I don't get with the maddening crowd at the super sales on Friday mornings. I've found those sales to be pushing items that the chains want you to buy, not what you want to buy.
I will check out online sales and if there is a fantastic bargain on something I need or want, then I purchase it from the comfort of my home.
@Guest - I'm not sure where in Europe you are, but I dug up some stats on England, since that's where my family lives. The median home price is roughly 224,000 pounds, while the median income is 24,700 pounds. So, the average home price is 10 times the income. In the US, the median home price is roughly 200,000 USD, while the median income is 50,000. So, in the US the average home price is roughly 4 times the average income.
However, depending on your definition of "well paying job" and "semi-modest house" it still looks perfectly doable to pay a mortgage off in Europe...its just significantly more difficult to so on an "average" income, if you live in an "average" house.
But my wife and I are moving into our first home, and we need a dryer. Home Depot has one on sale on Black Friday for much cheaper than I could find anywhere else, so I'm going to have to brave the madness.
We have always lived a distance from family and try to get the gifts mailed out by Thanksgiving. So we snag deals all year long. A long time ago in a galaxy far away women were decking each other over Cabbage Patch dolls. Several years later I saw one in great shape (looked new, with papers) being sold in a thrift store for $2. If I ever had any inclination to go out to shop that day, that would have squashed it.
I wonder if it is possible because housing prices -- in certain areas -- are affordable; the median price of less than $200K is affordable for some, and you can also find houses for much less in certain areas.
I am not familiar with the real estate market in Europe, except for what I know about the time my sister lived in London, in an employer-owned townhouse in Kensington. She said that housing costs were very expensive in the city b/c all the land had been developed and purchased centuries ago.
Great article - so many people base their decision to buy a house on the "rent amount vs mortgage amount" analysis which isn't very accurate.
Some other items which should be considered as well since they don't last forever:
Appliances. Fridge, stove, washing machine etc.
Hot water heater (if you own yours).
Siding (depends on the house).
Windows - I know you mentioned this but this could be a large expense so I'll mention it again. :)
Wooden decks.
One question to you Americans: I've never understood how you manage to pay off your mortgages. Even if I have a well-payed job and live in a semi-modest house, I will never be able to pay off my mortgage if I don't sell the house and move to a rental (which is impossible to get.) Everyone I know is in the same situation and I imagine it's the same in most of Europe.
I have been getting up at 2 or 3am on Black Friday for several years now. Sometimes a family member comes with me, sometimes alone. It is a little bit of an adrenaline rush to get the things that you want or need for home and holiday at such great prices, even if you sacrifice a little sleep for it! :) I actually find the 2am shopping one of the most peaceful shopping times of the year. I can go all over the store without seeing more than 2 other shoppers. Very relaxing and I able to really look at items and decide if they're what I want rather than just zooming my way through the store trying to get in and out as quickly as possible, which seems to be the norm. Black Friday Shopping? Can't wait!
Black Friday is my idea of consumer hell. I did it once, regrettably. I shot out of bed at 5 in the morning to stand in a long line to get INTO the store, and an even longer line to pay. In the end, I saved about $20.
The main problems I have with black friday are:
1) the mindset that comes with the day. You are geared to go out and spend, spend, spend. Without spending copious amounts of money, the day is considered a failure.
2) the deals are generally no better than what you find at random times during the year. I make my Holiday gift list months in advance and watch for good deals. Black Friday would save me little money. Also, black friday is nothing compared to the deals to be had just after Christmas.
3) i just can't bear the thought of turning into an uber-competitive person to get a good sale. i find rushing to an item to beat the person next to you rude and dehumanizing.
so, this black friday i will be sleeping in, enjoying a leisurely breakfast, and really saving money by not blowing an entire day spending it!
After preparing a giant feast all day Thursday and then stuffing myself I barely feel like waking up at 3 or 4 in the morning to go shopping. Instead, we wait until all of the early birds have gone home and we go out in the afternoon. The shops are all desperate with the bad economy and they are just trying to make up for 10 months of negative balance sheets, so there are great sales all day long. No need to get trampled to death over some cheap plastic ipod.
