How are you Black Friday-ing?

It's BLACK FRIDAY! The American shopping holiday that has found it's way across the globe. But let's really think about this day from a financial and budgeting perspective. Do you shop on Black Friday because you've somehow managed to stop yourself from buying the items that you wanted so badly but you just did not want to overspend, so Black Friday is your day because those items are now on sale? Or are you shopping on Black Friday because the sales make you feel good about your pre-existing shopaholic situation? There is perhaps a thin line between having a need and having a want. And when we fail to realize the difference then we are in trouble. 

I listen to financial gurus like Clark Howard and Dave Ramsey and I must say, I am not even close to being mindful of the things they teach us, but I try. 

Sales are good, I feel good when I pay less than what I would have originally paid. But do we really take our time to do an inventory of the things we have and then decide what we will be buying today is what we need versus what we want? 

Let me give you an example; I desire to upgrade my photography equipment, and I feel a pinch when a product I need is not on sale or when I pay so much on taxes. Because of that I have a reminder on my phone calendar to remind me to purchase equipment during Black Friday as well as Sales Tax Week so that I don't overspend. Unfortunately, when a need for buying an equipment occurs it is because I have a project in a near future and I need to buy that item asap. This means, I do not have the luxury to wait until Black Friday or Sales Tax Week. A good example, I want to upgrade my camera to Sony A7IV but this product is not yet out, it's on preorder status and will begin shipping on December 30th 2021. In this case, should I just go ahead and buy any other camera that's on sale this Black Friday or should I be patient until the next Black Friday and hope that the Sony a7IV camera will be on sale and for some reason, I will still desire to buy that same exact product at the point of time?

I did not write this post to question everyone else's reason for making use of Black Friday, I wrote this to question my own. And in situations like the one I just mentioned above, is this day really helpful to me? Or should I just head on to B&H early next year and see if that camera is available and hopefully sold at a lower price?

Sincerely, 

Mamatembo Safari

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Be Resilient Be Thankful

We get pulled down by life too many times to count, but that's life. We want oranges we get lemons. We want peace, war breaksout and we are tested and yet expected to have peace in the midst of the war. What I have come to realize in the midst of it all, is that we are meant to be resilient! My version of being resilient is by naming all the things I am grateful for. Believe me it's not easy to be thankful when every inch of your being wants to scream and complain about the warfare you are going through or have been through. So, my gratitute list include things such as life, not being in the hospital, being able to use my hands and legs, I have food on the table, I can feed myself, etc. 

The things we take for granted are sometimes someone's actual struggle. When we struggle to find a job, someone out there doesn't have legs and hands or has another disability that makes their options fewer than yours and maybe they have the same amount of responsibilities as you! 

So, not to say your problems are few or petty than someone elses, but just focus on what you can be thankful for, if you can.