Thanksgiving is just around the corner. But do you know what the next best thing that comes after Thanksgiving is? That’s right, it’s Black Friday! It’s the biggest shopping day of the year!

Black Friday is the day to go out and buy the things you have always wanted but couldn’t because those discount tags never showed up as you planned. I mean, people are even willing to take out a cash advance to fund this nationwide shopping event. However, it seems this yearly shopping ritual is only getting better with time. Ever heard of Cyber Monday? Well, I just did and, as a shopper and an online marketer, I’m pretty stoked.

What is Cyber Monday?

Cyber Monday was invented by the National Retail Federation, the world’s largest retail trade association. According to Wikipedia, the term Cyber Monday refers to the Monday immediately following Black Friday, which unofficially marks the beginning of the Christmas online shopping season. So what this basically means is if you miss the Black Friday shopping hustle, you still have a chance to make it up on Monday. Cyber Monday is the Monday you will actually enjoy.

Great tip for Online Merchants

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/autumnal_hedge/ / CC BY-NC 2.0

A recent Yahoo! Insights team research revealed that the number of sales during last year’s Black Friday were actually not too far from the overall sales that took place the Monday following. Click-through rates were down 27% on both days compared to the rest of the month. However, online traffic and conversions went up significantly. Black Friday showed an increase in conversions by 147%, while Cyber Monday had a 73% increase in conversions.

What does this mean for me?

This study lays out a great opportunity for online marketers. You have about 1½ months before the biggest shopping days of the year. I suggest you start promoting and investing throughout the month to create attraction. Get a head-start and take advantage of the holiday traffic now. You will witness flourishing conversions not just for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but for the rest of the holiday season.

For all you holiday shoppers on the other hand, start saving now! You are already aware of how busy and expensive holiday shopping can be. You have enough time to save a sufficient amount of money for your holiday expenses, which will prevent the need of a cash advance at the last minute.

A different outlook

In “The Big Bing Blog” on Fortune Magazine’s Web site, author Stanley Bing writes about the SkyMall catalog in relation to the recession. He is of the opinion that people buying things from said catalog is a sign that the economy will stabilize.

“I still believe that in the end we’re all going to be all right. If people are buying meerkat gang sculpture for their yards and living rooms, can recovery be far behind?”

You can order your very own Harry Potter wand from the SkyMall catalog. (Warning: Wand does not actually contain magic.)

But are people doing that? Bing argues that the SkyMall catalog, and the marketing business in general, makes us think that we actually need things like cigar humidors and slippers with built-in night lights.  I admire Bing’s optimist, and I understand that his blog is meant to be humorous. Still, I can’t help but wonder if Americans are still making frivolous purchases like these.

Cold, hard facts

Statistics indicate that they are not. The Commerce Department has released its official report on just how dismal holiday sales were this season. Wall Street had predicted that the decline was about 1.2 percent, but final  figures show that sales fell 2.7 percent.

Before you go thinking that maybe Americans did their holiday shopping early this year: It was the sixth straight month of decline. I’m no financial guru, but it seems to me that if people were going to be making frivolous purchases, they would have done it for the holidays, even if they had to take out payday loans to do it.

Aftershocks

In the wake of these reports, some major retailers are announcing big changes. California department store chain Gottschalks is up for sale, and it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Famous luxury retailer Neiman Marcus Group Inc. says it is going to cut 375 jobs. Macy’s department store is closing 11 stores, which will affect 960 employees. So between those two companies, I can safely assume that at least 1,335 people out there will be even less likely to be making discretionary purchases.

Job loss leads to job loss

So, because consumers aren’t spending enough on retail, employees from retail store are out of a job. If (when) those employees go on unemployment, their incomes will be slashed by more than 30 percent, leading to even less spending and more … well, you get the picture.

Thus, it comes as no surprise to me that Federal Reserve says this low-spending trend is continuing and worsening this month. An AP reporter says “job cuts, sinking home values and cracked nest eggs have made American consumers wary of spending.”

Ahem. I think that by “wary of spending” she means “unable to spend.”

A slow fix

The only way I can see to change this trend is for employers to start hiring instead of firing. American consumers aren’t going to suddenly start spending money they don’t have, especially considering the credit crunch going on.

So Obama has the right idea by including programs that create jobs in his American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan. You see, the government will spend money it doesn’t have to hire people to work on roads and bridges and alternative energy sources. Then perhaps those Americans will start ordering antique-style gumball machines from the SkyMall catalog and all will be well again. Perhaps.

The future of the American way

Are we changed forever? Americans, especially those who have lost their homes, have learned some hard lessons in the past year. When this is all straightened out, will Americans really go back to maxing out their credit cards at luxury department stores?

No one can tell the future, but it’s always fun to make predictions. So, what do you think? Will Americans start using payday loans because they absolutely must have that UV-ray-blocking beach canopy right now?

