It’s that time of the year again. Near the end of November, students pack up a weekend’s worth of clothes and essentials to head home for one of the best holidays of the year. It’s a time to be thankful for everything you’ve been given and bond with your family and friends. No, I’m not talking about Thanksgiving. I’m talking about Black Friday.
To refresh the memory of those who don’t recall or know about the wonder of this holy day, the day after Thanksgiving is the start of the holiday shopping season. But what exactly does this mean? Huge sales and discounts are available in many stores. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for a computer or a pair of boots — you’ll be able to find it at a way cheaper price on Black Friday.
According to www.theblackfriday.com, the name “Black Friday” came about because businesses have indicated losses in red ink and gains in black, and on the day after Thanksgiving there is a whole lot more black ink than there is red.
Whether you want to get a head start on holiday shopping or are bored of all your clothes and have been eyeing that sequin blazer from Urban Outfitters (yeah, me too), Nov. 25 is the perfect day to do so. The ultimate Black Friday shopper will arrive at the mall around midnight, when most stores open and usually have killer early-bird sales. For those of you who aren’t too keen on waking up at a time earlier than you go to sleep, never fear, because the sales go on all day.
Besides waking up early, the biggest issue on this particular Friday is how crowded stores can become. Traffic is a problem during Black Friday shopping and some students would rather skip the stores than risk the traffic.
“I like sales, but all the craziness is so not worth it to me,” said Nicole Gorga, a junior majoring in human development. “I’d rather wait for the next day. Even though there aren’t huge discounts, there aren’t two-hour lines.”
But other students like the excitement and bustle.
“I get a workout from running around and shopping on Black Friday,” said Meagan Toner, a junior majoring in psychology. “It’s perfect because I gained five pounds from Thanksgiving the night before.”
Although this may seem like a girl’s dream day, boys shouldn’t feel left out. It isn’t just clothes and makeup that go on sale — stores like Best Buy and Circuit City have deals for guys who aren’t all that interested in apparel. Michael Sosa, a junior majoring in computer science, said he usually goes to electronics stores, but not at midnight.
“Black Friday is pretty cool because I like seeing all the deals on electronics, but I think ‘Cyber Monday’ is better,” Sosa said, referring to the annual online shopping bonanza that takes place the Monday after Black Friday. “But only because I don’t have to wake up early.”
So if you decide to face the endless lines, beware because Black Friday is for the brave of heart. If not, at least make sure you enjoy the not-as-good holiday.