Turn Black Friday green
In the midst of planning Thanksgiving feasts, many people are also making plans for day after Thanksgiving shopping. Otherwise known as Black Friday, it's probably the biggest shopping day of the year. Retailers will offer great markdowns on items to get you into the store in the hopes you will buy more. With the economy the way it is, it's hard to say how this year's shopping extravaganza will pan out but you can plan now to make it a green Black Friday. How? Keep reading.
- Get together with friends and carpool or take public transportation to your shopping destination.
- Find locally-produced goods, or at least made in the US. With all the recalls from China lately you can definitely feel good about knowing where your presents are coming from.
- All those cool reusable grocery bags - bring them along! They aren't just for groceries. Worried you won't have enough? Unpack some into the trunk so you can keep using the same few over and over.
- Don't idle. Don't wait in long drive through lines and up the nasty emissions from your car. Park and walk in. Better yet, take a few extra minutes and go to a locally owned, dine-in restaurant. Don't wait in long lines for parking spots either. Take the first one you can find and get some exercise walking to the store.
- Many retailers will offer online specials on Black Friday as well. Stay up late on Thanksgiving and shop in the wee hours of the morning or get up early, hit the sales and go back to sleep.
- Shop local stores. The big box stores may have the crazy deals but local retailers will appreciate the business more, be less crowded and shopping with them will help your local economy.
- Look for the green options. Shop for energy-star rated gadgets, organic clothing and fair trade coffees and chocolates. Or, be practical and buy someone CFL bulbs or reusable shopping totes.
- Skip the gift cards. They can be a lot of hassle and with so many big chains declaring bankruptcy you never know if they will be good come January 1. If you really don't know what to buy, give cash.
- Start a family tradition to observe Buy Nothing Day. Stay home and start your Christmas baking, get a jump on writing holiday letters and cards or start setting up the holiday decorations. Basically, do anything but go shopping.
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