Black Friday / Consumerism

So, as its Thanksgiving in America, it means Black Friday Sales, the American equivalent to our Boxing day sales here in Australia, where people just go fucking nuts and consumerism is at its peak finest.

I do watch from behind the safety of a screen, I wouldn’t go anywhere near that in real life. No matter how much money is taken off a product, its not worth getting into fights/riots etc ... did you know a pregnant woman was trampled to death last year at the black Friday sales? Whilst I do think that a/ it’s a horrible thing b/ what the fuck was she doing at an event like that??

Maybe it’s a little sadistic on my behalf, but footage of Black Friday reconfirms to me every year

• Greed & Consumerism blindness
• Impact of advertising / FOMO
• Sometimes I feel a little separated from most people, watching this footage reminds me that that’s ok, and I don’t want to be like everyone else

Its maybe my guilty pleasure hahahaha. I will also admit to hanging at a bunch of subs on reddit called r/consumerism, r/anticonsumerism, r/nobuy, r/frugal, r/subliminaladvertising, and a few others, so shopping really isn’t my thing.
If I want something, I will research it so much I go insane, and eventually end up buying it to shut my brain up [but at the lowest possible price, I make sure] as I know I will buy it at some point, I may as well get it over and done with.

But about the advertising, I feel it is horribly offensive, but I wonder, if I am sensitive to it or if people are just so used to it they don’t realise??

For example, yesterday I received an email from a company called Cotton On, but upon further looking into it, the culprit is Afterpay. And it seems they have used this advertising campaign more than once
(https://www.smh.com.au/money/borrowing/why-afterpay-broke-af-ad-campaign-is-so-very-wrong-20180403-p4z7h1.html)

The ad went along the lines of “Broke AF?? Our 50 – 75% off sale starts NOW” and I was so stunned, I ran downstairs to show my mate immediately. So, its saying, hey do you have no money? Well BUY BUY BUY” .. and Afterpay to me is insane as well, personally, buying an article of clothing, and getting it and wearing it is one thing, but to still be paying for it 4 weeks later??? … 4 weeks??? Not a chance. I mean sales might be cheaper but if you don’t have the money, why would you be trying/lining up to buy things??

and a quick snip from the article above
“Instead, if you’re "broke AF", start thinking about why that is and what type of life you might want to design. Then create a financial plan you’re excited about to make that come true, which means when you want to buy that $50 dress, you can do so, completely guilt free out of money you’ve put aside for it.”

The add itself was what shocked me, this was it.

Then when you actually go into the email itself, this is inside.

Its in shadow now, but the actual add is flashing green light and dark, and the BRB GONE SHOPPING is scrolling. Besides that, the language in it?? Broke AF?? I had to quickly google what AF was. And BRB and FOMO and all these terms, they’re obviously tailoring to the younger millennials.. but way to alienate the older audiences. [you know, probably the ones with money, who don’t need to reply on Afterpay to start with...]

It just makes me sad, people foaming at the Black Friday sales, yet only 37% of americans could cover a $500 emergency with savings, the other 63% need to use credit cards (15% of that 63%), loan from family (15% of that 63%) or cutting back in areas or getting payday loans (23% of the 63%) [which are a hell cycle in itself] to cover this $500. Another fun fact: 56.3% of people have less than $1,000 in their checking and savings accounts combined.

(https://www.forbes.com/sites/maggiemcgrath/2016/01/06/63-of-americans-dont-have-enough-savings-to-cover-a-500-emergency/#564b86524e0d)

its just insanity. I don’t know what the point of starting to write this post was, I have nothing profound to say, I just, get sad and mad about what’s happening in the world sometimes and need to rant lol.

(http://theconversation.com/the-psychology-of-black-friday-how-pride-and-regret-influence-spending-87956)

This is a good article, pride and regret do influence spending, EGO and FOMO driving the spending.

I think November would be a good month to do a No Spend, although with Christmas coming up in December it may be a little hard. There are 4 crazy sales in Nov, 11.11 Singles Day, Black Friday, Cyber Monday and another one I’m not sure off the top of my head, but definitely too many. Having all the big 4 sales in one month also seems kind of redundant though.

Anyways, don't waste your money on crap and happy thanksgiving.. Haha 😊

Kenj xx