Why do we shop on Black Friday? It’s simple really––the deals! Just like everyone else, homesteaders enjoy getting deals when they shop on Black Friday and Thanksgiving day. And while we’ve been scolded multiple times for shopping during the holiday, I want to open your eyes to some important reasons why we do what we do.
Please know that everyone has their own convictions. If you don’t shop on Black Friday, that’s totally fine! If you do shop on Black Friday, that’s fine too! Let’s take a look at why we shop during this holiday.
5 Reasons We Shop on Black Friday
1. We Are Thankful All Year Long
Of course, we have our unthankful moments, but for the most part I’d say we’re a pretty thankful family. It blows my mind to think that there are some families who do not make more time than 1-day a year to sit down at a table together to give thanks. And, let’s be honest here, do you even give thanks while sitting around with extended family? Or do you talk about the football game, or gossip to your aunt about all the recent family drama?
We make an effort to spend at least 3 nights a year with extended family on all sides, for a total of 12 times a year which comes out to once a month with different people in our family (parents, grandparents, siblings). We have quite a bit of family members on each side of our family to spend time with. So, why try to cram them all into 30 mins during each three major holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter) out of the year?
We don’t need one day out of the entire year just to feel the amazingness of family, and therefore, we don’t feel guilty for shopping during the holiday. This is one of the main criticisms that we get when we tell people we’re shopping after Thanksgiving dinner and on Black Friday.
2. We Find Black Friday Deals for the Home
If you’re a homesteader, more than likely, you’re on a budget. And trust me, ya’ll, home “tools” aren’t cheap by any means. It took me years to break down and buy my Kitchen Aid Mixer, and guess what, I bought that on Black Friday!
Here’s another example––I’ve needed an emersion blender for my kitchen for years. I have waited because I wanted to spend money on a good one that would have multiple functions. More than anything though, I wanted one that would last. And trust me, cheap stuff doesn’t last! Why spend $10 on something I’m going to have to replace every other year when I can spend good money on something that will last a lifetime? Measure twice cut once, kind of deal.
I recently saw a “pre-black Friday sale” come across QVC and I snatched it up. This emersion blender has “all the things”, ya’ll. I was so incredibly blessed to purchase this set for only $99, when it is regularly $200+!
We shop on Black Friday not because we’re greedy or needy, but because we’re frugal. We’re on an extremely tight budget living this homesteading lifestyle. Which brings me to my next point.
3. We Find Black Friday Deals “In-Store” for the Homestead
Shopping on Black Friday is such a great way to outfit your homestead and the barnyard. But we find that a lot of those sales for the bigger items aren’t sold online. It requires us to patronize our local farm store, which is totally fine me with. I mean, what homesteader doesn’t like going to the farm store?
One year I was able to find this 5-gallon galvanized chicken waterer for only $15! It is regularly $40+. That’s a steal! I would’ve never bought this waterer, even though I feel they are incredible for the summer months to help keep your chicken’s water cool all day long. But because I was able to goto the farm store during the sale, I was able to purchase it for a fraction of the cost.
We utilize both online and in-store sales for the homestead. Here is a list of things to look for, as they are often on-sale during the Black Friday sales.
- chicken waterers & feeders
- electric poultry netting
- electric fencing
- overstock livestock feed
- Carhartt work gear
- hats, gloves, overalls, and more
- boots and shoes
. . . and so much more!
>> Shop ALL THINGS CHICKEN on the Murray McMurray Hatchery website! From chicks and waterers, to chicken pluckers and apparel (even blankets!) They have it all!
4. We Shop On Black Friday Because of the Kids
…but not always for gifts. Actually, hardly ever for gifts.
It’s really that simple.
Have you priced kids clothes recently? Clothes that help us save money, because kids go through clothes like toilet paper. That’s why we shop on Black Friday. Because can we be honest? Homestead boys lose knees out of jeans and toes out of socks in a minute, so buying second hand for certain things isn’t always the smartest.
Baby items that we wouldn’t be able to afford otherwise. Cheap baby toys that will get thrown in the toy box in 2 weeks never to be seen again. Why pay full price for things that aren’t going to last?
As you well know, as kids get older, their wants and needs get more expensive. Shopping on Black Friday helps us carry the load to give the best possible frugal life for our kiddos, while still offering them items and clothing that will last longer than thrift store clothing (though, we do that too!).
5. Black Friday Shopping is Fun!
We love the excitement of being able to go out and spend the entire day together. We do a lot of window shopping, without the “shopping” part sometimes. But we enjoy saying, “well, if I had this, this is how I’d use it”…all while being extremely thankful for the simple life that we have chosen to live.
Yes, I think it is awful to ask people to work on Thanksgiving. I think it’s completely unfair to ask anyone to work on Christmas (which many of our local retail stores do not ask of their employees anymore). But I also think it is silly to be in an uproar about people shopping on a holiday that so much of the world doesn’t even care about 364 days out of the year.
I get it, this isn’t for everyone. It’s not everyone’s method of family time. But it’s totally our method of family time––buying cheap items to help create our home and build our homestead.
Thanksgiving evening and Black Friday shopping are things that are beneficial to my family. Could we live without them? Certainly. But it’s certainly an amazing thing to take advantage of since it’s here!
Where You Can Find Black Friday Deals
Now the real question. Where can you, as a homesteader, homemaker, and dreamer find Black Friday Deals? Here is a list of the top places I find deals each year.
- Amazon
Yeah, duh. It’s only the best place ever. - QVC
I find a lot of great deals for the home here! Plus, it’s just fun to watch in the background during the day when I’m cleaning. - Kohls
Many years I’m able to get great clothing, kitchen, and home deals here, both in store and online. - Murray McMurray Hatchery
Seriously, the best chicken website to buy all things chicken! - Carter’s
A great website for kids clothes! - Target
For home, clothes, kitchen, toys, and more. - Carhartt
For all things durable homesteader clothing. - Tractor Supply Company
For every homesteading need. - Lehmans
So many incredibly cool homesteading and home items! - Walmart
I mean c’mon, it’s Walmart!
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