You can find the best bargains of the year on Black Friday at Wal-Mart, but it’s time to take a step back and reevaluate the real worth of flat screen TVs, tech gadgets, Hannah Montana gear, and payday loans. Saving money is a great thing, and shopping for sale and clearance items is one of the best ways to save money, especially if you are going to have to buy those items anyway. However, there are limits when it comes to saving money. If you steal a t-shirt instead of buying it, you are going to save money, but that’s not right either. The holiday season makes it easy to focus on material goods, and people get so caught up in the doorbuster deals of Black Friday that selfishness reigns supreme. It seems as though some shoppers in New York put the value of saving money over the value of human life.

Wal-Mart Worker’s Tragic Death

The Real Value of Doorbuster Deals

As previously mentioned, smart shopping and saving money are to be commended. If you can save a few hundred dollars on a flat-screen TV by getting to your local retailer earlier than the rest of the world, by all means, do it. If you can get tremendous deals on the many other must-haves of the holiday shopping season like TVs, tech toys, and Hannah Montana gear, you should. The less money you spend on holiday shopping this year, the better, but an outstanding Black Friday deal should not cause the loss of sanity, loss of money, and most importantly, the loss of life.

A Good Deal Isn’t Always a Good Deal

Black Friday sales have prices you can go crazy over, but that doesn’t mean you should lose all connections with reality. You hear about people getting in fights over the last item or, now, the man who was trampled under the herd of stampeding shoppers. Is a good bargain really worth getting in a fight? Payday loans can help you take advantage of  a  good bargain; it is definitely not worth killing someone. Those shoppers in New York were so wrapped up in getting their hands on the cheapest items, that they lost all sense of consideration and compassion. Customers continued to rush into the store while paramedics were trying to resuscitate the victim. It doesn’t sound like those TVs were such a great deal.

A good deal also isn’t a good if you can’t afford the sale price in the first place. If a flat screen TV is $500 dollars off, but still costs $1000 and you can’t afford it, it’s not a good deal. This holiday season is about living within your means. There’s no point in buying something that’s on sale, if you can’t afford to cover your usual monthly expenses. If you’re having trouble covering bills in between paychecks, you’ll realize that payday loans are a much better value than a discounted flat-screen TV.

With Thanksgiving now behind us and the biggest day of year just ahead of us, we all begin to get a little anxious about getting our gift shopping done. Between family and friends, it can be difficult financially to get everyone something you know they will appreciate. Consumers often get carried away in the spirit of spending, charging exuberant amounts on their credit cards or by pulling payday loans, cash advances and installment loans that they might not be able to afford.

Although you may enjoy shopping for others and getting that “Special Item” for all your loved ones, the nostalgia wears off quickly once the new year rolls around along with those unwelcome credit card statements.

Careful Considerations For Saving Money This Season

Filling your basket may be emptying your pocketbook

Here are some dietary consumer tips to consider, that will keep you from having to spend time on the debt treadmill for gluttonous over-spending this holiday season – you shouldn’t have to get installment loans to make people feel appreciated.

Make A List, Check It Twice

1. The first thing to do is sit down and decide what you can afford to spend this year. Write down all the individuals for which you plan on buying gifts for this year as well as the gifts you had in mind. This will help you get a general idea of what you may end up spending on gifts.

You will also want to considered things like gift boxes, gift wrapping, and gift cards. These things are not very costly items individually but they can sure add up. Also if you plan on buying anything online you will need to consider shipping and handling charges as well.

Once you have done the above, recheck your list once more to avoid any unforeseen surprises later. By now you will have set yourself a realistic budget that will help you realistically determine what you can afford to spread across your gift list.

Search The Sales and Save Yourself Money

2. Remember this is the shopping season. Everyone is competing for your business and small pieces of each of your paychecks.

You can use this to your advantage. Pay close attention to close-out sales, marked down prices, promotions and other specials to save money on the items you buy. This will help you get everyone that special something without having to compromise as well as help keep you on budget and maybe even under!

You Can Wait! It Will Be Worth It!

3. Avoid shopping for yourself! I know that this can be difficult but impulse buying is what gets most consumers into financial trouble. This can prove to be difficult, but if you can manage yourself until after the holidays, retailers usually slash prices to get rid of excess inventory. You will typically save money by doing so, and you may not end up having to get installment loans to pay off the credit cards.

Look for products offering mail-in rebates to save money!

Learn to Appreciate The Rebate Process

4. Take advantage of rebate offers. Rebates are a great way to save money and many retailers bank on the fact that the consumer who purchases their rebated products will fail to send in their rebate. If you can hold yourself accountable to the rebate process, you can take advantage of saving money on a large array of consumer products. These rebates are usually most prevalent among consumer home electronics.

Good luck this year.

