I used to look forward to black friday shopping every year.
- My mother, my daughter and I would get up super early and head to the mall to take advantage of the deals.
I would usually complete all of my Christmas shopping during that one trip. It was a long day and very tiring, but I enjoyed it. Eventually, however, the fun wore off. We got tired of battling the traffic and the crowds. It was difficult to find a parking spot, and we always ended up walking a very long distance in the cold and snow. It was necessary to bundle up in sweaters, winter boots and wool coats. Then we’d step inside the overheated mall and start to sweat profusely. Carrying around a heavy coat while shopping was exhausting. For some odd reason, every store in the mall feels the need to blast the heat. I swear the indoor temperature was upwards of eight degrees. Since all of the shoppers are dressed for the cold weather, this makes no sense. I’m sure they spend a fortune on their energy bills and create a huge impact on the environment, and yet the consumers are uncomfortable and unhappy. We eventually gave up on the tradition. It’s much easier to do our shopping from home. We can wear our pajamas and browse on the computer. It takes a lot less time, we’re way more comfortable. We’re less likely to impulse buy and we can compare prices from one store to another. One of the biggest benefits is the ability to control the thermostat. We’re never sweating from too much heat or shivering from walking across a huge parking lot. The house is always at the perfect temperature. We also have easy access to drinks, snacks and a bathroom.