Do the preparation task first. Then read the article and do the exercises.
Preparation
What is Black Friday?
Black Friday is the day after the American holiday of Thanksgiving, which is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. Because it is a holiday in the United States, it has long been a popular day for consumers to start shopping for Christmas. Over the last 20 years big retailers have started to offer discounts and bargains on this day, and it has become more and more popular. Last year, people in the USA spent an estimated $54.7 billion between Black Friday and Cyber Monday (the Monday after Thanksgiving, when people often buy more online). The idea of Black Friday has also spread around the world. For example, in 2017, people in the UK spent the equivalent of $10.3 billion, in Germany $7.6 billion and in France $6.2 billion.
Is Black Friday out of control?
Many of us love to get a bargain, but some feel that events like Black Friday encourage people to buy things that they don’t really need and can’t afford. Many people seem to completely lose control of both their spending and their tempers. It is easy to find video online of customers physically fighting each other over bargains. It is also argued that Black Friday is bad for small shopkeepers, who cannot afford to offer the kinds of price cuts that the big companies can.
What’s the alternative to Black Friday?
Instead of taking the opportunity to buy as much as possible on Black Friday, you could do the opposite and buy absolutely nothing. Since 1997, Buy Nothing Day has been held on the same day as Black Friday. The rules are simple. Just don’t buy anything at all for 24 hours. Many people are surprised how difficult this actually is. The aim is to make people think more about their spending and to make better decisions about what they buy and where they buy it from.
Ethical spending
As well as spending less and not buying unnecessary items, Buy Nothing Day aims to raise awareness of how to be a more ethical consumer. For example, you can avoid buying ‘fast fashion’, that is, very cheap clothes that are worn a few times before being thrown away. Or you could decide not to automatically upgrade your mobile at the end of a contract. These kinds of decisions can help to protect the environment as well as saving you money.
What else can you do on Buy Nothing Day?
Some people carry out protests at shopping centres. Others avoid the shops completely and go for a walk in nature instead. Another alternative, the Buy Nothing Coat Exchange, is an idea which is spreading. People donate winter coats throughout November and anyone who needs one can come and take one on Buy Nothing Day.
Yes,I agree .In fact, in order to satisfy my desire to shop, sometimes I buy things I don't really need. for example, I bought some clothes on Black Friday last year ,because the retailers gave good discounts, but I found that the clothes are out of fashion again this year. So I decided not to buy anything this Black Friday, I wanted to give me a challenge to see if I could control my desire to shop.
I don't I need a day to splurge on buying things or a ristrected day that i don't buy anything in . we are rewarded for our self countibility and for controling out desires ,wasting is a sin ,charity is one of the most good deeds in islam ,we have the obligatory charity that rich people must give , and the volontering charity that we are so encouraged to give , generousity is a hight moral that we try to embed in our soules as much as we can ,allah told us to control our desieres , controting your desires and temptation is a strength that you'll never get to purchase if you manage to get ridof your over buying in just one day , it's accually easy to do that ,they say it's easy to get an A but it's hard to keep it . So we depend on daily small deeds to build that strength ,this is how our brain works to build a hobit ,repetetion for a long time!
Actually, I have never heard of both Black day and Buy nothing day before. It is my time to hear it and I feel not only cheerful but also wonderful at the same time. The Black day is really great as we have something aimed to give our beloved persons which are at steed prices. But, in that day, we are able to get these things with discounts or bargains from the companies. And, giving is a great merit to express love among the families members. But, as you mentioned, we need to manage and control to get rid of over buying everything you need at one sitting in that day.
I'm from Vietnam. My country doesn't have the holiday of Thanksgiving like USA but we still have the Black Friday day. At that period of time, there are a lot of special offers or discounts or bargains from retailers. As as a customer, I enjoyed shopping to buy new clothes, new shoes, new fashion accessories at a good price.
I haven't ever heard about the Buy nothing day previously, but I think that its aim is pretty good as this encourages everyone to buy things that they really need only as well as saving their money.
Hello everyone! I would like to share my opinon too. I agree that "Buying nothing day" it's a great idea but if everyone do that it will not be good for economy so just do a plan and buy just what you can afford, its a better option.
All of us can't deny that on that day some bargains are so attractive, so couldn't stop yourself to obtain one or more deal . otherwise everyone can make a precise plan ,determining what they really need and what they could afford to ..
Hi guys
I want to share my opinion about this subject with you. So many people wait for Black Friday throughout the year to get something cheaper. Don't get me wrong but ı don't think so. Actually, in my mind, there is no discount on this day. It is a wrong belief that is made by big retailers. They raise prices before Black Friday and then the Prices come to the main price on Black Friday. As a consequence of this trick, ı don't get anything on this day. I celebrate Buy Nothing Day. Have a nice day :)
What will you do on Black Friday and Buy Nothing Day this year? Do you agree that people buy things they don’t need and can’t afford?
In my country, there is no such kind of market. Black Friday in my country is not possible because I'm from India there are several cheap markets like Sarojini market, Palika Bajar, Karol Bagh, and Chandni chook. here clothes are cheap and everyone effort it according to their needs. I always purchase dresses 1time in the 6month. it is enough if you spend little money and buy more dresses.
I am not really a shopping guy. New phones, computers, clothes and all other things that excite majoirty of people never really get me enthusiastic, or anything close really. Just seems like a waste of money at most parts to me. So as you've probably guessed, I am not a big fan of Black Friday.
The whole purpose to go shopping is for people to buy products they need way cheaper in big discounts. What do they do? Spend more money on things they really don't need.
From this article I've learned that small shopkeepers get harm by all this nonsense, and to be honest I really feel bad for them.
Too many will disagree by the idea of erasing this day, and I can identify because I have friends who use this day smartly and wait for it to buy things they've been waiting for a period. I don't even want to think how the public will react to this idea anyway.
About Buy Nothing Day, I have never actually knew it exists but now I'm glad it does. Of course most of the people won't follow it, cause they can't see or feel or get excited by the benefits.
I think I would buy necessary things on black Friday because some items that are on stock are at a good price. Just things I really need and can afford.