I never did shop Black Friday in the past because of the crowds. Now the internet and early release of Black Friday deals I am comparing my list to the sales. Unless I find a GREAT deal on the gift list, I don't plan on going out. I'd rather be putting up the Christmas decorations with the family.
I don't do Black Friday. I've gone out a few times for specific items, and it was always stressful and insane. I now participate in Buy Nothing Day instead.
I think it´s better to trade online... The traffic is horrible, the people all together fighting to get the same thing... NO thanks. No amount of money buys your piece of mind... Not to mention, it is better to stay away from temptation.
I live in the suburbs, right in the middle of all the mega malls. I don't leave my driveway on Black Friday! Thanksgiving evening, I have to take an elderly relative home. On the way, I pass a Best Buy. People are already lined up at 9 P.M.! I have no desire to participate. But...do I want a netbook...yep! I'll pay a few more dollars the following week. And I won't catch a cold doing so. Happy Holidays!
I've done some Black Friday shopping in the past, but most of the deals just aren't on what I'm looking for...with one exception. The used bookstore near me does 20% off everything from opening (7am) through 9am with free bags and $5 gift cards (and one $100 gift card) for the first 100 people through the door. Last year I got there about 6:45 and got one of the bags as well as some good deals on books. I'm planning on doing that again this year.
Then I'll go home, take a nap and get ready to have friends over for my annual "I need to get away from my family" games night.
You couldn't pay me a million dollars to do Black Friday. I will do all of my shopping from the privacy of my own home, and probably find better deals than anyone out there in the madness.
Plus I will not have to stand in one line, deal with one other angry customer, or worst of all, run the risk of being trampled at Walmart.
The only time I'll have anything to do with Black Friday is if there is one specific item I'm looking for. Last year I got a TV on Black Friday from Sear's. I went straight there, picked it up, and went straight home. That was my only trip that day!
This year, I'm looking for a specific networking router. So far, I can get better deals at discount sites online for it than any of the "leaked" Black Friday ads, so it looks like a nice Friday in front of a warm cup of hot chocolate for me!!!
We used to do Black Friday -- until the FeeBayers started hiring college kids to sit and hold their spots. We'd get there at 12:01, thinking we were number 50 or so, only to have 300 people show up at 7:50 to claim their held "spots". It so hasn't been worth it. It will be an Amazon.com Christmas for us; no crowds, no hassles.
I know we should all spend within our means but let's face it, it ain't going to happen.
The banks and other finance providers have got to be taken to task about this and stop sending us junk mail with special offers, discounts, "you have been accepted"" coupons and flyers that just push people into debt. I know that individuals should take responsibility but it really doesn't help when you are force fed this stuff on a daily basis from these companies.
Wow - do Americans really only pay US$2.00 for a coffee?! Here in Australia, it's almost impossible to buy a regular size coffee for less than US$3.90 (add 50 cents for soy milk, 50 cents for an extra shot, 50 cents to upsize).
My macbook pro broke completely the week before my regular applecare was about to run out, so I bought one off ebay so that while it was in for repairs they wouldn't screw me over for the old one running out.
It ended up that the entire unit had to be replaced by apple. They would NOT transfer my newly purchased applecare bought from ebay because they needed verification from an authorised reseller that it was bought from them.
So in conclusion, DO NOT BUY APPLECARE FROM EBAY! It could bite you in the ass if you actually have to have anything to do with apple themselves rather than a reseller.
Most years my husband and I drove up to get in some awesome skiing over Thanksgiving Weekend at Mammoth Mountain with our sons and friends. If I'm going to get up early, it sure won't be for shopping! This year, we have family visiting us for Thanksgiving so we'll be doing a big brunch and then heading out for some ice skating or a visit to Crater Lake if the snow cooperates! We just don't do Black Friday.
I don't get with the maddening crowd at the super sales on Friday mornings. I've found those sales to be pushing items that the chains want you to buy, not what you want to buy.
