items and a few group gifts. We try to focus more on Christ and family time than on getting gifts.
I did not shop Black Friday in store or online. I will not shop cyber Monday either.
What is “Cyber Monday”? I’ve never heard of it…
It is a shame that you did not identify it by date.
You must be out of the U.S.? It is the following Monday after Thanksgiving where retailers stretch the hype for shoppers. Usually it’s a day more targeted around electronics sales if I’m not mistaken.
Wait for Twinkle Tuesday and pretty soon Whacked Out Wednesday.
Yep I bought a few small items on sale that I’ve needed for a while. And one bigger water purifier that I’ve been waiting to get on sale. Otherwise I’m tucked and rollin’
I found that there were several Black Friday sales that began on Monday before thanksgiving, rather than building up one day. We took advantage of the sales only for things we had already been saving up to purchase. We have older teens and adult children, so we were strategic in purchasing useful household and health related items for gifts.
We shopped at various places over the weekend (I hate shopping btw-old retail days). The only screamer deals were on tools for one son. Our kids usually get money since they are adults & we usually get the things that have great prices during Black Friday. Not so much this year. But I am not the usual target shopper either.
People can’t buy super expensive geegaws when they need the money for food, shelter, and electricity.
I agree with the article, but thought I would add a side note. Here in AZ, housing sales, specifically the resale housing market is quite hot. It is slightly off from it’s Peak, but still going strong. I think the new home market is taking a hit due to the outrageous prices for small properties and crappy structures.
Usually big ticket item sales are a better indicater of the overall economy. So although people are cutting back on non essential purchases and that indicates a economic downturn; it does not specifically point to a gigantic Economic disaster or SHTF, that many preppers have prepared for.
For that we will have to take a “wait and see” approach. With the midterm elections now complete, this might affect what we see happening in the economy in the coming months. Nothing is as easy or simple when you start talking about things that involve masses of people, whether it is their purchasing habits or what they will do when SHTF.
Exactly… about the midterms. The illigitimate pResident told the rail unions to shut their mouths (before the midterms) about striking, while ol’ PedoJoe told the voting sheeple the rail strike had been averted. Well, you guessed it. The strike looks like it’s going to be “on” like Donkey Kong.
Received a promotional email from an online retailer that I regularly buy from. Had a clothing product on sale with substantial mark-down that I was already planning to buy for the sons for Yule. Ordered multiples. Didn’t even realize it was Friday. Didn’t care. Price was right.
Nope. Dodn’t go last year either. I’ve managed to save up enough to give each Grandchild $25, but that’s all we can afford.
President McSniffy Schitz-His-Pants has screwed us all royally.
I shopped a bit on Saturday but only for a few household items, and I bought locally. The few things I bought yesterday online were things I can’t get locally. I really prefer to buy locally because that supports jobs in my community. As far as I’m concerned, Bezos has more than enough money! And that free Prime shipping can add up.
I only get paid once a month and that is on the 1st. By the time black friday or the end of the month comes around my funds are low. I don’t shop black friday (never have). As far as gifts goes I give food items. My belief is you can’t go wrong with food gifts. My only grandchild (5 years old) gift was brought back in August. She is the exception to the food gifts.
Because of where I live, I haven’t had a Christmas tree in 15 years. My mother is visiting my youngest daughter in Dallas right now. She said they went out tree shopping. My daughter paid $200 for a five foot tree. However some of the trees were costing $500.
I’m giving food gifts this year also. Who doesn’t love food? 🙂
We pulled our old artificial tree out of storage instead of buying a real one this year. Our prices aren’t nearly as high as the ones you mentioned, but the $60 or $70 that would normally go toward a tree will be better spent elsewhere this year.
I didn’t shop in store on black friday – I never do. I did buy one thing a day or two before Thanksgiving, something I had planned to purchase that happened to be a great price. Bought it online with curbside pickup at Target. Bought a few more things online Saturday, again, things I had planned to purchase that were marked down. All purchases for my 3 boys, I’m not shopping for anyone else this year.
Funny Daisy, I was wondering if you were going to post your annual The Best of the Worst of Americans, A Black Friday video montage of American’s behaving badly.
As you point out, not this year.
I read about people using the “buy now, pay later,” for food.
