Thanksgiving: A Time To Be Thankful—And To Shop Till You Drop!

It’s November again, and you know what that means: Time go back to the folks, break out the turkey and ready that savings account for Thanksgiving! An all-American holiday in the truest sense, Thanksgiving is an occasion wherein we remember our blessings in the past year, catch up with family and friends, watch parades with larger-than-life balloons on TV (except if you’re in Manhattan), and most importantly, brace for the wild shopping weekend ahead! And not even a recession could stand in the way of a good ol’ Thanksgiving splurge-fest!

The first Thanksgiving celebration is believed to have been done by the Mayflower pilgrims upon their arrival in the New World. Ever since, Thanksgiving has been a time-honored tradition. Celebrated every fourth Thursday of November, Thanksgiving would not be complete without the turkey, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and of course, family and friends. But after a day of loading up on turkey breast and cranberry sauce—not to mention watching the parade, football, and the Charlie Brown classic—everyone is waiting in anticipation for the best year-round deals at shops for the weekend to come.

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is the traditional start of the Christmas shopping season. While not a holiday, employees are given the day off, which encourages them to shop the whole day. This event is such a big deal that people start lining up at their local malls at 4am just to avail of great shopping deals on various items. Even Canadians cross the border around this time just to hunt for bargains, making this a true North American shopping phenomenon. Stocks usually disappear as early as before noon, so lining up and braving the mall crowds is a big deal if you want to make the most of your shopping experience.

The Thanksgiving shopping madness does not stop at Black Friday, continuing on into one of the most recent events of the season—Cyber Monday. This event serves as a vehicle for web companies to encourage people to shop online. As in Black Friday, massive shopping deals are advertised online. It becomes an even more convenient alternative to Black Friday, as shoppers are able to transact from the comfort of their own computers. In fact, ever since Black Friday’s conception in 2005, sales transactions have increased yearly at a rate of 15-20%. The growing online-savvy of many Americans could also explain such a phenomenon.

Make no mistake about it, the Thanksgiving season has evolved from a family event to one of the busiest seasons in America. Not only do you celebrate and give thanks for your blessings, you also get an excuse to spend vicariously yet wisely. So remember to make a list of the items that you either need or want early on—whether it be a new grill, a 3D TV set, a pair of jeans or an iPad—so you are well prepared come Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Oh, and practice your driving, lining up, and clicking skills! Thanksgiving comes only once a year, so make the most out of it!