I will check out online sales and if there is a fantastic bargain on something I need or want, then I purchase it from the comfort of my home.
@Guest - I'm not sure where in Europe you are, but I dug up some stats on England, since that's where my family lives. The median home price is roughly 224,000 pounds, while the median income is 24,700 pounds. So, the average home price is 10 times the income. In the US, the median home price is roughly 200,000 USD, while the median income is 50,000. So, in the US the average home price is roughly 4 times the average income.
However, depending on your definition of "well paying job" and "semi-modest house" it still looks perfectly doable to pay a mortgage off in Europe...its just significantly more difficult to so on an "average" income, if you live in an "average" house.
I like it because i get good deals for all present. This time we will get a HDTV. Thanks!
But my wife and I are moving into our first home, and we need a dryer. Home Depot has one on sale on Black Friday for much cheaper than I could find anywhere else, so I'm going to have to brave the madness.
We have always lived a distance from family and try to get the gifts mailed out by Thanksgiving. So we snag deals all year long. A long time ago in a galaxy far away women were decking each other over Cabbage Patch dolls. Several years later I saw one in great shape (looked new, with papers) being sold in a thrift store for $2. If I ever had any inclination to go out to shop that day, that would have squashed it.
I wonder if it is possible because housing prices -- in certain areas -- are affordable; the median price of less than $200K is affordable for some, and you can also find houses for much less in certain areas.
I am not familiar with the real estate market in Europe, except for what I know about the time my sister lived in London, in an employer-owned townhouse in Kensington. She said that housing costs were very expensive in the city b/c all the land had been developed and purchased centuries ago.
Congrats on no mortgage!
Great article - so many people base their decision to buy a house on the "rent amount vs mortgage amount" analysis which isn't very accurate.
Some other items which should be considered as well since they don't last forever:
Appliances. Fridge, stove, washing machine etc.
Hot water heater (if you own yours).
Siding (depends on the house).
Windows - I know you mentioned this but this could be a large expense so I'll mention it again. :)
Wooden decks.
Interesting post!
One question to you Americans: I've never understood how you manage to pay off your mortgages. Even if I have a well-payed job and live in a semi-modest house, I will never be able to pay off my mortgage if I don't sell the house and move to a rental (which is impossible to get.) Everyone I know is in the same situation and I imagine it's the same in most of Europe.
Please explain! :)
I have been getting up at 2 or 3am on Black Friday for several years now. Sometimes a family member comes with me, sometimes alone. It is a little bit of an adrenaline rush to get the things that you want or need for home and holiday at such great prices, even if you sacrifice a little sleep for it! :) I actually find the 2am shopping one of the most peaceful shopping times of the year. I can go all over the store without seeing more than 2 other shoppers. Very relaxing and I able to really look at items and decide if they're what I want rather than just zooming my way through the store trying to get in and out as quickly as possible, which seems to be the norm. Black Friday Shopping? Can't wait!
Nope. I tend to drive back from wherever Thanksgiving was on Black Friday.
Black Friday is my idea of consumer hell. I did it once, regrettably. I shot out of bed at 5 in the morning to stand in a long line to get INTO the store, and an even longer line to pay. In the end, I saved about $20.
The main problems I have with black friday are:
1) the mindset that comes with the day. You are geared to go out and spend, spend, spend. Without spending copious amounts of money, the day is considered a failure.
2) the deals are generally no better than what you find at random times during the year. I make my Holiday gift list months in advance and watch for good deals. Black Friday would save me little money. Also, black friday is nothing compared to the deals to be had just after Christmas.
3) i just can't bear the thought of turning into an uber-competitive person to get a good sale. i find rushing to an item to beat the person next to you rude and dehumanizing.
so, this black friday i will be sleeping in, enjoying a leisurely breakfast, and really saving money by not blowing an entire day spending it!
After preparing a giant feast all day Thursday and then stuffing myself I barely feel like waking up at 3 or 4 in the morning to go shopping. Instead, we wait until all of the early birds have gone home and we go out in the afternoon. The shops are all desperate with the bad economy and they are just trying to make up for 10 months of negative balance sheets, so there are great sales all day long. No need to get trampled to death over some cheap plastic ipod.