Also reading about farmers are going to be paying more for upfront small payment loans for things like fuel, fertilizer, etc. Come harvest time is when they pay back the loans.
They cannot afford to absorb those costs. Those costs will get passed on to the end consumer.
If you think food prices are high now, let us see what next Thanksgiving looks like.
We dont do Black Friday.
Last time I went to a mall, was 2020.
Wife and I do the wants vs needs thing.
As usual, we have a real hard time coming up with a want.
Maybe a book, music CD or DVD.
Getting to be the same way around our house. Needs are pretty much all looked after, and wants seem to be few and far between. Kids are grown and on their own. Got 2 grandsons this year to splurge a little on – but they’re both still awfully small, so basically clothes or other small items.
I did use Black Friday to fill in a couple small preps though. Things on the “need that for when the zombies come” list. Found a small 20 watt peddle generator that was 15% off regular price, with free shipping. Been on my list for a while, and 15% off brought it into my monthly “prep” budget. Found another small item I’ve been meaning to grab that was 20% off. But other than that, Black Friday doesn’t really hold much appeal for me.
I think the firearms retailers did a booming business though. Government announced last week its latest “gun grab”. Basically all semi-auto centerfires are now going to be prohibited. Everybody grabbing what they can, while they can, and the retailers trying to get rid of stock so they don’t get stuck with it.
What will happen to those already owned? Will they be grandfathered in or confiscated?
No idea at this point in time. They seem to be making it up as they go along. No mention of compensation in the new amendment, no mention of grandfathering. Basically make them all illegal and then we’ll figure out how we’re going to violate your rights later.
oh, and to make it even better, they introduced this as an “amendment” to an existing bill, even though it’s about 4 or 5 times the size of the existing bill. But, by introducing it at the amendment stage they can avoid any debate, and the whole long drawn out process of democracy – it’s such a bothersome thing anyway.
You KNOW and they KNOW you cannot do this in America, PERIOD.
I don’t understand your worry.
Oh no kidding! My CSA was 20% higher this year due to rising costs of fuel, fertilizer, and labor! I shudder to think what next year will bring. Even the best-stocked pantry won’t last forever.
Jayne,
20%!
Wow!
Yes, what will next year bring.
“If you think food prices are high now, let us see what next Thanksgiving looks like.”
Next Thanksgiving, I fear, could be known as “Black Thursday”. Definitely by 2024, for sure.
“Also reading about farmers are going to be paying more for upfront small payment loans for things like fuel, fertilizer, etc. Come harvest time is when they pay back the loans.
They cannot afford to absorb those costs. Those costs will get passed on to the end consumer.”
While I don’t believe in going to banks or FSA for operating cost loans, I know that 99% of all others in ag do. That said, those production oriented pigeon holed farmers have very little say on passing cost on to consumers. I know. I used to be one of those guys. Production ag takes what the scales pay, beit livestock, milk or grains. Contract produce farmers are held to contract unless the producer has the strength to market directly, which there are few out there that can.
My cost is guaranteed to go up, I’m just going to produce less for direct marketing. For me, Americans need to get much, much hungrier before I can justify cash input at current prices for speculative private market demand.
~Jim,
Watched a few documentaries about how Big Ag forces farmers into contracts that most of the time, the farmer is lucky to break even.
Seems to me like a battered spouse relationship.
Of course the USDA regulations make it so only the Big Ag producers can afford to be the only game in town.
In the coming months or next two years, be interesting to see how things pan out when farmers cannot afford to take out those loans, or like you, produce less.
A noted farmer of 39 years was saying earlier this year about what the government needed to do to make sure there was not going to be a food crisis.
Guess what did not happen.
I purchased 1 item online on Friday as it wasn’t available at my local store (JoAnn’s). It was on-sale with a good discount and I was able to get an additional discount on top of that for buying online and a greatly discounted shipping cost. That was it. I used to buy a lot of gifts on Black Friday, but not now. We don’t have the funds available.
I did not shop either in store or online Black Friday. We are not currently having financial issues, but kept spending WAY down this year (as precaution), paid cash and started in July. Only bought useful wrap gift items, stocking stuffer geegaws came from Dollar Tree.
