Normally what Black Friday means to me is absolutely nothing except that I get to sit around and read my book all day. But things happened this year that forced my hand and meant that I made my way to a fucking outlet mall on the day after Thanksgiving. If you are not American, you probably don't understand exactly what this entails, but it's the busiest shopping day of the year and there was so much traffic and so many people, but I made it out IN ONCE PIECE.
Here's what happened.
I went to walk the dog in the morning. It was COLD, like real feels in the single digits. I went to zip my eleven-year-old winter coat AND THE ZIPPER PULL BROKE INTO THREE PIECES INTO MY HAND. This poor coat. I ripped it mere months after I got it and a couple of years ago the inside lining started disintegrating, but I sewed it up and kept on keeping on. But this was the final straw. My husband looked at me and said, "you're going to have to get a new coat."
I wore my heated vest under my insulated raincoat and froze my thighs off on my walk with Hannah and admitted that my husband had a point. Also, my winter boots, after five years of hard work and daily dog walks, had developed a leaking problem and the last time it wintry mixed, I almost got frostbite.
So I went to the Columbia store at the outlet mall down the road ON BLACK FRIDAY.
I scored some boots (what I think are a replacement for my old ones, right down to the fun shoelaces) and a cool weather jacket, but not a winter coat. I went to the Lands End website when I got home and ordered a new winter coat for half off. I ordered holiday cards. I ordered the dog and cat more probiotic. AND as money was flowing out of my checking account like water, I also made an appointment to go to the tire store today to get new tires for our older car and then I'm going to be an adult and go to the Verizon store and buy a new phone to replace my 5-year-old phone that only kinda sorta works sometimes.
I'll get into this if I ever do a November recap of my spending, but it has been OUT OF CONTROL. In the last week, here's what I've purchased:
Gifts for student workers in our office
Grow lamps for my office because someone at work gave me a plant from the greenhouse and I don't have a window and this plant needs to be loved
A ton of food at Costco two days before Thanksgiving, including for the salad at Thanksgiving and some staples for us
Gift for my Secret SANta Swap partner
Probiotics for the girls
A jacket, a winter coat, and winter boots
Photo prints for my freshman seminar students
Holiday cards
And today I'm going to buy new tires and probably a new phone. Where do I think all this money is coming from? Egads.
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Speaking of holiday cards, if you want a card from me, you can fill out this form and I'll get you one! If I already have your address, though, don't worry. You're already on the list.
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And that is a wrap on NaBloPoMo. I have really enjoyed reading everyone's posts this month. Let's hear it one more time for San and her amazing organizational skills and keeping this blogging tradition alive.
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What have you purchased recently? Have you ever had a zipper break apart in your hands?
My zipper didn't break like yours did, but it did give up the ghost. On my fave jacket, it needed replacing, which cost $40. This was just recently. I must say that you showed great fortitude yesterday. I would not have done it -- any of it -- so good onya, as they say.
ReplyDeleteI don't think this zipper is fixable or I might have ordered one and given a go at replacing it myself. Oh, well. The coat has put in eleven good years.
DeleteI wasn't going to spend money on Black Friday, but I needed to get a prescription, so I had to brave Target. There I got a coupon for $15 of $90, so I wandered around and used it up . Two presents, and a bunch of stuff for daily use. Then I came home and ordered sone Amazon things- I decided to just buy each kid one big present, and gave in to the ads. I'm buying to try to cheer myself up; at least you're buying necessities. Warm coats and good tires are absolutely required in cold northern winters.
ReplyDeleteI had a coat burst the zipper the second time I zipped it- then got its replacement which did the same thing. I gave up and found a different style.
Target got you in its clutches. I daren't enter any store unless I'm prepared to spend lots of money there, particularly on Black Friday.
DeleteI just order winter coats this morning because I really only have a flimsy boat jacket and coat i can't zip up (I keep hoping I loose weight but it's not happening fast enough). And I can't wear my fancy business coat in the woods and around here. It was fine living down town berlin but here I look weird. And I dont want to ruin it.
ReplyDeleteI also ordered myself some good coffee because I have three weeks off and we ddidnt go on vacation and I wanted to treat myself. So I gifted myself. And I may have also ordered some presents and Secret Santa gifts ... none of them on sale though.
Nice coffee sounds delightful. I'm glad you treated yourself!
DeleteNooooo! I can't believe that happened to you. I also wasn't planning to buy anything yesterday, but when I got home from work my kids had other ideas, and let's just say several amazon packages will be arriving. At least you bought things you really need- well, and gifts. Gifts are important!
ReplyDeleteSo many gifts! I think I really only have to buy for a couple more people, though, so I'm feeling pretty good about it. Dr. BB is one of those people, though, so that will be quite a thing.