Gift giving can be both rewarding and overwhelming

A cash advance, food, family, money, parties, and gifts are just a few of the many things to think about during the holiday season. Although gift giving is rewarding, it can also be extremely overwhelming, especially if you’re giving the gift of technology. Technology advances so fast that it’s hard to keep up. There are so many options, so many additional features, so many technology retailers, and you can never be certain that what you buy won’t be obsolete by tomorrow. Your best bet is to do extensive research and avoid brand spanking new products to get the most out of your money.

Minimize the Risk

Because technology does advance at such a tremendous pace, any purchase is a risk. The newest gadgets and gizmos have the potential of being a total flop or having their prices slashed immediately after you get your hands on that hot new tech toy. Research can help you make an informed decision, but it will not always guarantee that your decision is a wise one. The more research you do, the less risky your purchase will be.

Technology advances are becoming so fast; it’s hard to keep up!

Get the Facts

Important steps in the research process include knowing what features you really need and the additional features you want. Keep in mind the things you (or your gift recipient) can live without. Once you have the features nailed down, look up the products that have what you are looking for. It’s a good idea to set a price limit for yourself before you start shopping so you don’t fall in love with something you can’t afford. Reading product reviews can be a useful tool because you’ll get a realistic perception of the merchandise. Once you find the product you want, scour your local and online retailers for the best deal. Wait for holiday specials and sales because if it’s not on sale, you are definitely paying too much.

So Many Choices

Your research might be somewhat difficult because there are so many products to choose from, and it seems like the closer we get to the holidays the more options you have. The new iPhone has a camera, GPS, Bluetooth, and even has the ability to identify a song when you hold it up to your radio. It might seem like Apple rules the technology world, but there are many other phones with comparable features. The same goes for computers; the Mac versus PC battle is one of the biggest competitions in technology today. Nintendo Wii is also extremely popular, but there other game systems that rival the Wii. Then there’s the flat screen TV—LCD or plasma? Again, with so many options, research is essential.

The Most Bang for Your Buck

In conclusion, if you are going to make a technology purchase this holiday season, be sure you do your research. When times are hard it is crucial that you’re getting the most bang for your buck. However, because times are hard, you shouldn’t feel pressured to make a purchase that you can’t actually afford. With that in mind, you should realize that if you have to forego buying a tech toy this holiday season, something bigger and better will probably come out right after the New Year. Putting off your purchase might actually be a good thing. In the mean time, if the hard times are getting the best of your budget, you can apply for a cash advance. A cash advance can help you cover necessary costs during the holidays.

Approach the holiday season with a different mindset

‘Tis the season to be jolly: another turkey, another Black Friday, and another time to learn how to use quick payday loans responsibly. Shopping during the holidays is nothing less than stressful. You want to find the best deals, get the goods before they’re sold out, and there is always an underlying pressure to make sure everyone gets exactly what they want. This holiday season is different because of the slow economy, which means you will need to approach this holiday shopping season with a different mindset.

Extreme Discounts

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving and the official kick-off for the holiday shopping season, boasts sales and doorbuster deals that are certain to get shoppers out of bed and into the store. But this year, retailers can’t be so certain. Both retailers and consumers are fearful of this year’s holiday shopping season, and they are worried for exactly the same reason: there is less money to be spent. Consumers will be working with tighter budgets, and with that in mind, the retailers are trying harder than ever to entice customers to make a purchase. That’s why the leaked Black Friday ads from major retailers like Wal-Mart and Sears are offering such extreme discounts. However, simply because something is marked at half price does not mean you can afford it. It’s not a good deal if you can’t really afford it.

Make a Budget

Budgeting is always a smart money move, but this time of year, a budget is imperative. You need to sit down before Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and all the holiday madness to calculate what you can afford to spend this year. Be sure to prioritize things like bills and groceries over seasonal items and gifts. You should leave a little extra for anything unexpected because the holidays tend to bring surprises of all kinds. Once you make a budget, stick to it. Don’t spend more money on gifts than you can afford, no matter how great of a deal you come across.

A Change of Focus

Chances are the budget you create won’t leave a lot of leeway for buying gifts, but believe it or not, that is okay. The holidays, and America in general, have become increasingly materialistic. Americans are so accustomed to associating things with happiness. But haven’t you always heard that money can’t buy you happiness? With that being said, this year is the perfect year to shift the focus of the holidays. Don’t spend too much time worrying about money and gifts. Make the holidays what they should be by being thankful for what you do have and focusing on family and friends.

Smart Shopping

This is not meant to deter you from shopping altogether this holiday season because, let’s face it, Black Friday has practically become its own holiday. This article is meant to help you become a smart shopper. A smart shopper makes purchases within her means and has no qualms with passing up an “unbeatable” deal. Most importantly, a smart shopper would never take out quick payday loans to help cover the costs of unnecessary gifts. The smart shopper knows that quick payday loans are available to her as a responsible way to pay for other bills or surprise expenses that come along with the holiday season.