This weekend will be important for U.S. retailers. They’ll be counting their pennies carefully. With retail sales already down sharply from 2007, merchants are eager for a strong start to the holiday shopping season.
The day after Thanksgiving — now dubbed “Black Friday” — has become something of a ritualized cultural experience, and one of the biggest shopping days of the year. Many people view the day as a chance to grab stellar deals on Christmas gifts.
But will people be spending this year? With the economy wobbling like a top, will the American consumer come through to prop up flagging retail sales?
The merchants hope so, as do many economists, but a new study from the American Research Group shows that the amount Americans plan to spend on Christmas gifts this year is half what they planned to spend last year, and the lowest number in at least a decade.
If you plan to shop this weekend, check out:
While some of my friends subscribe to the “take the day off to find bargains on Black Friday” school of thought, I’ve traditionally sided with another camp. On the day after Thanksgiving, I observe Buy Nothing Day.
For the past decade, I’ve elected not to shop on Black Friday. It’s one way for me to avoid consumerism. Subscribing to a consumerist mindset helped to put me in debt in the first place. I don’t begrudge others their bargains and shopping fun, but I choose not to participate. This year will be no different.
Ramit at I Will Teach You to Be Rich has taken things one step further. Rather than feel obligated to buy gifts you can’t afford, he says, why not do something different — like spend time with those who are important to you:
I’ve come up with a site that I hope you can share with your friends and family. It’s free, and it’s very simple, but the point is to share the idea that you can do something for the people you love without spending money.
At No Christmas Gifts This Year, you can send customized e-cards suggesting alternatives to buying gifts.
If the idea of abandoning gifts entirely is too extreme for you, consider creating homemade Christmas gifts this year.
Regardless of which path you plan to pursue — Black Friday, Buy Nothing Day, or No Christmas Gifts This Year — please spend responsibly. Buy only what you need and can afford. Don’t be lured into impulse purchases. Avoid debt. And most of all, enjoy the spirit of the season.
译文:
是黑色星期五？还是不是？
这个周末对于美国零售商人来说是重要的。他们要将钱数得很仔细了。随着2007年起零售销售的大幅下降，商人渴望建立一个强有力的假日购物季节的开端。
现在被称为“黑色星期五” ，感恩节之后的一天已经变成仪式化的文化经验，并且是一年中最大的购物日之一。许多人把这天视为抢夺主要圣诞礼物交易的时机。
但是今年人们还会消费吗？由于经济动荡不停，美国消费者会出来救助正日益衰退的零售销售吗？
商人希望如此，许多经济学家亦是这样认为。但是一项来自American Research Group的新研究表明，今年美国人计划在圣诞节礼物上的消费总额是他们去年消费的一半，而且是十年来数量最低的。
如果你计划这个周末去购物，确认一下：
一些朋友认同“休息一天，去找黑色星期五的特价商品”这一派的想法，而我则传统地站在另外一派。感恩节后的一天，我遵循不买日。
在过去的十年间，我在黑色星期五那天已经不再购物了。这是我避免消费主义的一种方法。赞成消费之上这种心态会首先就让我负债累累。我不会对其他人的特价商品和快乐购物感到不满，但我选择不参与。今年也不例外。
Ramit在《我会教你致富》上已经将事情进一步深化。他说，与其觉得有义务去买你买不起的礼物，为什么不做一些不同寻常的事呢？如花时间陪那些对你重要的人。
我提出了一个网站，一个你可以与你朋友以及家人分享的网站。该网站是免费的并且非常简单，但重点是可以分享想法，分享你为所爱的人而做的一些不花钱的事。
在今年没有圣诞礼物，你可以发送定制的电子贺卡来代替买礼物。
如果这个让你完全放弃礼物的想法对你太极端，建议你今年自制圣诞礼物。
不管你选择哪一种方法——Black Friday, Buy Nothing Day, 或者No Christmas Gifts This Year ——请责任消费。只买你需要的和你买得起的东西。千万不要被引诱而冲动购买东西。避免欠债。而且最重要的是，享受节日的气氛。