DeleteCongrats on surviving Black Friday 2024! Sometimes when a bunch of expenses come in at the same time all that you can really do is sit back and laugh. Hey, your cost per use for the boots and the coat will work out to fractions of a penny. I just replaced my "it's basically fine but my god its soooooo old" phone with a brand new one and yes it was $$$ but also it feels good to have a bright shinny new thing.
ReplyDeleteMy new phone is so much like my old phone that it makes me laugh. I basically just upgraded to have a longer battery life and be able to play podcasts on it again. It IS nice, though.
DeleteSigh. Not tires. That really was the last straw.
ReplyDeleteMy mother and my sister and I used to do the whole Black Friday Thing on purpose. We made it an annual adventure and accomplished a good 95% of our shopping. We really did shop until we dropped and had a terrific time. Now, forget it. I wouldn't go back out there for anything. I'm glad you got stuff you needed, and it sounds like you did really well.
Driving back on the new tires did make it clear that the new tires were necessary, though. We definitely needed those tires to get us through winter.
DeleteOMG so many things at once. I need a new Lands End coat, and it's only because I bought one to replace a NorthFace one that I left at the tailor and forgot to pick up with its new zipper (wasteful!) and the LE coat I got is TOO SMALL this year even though it fit me while I was pregnant and **sob**
ReplyDeleteLands End coats are the best, though! So warm!
DeleteWow, good on you! I hunkered down and stayed off the streets yesterday! But needs must, I guess. However, due to my having to buy a new laptop, November is going to be a heavy spending month. Not as heavy as April, when I had my house painted, sewer and yard redone and house sold, but it still hurts nonetheless!
ReplyDeleteYikes, those large electronics purchases are NOT fun!
DeleteOh holy crap, that's a lot Engie! But yay for a warm new coat and boots. I am like some kind of evangelical when it comes to good outerwear because as you know, it makes a huge difference in our lives. Hahaha funny story - I think it might have been 2019, and I was meeting a fellow yoga teacher for coffee. We decided to meet at Starbucks at the mall. We chose the mall because it was close to the studio where I taught my noon class. Anyway, it's like 10:30 in the morning and I'm like, why is the mall so busy? This is insane! Turns out it was Black Friday and neither of us registered that when we made our coffee date. It took me probably twenty minutes to just get in the parking lot. I couldn't turn around, the only way out was through.
ReplyDeleteOh, I didn't hesitate to buy new things for outdoors because, like you, I'm outside a lot in bad weather because of the dog. I will not be cold if I don't have to be!
DeleteHaving worked retail on Black Friday during college, I know firsthand how crazy the crowds can be. Fortunately, my zipper did not break into three pieces yesterday, but I did spend a ton of money (as one does) at Woodman's.
ReplyDeleteWoodman's is a sinkhole for money, but we gotta eat.
DeleteI didn't order anything yesterday, but I feel like my life has been a steady stream of spending lately. We have some extra guests for Christmas and so between even relatively minimal gifts it both adds up financially and in terms of space. That said, I am NOT a gift giver any other time of the year. Birthday's get something small, and I don't give anything to my kids at Easter or Valentine's or for grading. So I figure Christmas is the time I want to give them things they want and need (we do a lot of "needs" at Christmas too - even practical things like deodrant are more fun if you pull them out of a stocking, right?).
ReplyDeleteI just bought new boots. I haven't worn them yet because I am keeping my eye on sales. I tried on two pairs of Columbia but in the end a pair of WindRiver were the most comfortable (a Canadian Brand and one that Nicole recommended), but I DID buy them in the hiking boot height - something I had never considered until I saw what you wore. I think it's going to make such a difference. I am rarely walking through high snow, and these offer a lot more support. For the few times I need to have boots for deep snow, I can wear my old Sorels. I'm also keeping my eyes open at thrift stores for high Wind River, Columbia, or Baffin boots (the ones you/Nicole recommended).
I have too many winter coats right now - all of them thrifted or handed down. What I don't have is a really long, really warm coat. I have a long coat that's good for going out and about in winter, but only short coats for really snowy days. Also keeping my eyes open for something to fit that category as well.
And now that I'm writing so much about winter gear I'm realizing I really need to have the kids try on their things and see if we need anything in bigger sizes. Eeks. Winter is coming, Engie!
Winter is coming, but we're going to be prepared!! I think you'll find that having warm boots is seriously life altering. And having shorter ones is handy, especially since you do have tall ones if you need them.
DeleteI do not actually understand why so many people wear short coats during winter. I find my thighs/glutes get so cold!!
You braved Black Friday? YIKES! I'm glad you made it back in one piece.
ReplyDeleteOh, my. There's nothing worse than spending ALL that money in one day, and especially for things that aren't fun, like tires and coats and probiotics. But also, necessary, so there's that.
