Black Friday is coming, one of the most anticipated dates for many and that this year will be celebrated on November 26. This shopping "party" that originated in the United States, attracts more and more buyers in our country with discounts and large marketing campaigns, triggering consumption on those dates. so, ¿what's wrong about it? you will be wondering.
Parties like Black Friday invite consumerism, a trend towards excessive and unnecessary consumption of goods and products. To a less responsible consumption rarely compatible with a sustainable way of life. That is the one we want to avoid by sharing with you how and why to avoid Black Friday consumerism.
Why avoid consumerism on Black Friday?
Parties like Black Friday they encourage us to buy and buy. Through studied marketing campaigns they make what we do not need a real need. That is one of its dangers, the purchase of products with which we not only do not save but also spend unnecessarily. But it is not the only reason to avoid consumerism; unsustainability and damage to the local economy are also factors that we should focus on.
Unsustainability
As consumers we have a very important role. We can make decisions about our purchases, bet that they are more respectful with environmental and sustainability criteria. For this, it is essential to find out what is behind a certain product, as well as the alternatives to freely make a decision.
On Black Friday, however, it feeds on immediacy. They present us with solutions to improve our living conditions or our status and reward us with false satisfaction when we acquire them. We are bombarded with thousands of products so as not to give us time to think if we really need a certain product, much less the fair conditions with the planet or other people under which it has been produced, distributed and sold.
Damage to the local economy
Encouraging consumption does not always generate wealth. These types of parties are a clear example of this. Large operators and online sales concentrate the great business of this party, which generally has a negative impact on small businesses. And is that black friday increases the gap between small retailers and large supermarkets, dynamiting, in addition, the Christmas campaign, they are so important, one of the first.
Little savings possibilities
Although you can find specific products at a very good price and in general the percentage of articles that lower their price is higher than the percentage of those that raise or maintain it, according to the OCU on black friday it is hard to find huge savings possibilities. Beware of advertising campaigns, on many occasions they are deceiving! making us believe that this is the best time to buy a product when it is not.
How to consume responsibly?
Run away from all this incitement to consumerism is possible. So is consuming responsibly on Black Friday. Studies inform us that more and more people after the initial high that this type of "party" provides feel guilty about the consequences of these in their economy. The tips we share today are intended to avoid it.
- Don't get carried away by triggers and be aware when consuming. Black Friday marketing campaigns will bombard us with numerous messages that will give us a thousand reasons to consume. Be aware of this and avoid buying for the mere fact that something is cheap, fashionable or facilitates your membership in a group.
- Run away from immediacy. New technologies allow us to buy with a single click what we want where we want. This immediacy promotes greater consumption but also greater spending. Don't buy anything you haven't planned to buy.
- Make a list and set a budget. Make a list of what you need; not what you want or what you would like to have but what you really need. Do not wait for the same day to do it, start now. Compare the current prices of each product and determine what is the maximum price you are willing to pay for it on Black Friday. Also set a maximum total budget for that day and respect it!
- Choose where to buy. You choose where to buy. In your task of comparing the prices at which a certain product moves, write down the purchase conditions or even the characteristics of the company that produces and distributes them. As a consumer you have a responsibility, don't forget it!