Black Auntie Advice: 9 Things Not To do As You Go Black Friday Shopping

Think of me as your favorite Black Auntie who’s always here to provide you with sound advice. Black Friday can be triggering and seductive, but it doesn’t have to be. Let me give it to you straight. You don’t need to be that shopper with the TikTok haul that clutters your living room and leaves you broke and disgusted with yourself. Here are 9 things NOT to do when you go shopping:

1. Don’t leave your house before you survey your current wardrobe. Spend an hour or two shopping in your own closet. What do you have that you have never worn? Force yourself to try on the horrible stuff you meant to give to GoodWill a long time ago to remind you of your previous mistakes. Let this glimpse in your mirror sober you up before you get to the register.
2. Don’t clear your schedule. Give yourself a time limit to be out there in the streets or online shopping. Set an alarm. Make an appointment to meet somebody or do something else to force you to end the hemorrhage before it’s too late.
3. Don’t go hungry. Just like when you go grocery shopping on an empty stomach and buy all kinds of random stuff that suddenly looks irresistible–resist that impulse purchase.
4. Don’t shop without a list. The whole idea of Black Friday is for you to open your wallet and spend until it’s empty. Only buy what you really want or need that you told yourself before you arrived. That cashmere sweater that looks exactly like the one you bought last year and still haven’t worn should stay in the store.
5. Don’t be seduced by the price. Just because something is “cheap” doesn’t mean it’s cheap to you. Those small purchases add up to a big-ass number before you know it. Chances are you would do better buying the one thing you truly want rather than 10 things that seemed like a steal.
6. Don’t bring your lying friend who will tell you to buy everything plus the kitchen sink, but who doesn’t buy anything. Leave that “friend” at home!
7. Don’t compete with the person next to you. This is not FOMO hour. So that person is eying something you just spotted? Hand it over with a smile. Your bank account will thank you.
8. Don’t be selfish and buy just for yourself. The moment you find it hard to part with dollars for someone you love, it’s time to go!
9. Don’t give yourself a blank check. Set a dollar threshold. What is the max you can spend? After you reach that, get your butt out of there.

Now, go home or shut down your computer. Kick back by yourself or with friends and family and exhale. Your Black Auntie approves!

Harriette Cole is an author, journalist and national syndicated columnist based in NYC