I never did shop Black Friday in the past because of the crowds. Now the internet and early release of Black Friday deals I am comparing my list to the sales. Unless I find a GREAT deal on the gift list, I don't plan on going out. I'd rather be putting up the Christmas decorations with the family.
I don't do Black Friday. I've gone out a few times for specific items, and it was always stressful and insane. I now participate in Buy Nothing Day instead.
I think it´s better to trade online... The traffic is horrible, the people all together fighting to get the same thing... NO thanks. No amount of money buys your piece of mind... Not to mention, it is better to stay away from temptation.
I live in the suburbs, right in the middle of all the mega malls. I don't leave my driveway on Black Friday! Thanksgiving evening, I have to take an elderly relative home. On the way, I pass a Best Buy. People are already lined up at 9 P.M.! I have no desire to participate. But...do I want a netbook...yep! I'll pay a few more dollars the following week. And I won't catch a cold doing so. Happy Holidays!
I've done some Black Friday shopping in the past, but most of the deals just aren't on what I'm looking for...with one exception. The used bookstore near me does 20% off everything from opening (7am) through 9am with free bags and $5 gift cards (and one $100 gift card) for the first 100 people through the door. Last year I got there about 6:45 and got one of the bags as well as some good deals on books. I'm planning on doing that again this year.
Then I'll go home, take a nap and get ready to have friends over for my annual "I need to get away from my family" games night.
You couldn't pay me a million dollars to do Black Friday. I will do all of my shopping from the privacy of my own home, and probably find better deals than anyone out there in the madness.
Plus I will not have to stand in one line, deal with one other angry customer, or worst of all, run the risk of being trampled at Walmart.
Happy Balck Friday to all!
The only time I'll have anything to do with Black Friday is if there is one specific item I'm looking for. Last year I got a TV on Black Friday from Sear's. I went straight there, picked it up, and went straight home. That was my only trip that day!
This year, I'm looking for a specific networking router. So far, I can get better deals at discount sites online for it than any of the "leaked" Black Friday ads, so it looks like a nice Friday in front of a warm cup of hot chocolate for me!!!
We used to do Black Friday -- until the FeeBayers started hiring college kids to sit and hold their spots. We'd get there at 12:01, thinking we were number 50 or so, only to have 300 people show up at 7:50 to claim their held "spots". It so hasn't been worth it. It will be an Amazon.com Christmas for us; no crowds, no hassles.
I know we should all spend within our means but let's face it, it ain't going to happen.
The banks and other finance providers have got to be taken to task about this and stop sending us junk mail with special offers, discounts, "you have been accepted"" coupons and flyers that just push people into debt. I know that individuals should take responsibility but it really doesn't help when you are force fed this stuff on a daily basis from these companies.
Wow - do Americans really only pay US$2.00 for a coffee?! Here in Australia, it's almost impossible to buy a regular size coffee for less than US$3.90 (add 50 cents for soy milk, 50 cents for an extra shot, 50 cents to upsize).
Never ever ever would I do black friday. Life is too short to subject myself to that horror!
My macbook pro broke completely the week before my regular applecare was about to run out, so I bought one off ebay so that while it was in for repairs they wouldn't screw me over for the old one running out.
It ended up that the entire unit had to be replaced by apple. They would NOT transfer my newly purchased applecare bought from ebay because they needed verification from an authorised reseller that it was bought from them.
So in conclusion, DO NOT BUY APPLECARE FROM EBAY! It could bite you in the ass if you actually have to have anything to do with apple themselves rather than a reseller.
Most years my husband and I drove up to get in some awesome skiing over Thanksgiving Weekend at Mammoth Mountain with our sons and friends. If I'm going to get up early, it sure won't be for shopping! This year, we have family visiting us for Thanksgiving so we'll be doing a big brunch and then heading out for some ice skating or a visit to Crater Lake if the snow cooperates! We just don't do Black Friday.