I shopped on Friday at my local resale shop and a small local boutique only. I don’t shop at the big box stores ever, much less on that day. Our VERY TINY budget for Christmas will be spent on our granddaughter. I’m going to sew a few phone/tablet stands for the grown-ups and that’s about it. We’re going to make the holiday be about family not gifts this year.
My daughter and I bought ourselves new cell phones (same model) as ours are slowly dying and she bought the components for a new computer build (for work). All online. The last we upgraded our phones was 5 years ago, also on Black Friday. My wife decided to skip the sales this year. As she said, best to keep to our standard savings and prepping strategy. We seriously considered taking advantage of some Black Friday ammo deals but in the end decided that it was best to stick to our current approach and stay within out budget.
While I understand that consumer spending is the lifeblood of the economy and allows for things like jobs and sales taxes that support things we like such as parks and roads, part of me is wondering/hoping at least some of the people NOT shopping this year are taking a step back and reprioritizing and planning for simpler pleasures this holiday season. You know, like the authors on this site are always extolling. Rather than buying plastic junk and things we don’t need with money we don’t have. Difficult times have a way of focusing the mind on what’s really important.
My beloved and well-loved little sister died last month of cancer. It was, all of it, the hardest thing our family has ever been through. We are devastated and undone by grief. I’ve had grandparents die and that was very sad, of course, but a young, vibrant person… youngest in our family… it feels especially cruel and senseless. She left behind an 8 year old, an only child and an only grandchild. His 9th birthday was two weeks after his mother’s death.
So I’ve stepped in in a big way. Did the whole Thanksgiving meal at my house (first for me). Cookie baking next week, since Mari always did the cookie baking for the family and I’m the only baker. My parents are practically prostrate with grief, and I worry so much for them, now in their 80s and not good health.
So, none of us are putting up a Christmas tree in all of our lifetimes… My parents are incapable right now of doing nearly anything. They are paralyzed with grief. I’ve only bought a few very small gifts. Fancy hand lotion and lip balm for my mom. A tin of gourmet nuts for my dad. My husband and I indulged in some fancy bed sheets (old ones had holes). And a game, puzzle, and some books for my nephew. Other than that, we aren’t buying anything. All the things we might ever want can’t be bought anywhere.
We are finding comfort in going to Mass. And my husband and I splurged and bought an 8 lb standing rib roast for Christmas dinner for the family (it was on special at Publix; would have cost $140 but cost $82. Ridiculous, I know).
We will go to Mass on Christmas, and then I will make a splendid dinner. And we’ll open our few little presents and stare at a picture of my sister and try not to let her son see us cry.
Anyways, the rest of the day we might work on a jigsaw puzzle, play board games or cards, go for a walk if it’s nice out, and have a fire and hot cocoa if it’s not.
That’s all I got.
I meant to say, NOT “none of us are putting up a Christmas tree in all of our lifetimes,” but rather, for the first time in all of our lifetimes, we’re not putting up a Christmas tree. It’s too fraught. Mixed in the 60 plus years of ornaments we’d find Mari’s handprint she made in kindergarten, things that she’d made for ornaments, ones she loved, pictures of her… next year, I think. It’s too fresh now.
Lorraine,
I am sorry to hear of your loss.
Thoughts to you and yours.
v/r
1stMJH
Lorraine, losses like this only seem to make the trying times even harder. Very sorry for your loss. Prayers that things get better for you and yours.
My deepest sympathies to you Lorraine.
Lorraine, I am so sorry for your loss. One positive out of this tragedy is you get to see her love in your nephew each day. The entire season is about family & Christ’s love. You will show that to your nephew every day. That is the true meaning of Christmas.
Lorraine, I am so sorry to hear about your families loss. I cannot imagine losing one of my siblings and at such a young age. Prayers for you and your family. Virtual hug from a stranger.
I’m so sorry for your loss and for what you are going through. I’ve been there. It’s HARD to lose someone. ???? I am so very heartbroken for you and your family.
ahhh but mainstream, ABC,CBS, NBC were all showing the malls full and people standing in lines. The media lies….. it’s so overt now.
I try to get all my Christmas shoppingdone before the end of October at the very latest I usually start in June, helps to spread the cost, didn’t buy anything over the weekend except some food
This was my plan this year as well. Just need some stocking stuffers and Christmas dinner and then we are set.
