Making Black Friday Green

Every year the amount of people that rush out to the stores the day after Thanksgiving baffles me. The lines just to park alone are enough to scare me away from the mall for months, let alone the chaos inside stores or the lines that form on Thanksgiving night. Yet in recent years Black Friday shopping has increased in popularity, enough so to encourage many retailers to open at midnight.

While some people champion the economic benefits of mass shopping the day after Thanksgiving or claim it is a great way to start the holiday season, the impact of Black Friday does not go unfelt by the environment as well. Between the extra driving, the shopping bags, the items people buy that they don't need, and everything else the impact is enormous.

Image courtesy of Buy Nothing New

So instead of rushing out with everyone else tomorrow, why not get a few extra hours of sleep, go for a walk or run with a friend or family member, play a game, make a great breakfast out of some leftovers, and enjoy the day outside of the shopping craze. 

If you are going out for Black Friday and my suggestion for some extra sleep didn't entice you, here are some things to keep in mind.

1. Only buy what you really need. Go in with a list and stick to it. 

2. Just because it's cheap or on-sale doesn't mean it's the best buy or that you need it. Choose items that will last and be used for years.

3. Once you find what you need, leave. It's always tempting to buy a few more things when you are just walking around. 

4. Set a budget and stick to it.