Navigating Black Friday, Intentionally

When you think of sustainability, I hope you have come to see the term as synonymous with intentionality. Becoming more sustainable is a journey taken one step at a time. You don’t have to start composting your food scraps, shop only secondhand, and never fly on a plane again all at once to be more sustainable- but if you want to do all that, do it! Sustainability has so much to do with being intentional about our buying decisions; more conscious of how our purchases effect people and the planet.

Cyber Week, which is now more like Cyber month, is an opportunity to put intentionality into practice. Starting November 1st, we are inundated with flashing sales and shiny things. I get it, I advertise my styling services more this time of year, so I am not above the marketing machine. But, what i have learned, and hope to pass along to you, is how to navigate this wild shopping season with more intentionality and a slower mindset.

Scroll down to see my three keys:

1. Make a plan + budget

This is pretty straight forward. If you want to be intentional when shopping and not get distracted by the flashing neon lights of the internet, then make a plan, and stick to it. There is nothing wrong with wanting to take advantage of saving money on items you were planning to shop for anyways. If you’re doing your Christmas shopping, then it makes sense to buy your gifts at a discounted rate if you can. But, cheaper isn’t always better…we will get to that below. So, make your list, check it twice, make you budget, and don’t…fudge it? Trying to rhyme here. 

2. When Shopping, Ask yourself “Does it integrate?”

If you are shopping for yourself, ask yourself the question

“Does this item integrate…

…Into my wardrobe. Will it work with my other pieces and can I wear it numerous ways?

…Into my house. Does it fill a space I have been wanting to fill?

…Into my life in general. Do I need this item?

And if you don’t need but just want, does it still integrate into your life seamlessly? 

3. Ask Yourself “Is there a better option? And, Is Cheaper always better?”

A double whammy of a question. Now when I say better option, I don’t necessarily mean more expensive. I am referring to better quality OR, perhaps supporting a business that values its workers, the planet, or is a small business that will truly appreciate a holiday purchase. Amazon is not always the enemy, but I guarantee there are options that are ethically made, more sustainable, or supporting a small business for much of what you would buy from other big companies. 

Just because something is less expensive doesnt mean it is the right choice. Eek, I know. Hard to swallow. I am a budget girl myself, so I have to be very international with this step. I know you can do it!

I hope you take these keys and apply them this year, and have a slower, more thoughtful black friday/cyber week/cyber month/sale month/retail Super Bowl.

xx,

MFF