Yeah, I can't actually see where I could cut money out, but it was a crazy weekend watching it just disappear so quickly!
DeleteThe last thing I bought for myself was a plaid flannel shirt in pale blue. I feel pretty in it. Congratulations on completing NaBloPoMo. You did it! Yay!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I did it! I didn't even properly celebrate, I guess.
DeleteI'm so happy that I could avoid Black Friday this year! I can't bear the crowds. I love my Land's End coats. I pretty much like everything they sell! When my zippers break, it's usually one of the teeth. I've replaced many zippers, and it's a job I despise. I replaced one of my husband's coat zippers with a super duper heavy duty one, and it has lasted so long, the coat is falling apart around it! I've fill out your form, and I'd be so happy if you send me your address as well!
ReplyDeleteI hate replacing zippers, too, but I can do it. I just don't think it's possible with these types of poly/down coats because when you replace the zipper, the edge of the fabric literally breaks down. If I thought it could have been replaced, I would have definitely just done it myself. Sad news.
DeleteOh, I was going to say you made some necessary, but probably also exciting new purchases... but dang, going to the store ON Black Friday and then also ordering tires and a new phone. Eek. You really lost all self-control there. (Hopefully though all these necessary purchases will make life better, amirite?)
ReplyDeleteI only ordered our holiday cards on Black Friday. I was good this year.
Nice! I did take advantage of a Black Friday sale for my holiday cards, too. *sigh* So many expenses all at once.
DeleteWe got the Black Friday frenzy here too unfortunately. Black week, black month whatever it seems to be growing exponentially every year. Glad you survived the outing. :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on another successful NaBloPoMo! Well done, all of us.
Black month!! LOLOL. It does feel like that sometimes, doesn't it?
DeleteBlack Friday at the Outlet Mall?! The outlet mall here is packed on regular days, there's no way I would have attempted it on Black Friday. You definitely deserve a prize for that.
ReplyDeleteI don't think our outlet mall here is ever packed outside of this day. People were really fighting over parking spaces!
DeleteAieeee, I feel you. This is not on the same scale, but once I had to go to Wal Mart (where I never go) on a Saturday just before vacation because Eve had no sandals. It worked out because Angus and his friend Jack had set out for Bulk Barn to buy snacks with only tiny frog and ladybug umbrellas and then the skies opened up, so we picked them up on the way.
ReplyDeleteOne Monday I had to go to the mall after work to pick something up in the afternoon. I thought, it's Monday, it will be quiet. I had forgotten that it was Remembrance Day and every government workers in town was there.
I hate it when I forget it's a holiday and expect things to be working. We have a lot of random federal holidays here in the States (like Veterans Day) when federal offices are closed and it can be so jarring.
DeleteOUCH. Some fun things (gifts), some kind of needed things (phone), some 'could I have taken it to the tailor and dealt with it and would it have been worth it' decisions (coat), and some 'no choice, this needs to happen' (tires) That's a LOT of money, and I feel all of it. I don't think we left the house on Friday other than for our family walk. Recent purchases: New Washer and Dryer ($3,500...I could have maybe fixed the last one for about $1,000 but it would have still been 16 years old and this one fits in our space and wow, $3,500 is a lot of money but I still don't regret it); 2 new sweaters because I wanted them but didn't need them, about $250; Thanksgiving for 6 people, $500 (including 3 bottles of nice wine); random Christmas gifts, I don't even know. Oh yeah, I took advantage of Black Friday and bought some face cream for myself, and a birthday gift for my brother. So yeah. It's that time of year. Winter is spendy, especially where you are, and then holidays also. I hope your new phone is making life easier, and I'm glad the tires are keeping you safe!
ReplyDeleteOh, if I thought the coat was fixable, I would have fixed it. I can put in zippers, but with these nylon coats, putting in zippers really can damage the structural integrity of the coat.
DeleteA new washer and dryer is such a game changer, though. You should never regret it!
Oof - an outlet mall on Black Friday is like my personal hell. I did not do any in-store shopping on Friday. We had Will's birthday party that evening and my parents stayed with us the night before so we had company which was quite nice as my mom loves to help out with kitchen stuff. I did buy some things online, namely under eye cream because the circles under my eyes are so terrible. I look around at other women my age or older and they don't seem to have this problem so they either have found a magical solution. But more likely, it's the fact that they don't have young children. We've had a lot of night wakings recently so I think that is the real culprit. But I bought a couple of different eye creams to see if something will work better than the caffeine serum from The Ordinary.
ReplyDeleteI only dropped off part of my crew at the outlet mall the day before Thanksgiving and went to the Game and the book store with the kids instead (who both hate shopping unless it is for games or books). The Black Friday sales can be pretty good though but I really hear you on the crowds. I would love a card from you if it is not too late.
ReplyDelete