Black Friday and Buy Nothing Day

Black Friday and Buy Nothing Day

Every year in November, people look for bargains on Black Friday. But did you know that the same day is also Buy Nothing Day?

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. 

Task 1

Task 2

Discussion

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Submitted by Moritz on Fri, 21/02/2020 - 10:29

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It's understandable that peope are attracted to buy something on black friday and I think you can shop without fighting for a product. You hurt other people and thats not how grown ups should act.

Submitted by lisa1234 on Fri, 21/02/2020 - 10:29

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I hate to go to stores on black Friday because there are always so many people. I prefer online shopping on Black Friday because it is not that stressful as go to a store. I really like shopping and usually I prefer go to stores but on black Friday there are definitely to many people for me.

Submitted by MrSeljak on Fri, 21/02/2020 - 10:29

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I hate black fridays, because there are so many people that I just get a bad feeling. There often getting aggressive here in austria and furthermore I think you shouldn´t copy things of other states. Every country has it´s own unique traditions for example austria has the narzissenfest... etc. before the 1990s there wasn´t anything of black fridays, halloween and other american traditions.

Submitted by MBier on Fri, 21/02/2020 - 10:28

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I agree that people tend to buy things they don’t need, but at the same time, it's a good chance for some consumers to get things they wanted. But I also like the idea of the "Buy Nothing Day". To buy nothing for 24 hours is a good idea to raise awarness of how to be a more ethical consumer. (^_^)

Submitted by Felix H on Fri, 21/02/2020 - 10:27

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I do agree to the articl because on black friday people tend to buy to much what the don`t need it`s just a day to waste money. But I think the buy nothing day is a good Idea.If you go there you should just buy things what you would by with out the discount.
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Submitted by Smiley1 on Mon, 09/12/2019 - 00:47

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Whenever I’m in a overcrowded place, feel like in the absence of air...
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Submitted by Rafaela1 on Sun, 01/12/2019 - 12:30

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Because of it, I agree that people tend to buy things they don’t need, but at the same time, it's a good chance for smart consumers to get things they wanted. By the way, I like the idea of "Buy Nothing Coat Exchange". I'm thinking to donate coats next November to protest Buy Nothing Day. ((꜆꜄•௰•)꜆꜄꜆»♡

Submitted by Maple Bear on Sun, 01/12/2019 - 02:11

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I can't agree more. Almost every products have special discount at special holiday. The price is really attractive. Also, buy them with credit card can own extra reward. If you can't control yourself on such this kind of holiday, you might lost a lot of money.