During this time we stock up for the year on items like supplements, clothes, pretty much anything but food. We save quite a bit by doing this but most items are bought directly from the stores online. I try to avoid large chains and stick with small family owned businesses. I did go shopping in person on Friday but it was solely to get out of the house and spend time with my mom, sis and niece. Stores near me were still crazy busy with long lines but they weren’t near as bad as previous years.
No shopping on Black Friday ever in my life. No shopping over the weekend. No shopping on Cyber Monday. Everyone has too much stuff now. I hate mass consumerism and am appalled that the lack of shopping, of all things, is equated to ” ‘a not-so-joyous holiday season’ “. I thought we all figured out how useless all this “stuff” was during lockdown and were reducing. I thought we as Americans were shifting our paradigm back to the importance of family and friends, not stuff and acquisition.
Kudos to everyone who found great deals for preps and supplies they need!!
It could be bad because I got some wheely good astounding deals that I couldn’t pass up but it could mean only one thing. They were getting desperate but it also means sales might be up, so I don’t know. 😉
I went and bought seed corn (non gmo) on Friday. No sale. No savings, other than it was close to the farm (180 miles round trip) rather than paying drop-ship freight. There’s no Black Friday sales for farmers and ranchers. Think on that. Costco runs wholesale sales. Retail grocers run sales. No sales for the producers. Ever.
It sounds calloused, but I’m coming around to the opinion that food, apparently, is still relatively cheap (not for you guys..) for the average Americans.
Jim, I just watched a series called American Farmers and it really opened my eyes to the plight of our farmers. The government appears to be doing everything they can to shut down every small farmer out there. Thank you for all your hard work to help put dinner on Americans tables.
There’s no doubt that financial uncertainty played a role in the poor performance of Black Friday retailers, but my hope is that some of the damage was done by folks that have had enough of the wokeness, the social justice lies, and the damage that big business does to normal Americans by turning our own dollars against us for our destruction. That is my hope. For years we have included prepping/homesteading items in holiday gift giving. Last year we gave up the holiday gift giving altogether, and we now just use our expendable income strictly for preps and farm improvements. And remember, wherever you are with your preps, you will very likely be helping/accommodating folks that you may or may not even know today. My advice is if stopping with the Christmas commercialism seems like a wise course for you and your family, cut the cord on holiday gifts and get prepped as best you can.
Didn’t bother but I always found Black Friday to be a money-suck, buying items one doesn’t need or really want because they’re “too good to pass up,” or waiting in lines and dealing with other nuts shoppers for that magic deal really turned me off years ago. Most of the stuff was made in China and my policy for decades has been support local and not buy Chinese if I can possibly help it. I had family members who went through wars and social upheavals before, so I learned some valuable lessons from them and it’s just stuck with me.
I go to end of season clearance at Dillards for clothes and have had good results. Higher quality at less than half price. Belk has ongoing sales year around. Avoiding shopping madness this month.
Did all my shopping online on “Black Friday.” I have no desire to go to retail stores…no risk of encountering any physical danger or chaos when you shop online! Keeping it simple this year, especially in light of the looming depression that is coming to America.
I bought only what I needed and a few things for the grandkids and all online after the horror stories I have heard over the years. Everybody’s cash is down, moods are down and I am sure the economy will collapse in the near future. It will probably get very ugly out there. I am ready…..I hope
“Are you reducing spending this year?”
no, I’m spending more.
but it’s buying less.
The prices will only go down from here I’m getting multiple offers per day from some retailers where the discount has increased as the day wore on or the week was ending. Many kinds of businesses Will Be Bankrupt by January. We have been in recession All year but the Fed is lying about it. Next year the Depression Begins & it may well last Years. There are No as in None as in Zero Nada financial Bright spots. We are in an Everything Collapse so keep Praying, keep Prepping, keep in Close Contact with Family, Friends, Co Workers, Neighbors & others in your circle & be prepared to help if possible & be prepared to ask for help if you must. Blessings to All.
TTB, you got it, spot on. Succinct and to the point.
Great post.
