Five Things to Do on Black Friday that Don't Involve Shopping
November 6, 2024
For decades, the tradition has been that huge sales erupt at all of the stores on the day after Thanksgiving (and now some of them even start on Thanksgiving!). This event earned the name black Friday because it was the day when retailers saw their business move from red (signifying debt) to black (signifying profit). It also developed the name because of the chaos that surrounded the thousands of shoppers that would descend upon the stores in one fell swoop.
Good-bye Black Friday, Hello Buy Nothing Day
For those who don’t want to be involved in all of the antics of Black Friday, another “holiday” emerged on the day after Thanksgiving, known as Buy Nothing Day. This point of this day was to balance out all of the consumerism and celebrate all of the ways you can enjoy a long holiday weekend without over-extending your budget and going into debt.
If your elderly loved one is working on being frugal but still wants to have a little fun on the day after Thanksgiving, here are five ideas for him. He can do some of them alone, or he might enlist the help of his senior home care provider.
Five No-Money Things to Do on the Day After Thanksgiving
- Enjoy the Great Outdoors. If the weather is still pleasant enough in your loved one’s area, this can be a great day to get out and enjoy a park or even a walk around the neighborhood. In some areas, this time of year is signaling the final days when a person can go out and enjoy the outdoors safely. Your loved one should still bundle up according to what the temperatures are and might benefit from having a walking partner such as his senior home care provider.
- Connect with Long-Distance Family. Thanksgiving can be a chaotic time for your loved one to try to catch up with grandkids who live far away. They might have a lot of guests or be spending the day prepping for the big meal. Instead, have your loved one call people on the day after Thanksgiving to catch up. His senior home care provider might even set up some video calls so your loved one can actually see how much everyone is growing up.
- Write up Cards and Letters. If phone calls are not an option or if he just wants to create some fun mail for others to receive, he can spend a few hours writing up cards and letters to mail out to those he cares about.
- Go Window Shopping. Maybe your loved one just wants to see what’s all going on out there in the craziness that can be Black Friday. Plan to go out to lunch or stroll around the local mall looking at the sale signs and watching everyone else carry their heavy bags of holiday goodies.
- Go to the Library or a Local Museum. It can be a great day to appreciate art and all of the creative endeavors out there that don’t require a lot of money to enjoy.
There’s no reason to sit alone at home on Buy Nothing Day. This year, have your elderly loved one enjoy some fulfilling activities that won’t cost him a dime.
If you or your loved one is looking for Senior Home Care in Cupertino, CA, please call Familiar Surroundings Home Care.
Santa Clara County: (408) 979-9990
San Mateo County: (650) 353-9777
Santa Cruz County: (831) 480-3990