My wife insisted that I needed a new pair of pants. We are traveling for the holidays and don’t live near big stores, thank God. Anyway, we went to Dillard’s in Memphis on Sunday. No crowds anywhere. Sales people were hunting customers in all departments. I have never been asked if I needed help so much as yesterday.
actually, I did splurge. I have been looking at getting an e-bike for about a year and finally took advantage of the cyber monday sale to order the bike I wanted. (Hoping to ride in the summer and not drive my vehicle so much, save on gas…) Most of my Christmas gifts were already bought before this weekend. I normally have gifts bought by the end of October. But we dont do extravagant gifts for our family. We do alot of home made or second hand, but like new conditioned things.
Stopped doing Balck Friday twenty years ago when there were quite a few years without any deals at all just regular pricing. Walked away empty handed then and just stayed away since. Waste of time.
I don’t know about you, but after having been tossed out of stores for not being a face diaper worshipper the past 2-3 years, I don’t care much for shopping anymore, let alone being out in public.
In some cases, I STILL have retail employees trying to start fights with me – and it’s not even about face diapers anymore – because they know they can get away with it (especially when I’m White, and they’re Non-White).
A lot of folks are probably also foregoing shopping to starve the “Woke” corporations from revenue; I know I am. I certainly wouldn’t mind if the current “crop” of “Woke” corporations all bit the dust, but they’d have to be replaced by other corporations or organizations who can serve people’s needs while still respecting people and their rights.
Then there’s the railroad strike, and strikes at corporations like Amazon, so even if you order stuff online, there’s no guarantee you’ll even actually receive it.
Still??? In Michigan?? Insanity.
No, “Michigan Expat” means I EXPATRIOTED FROM Michigan.
I went to the grocery store on Black Friday. Other than that, I bought nothing this weekend.
On Black Friday I purchased new Christmas party dresses for Justine Turdopey and Jagmeet Singh to wear for Canada’s real PM – Klot Schlob of the WEF. They are absolutely thrilled and wondered how I could afford these beautiful dresses on my budget. Nothing is too good for WEFers I said with a giggle. For Chrystia Freeland I got a great deal on white fishnet stockings to showcase her shapely legs. Klot is thrilled because they are the same type of stockings that he wears!!!!! Black Friday was wonderful. Next year apparently the elite will be able to purchase adrenochrome at a discount!!!
C Wells,
Thank you for the laugh!
I’m not buying anybody anything for Christmas this year. I gave them all copies of “The Real Anthony Fauci” last year, none of them thanked me and I doubt that any of them read it. So in my case it’s not owing to financial stress, but to Covid bullcrap.
I’ve NEVER done “Black Friday.” I personally can’t fathom what would make people voluntarily wait in line all night, outside in the cold and rain, just to fight each other over some discounted crap that will be next year’s yard sale material!
I WILL do “Cyber Monday” if there’s something out there I actually NEED. That’s about it. I don’t spend money just for the heck of it. My kids are grown, so it’s cash gifts for them. We’ve told them NOT to purchase anything for us, being that money is so tight. Thanks be to God, we have all we need. I know this isn’t what retailers want to hear, but it is what it is…
I bought most of my gifts over the weekend online. I try very very hard not to go into a mall/store after the middle of November. Crowds give me the heebie jeebies.
We’ve been very lucky. While I’ve noticed that prices are up on most things, some quite a lot, it hasn’t impacted our spending other than I’m buying not 6 of something when it’s on sale, but 12 so that I’m def covered for a year.
Another fine article and warning but without an understanding of the root cause all is for naught.
This looks like massive mismanagement and outright thievery by people who the masses let get away with it.
Well that may be how it happened but God allowed it as His method or Judgment.
Whenever a people turn their back to His Law judgment follows.
We are up to our necks in it and the water is rising.
It is required that God’s people warn others, read Ezekiel chapter 3.
Read all of the prophets to learn how God deals with pagan nations.
Here is a very good interview.
Preparing is discussed near the end.
https://www.lewrockwell.com/2022/11/no_author/how-elites-will-create-a-new-class-of-slaves-whitney-webb/
Note that God is absent.
Folks, read The Revelation and see if our present path seems like it fits.
Jeremiah 5:31
The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?
Isaiah 66:4
I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.
How else could so many fall for this?
Several people I know (myself included) were sick during the Thanksgiving weekend. Not to mention all the sick kids (my kids included) this winter. I personally believe that is having a major impact on sales. We’re all too sick to shop, and too tired to care.