Hey Friends!
Black Friday can bring out the best and worst in our spending habits.
⭐ The best: solid discounts on things you actually need or love.
👎 The worst: a dopamine-fueled shopping spree that leaves you with buyer’s remorse (and a stuffed closet).
But it’s getting harder and harder every year with the wool these companies are trying to pull over our eyes! That’s what we’re talking about on today’s episode.
We’re reacting to the scams (big and small) that Black Friday is bringing and answering the question, is Black Friday officially a scam? Don’t miss it!
Most holiday gifts end up forgotten in a drawer, but not this one!
Mint Mobile’s best deal of the year is here: unlimited premium wireless for just $15/month. We’ve used it and love how much we can save (and how good the service is). Skip the socks and give a gift that actually saves money all year long.
Shop the deal at mintmobile.com/FRUGAL **
If you want to spend in alignment with your values this year, here’s your mini guide to surviving the sales without selling out your priorities.
🎁 Best Deals (for Conscious Consumers)
1. Quality over quantity.
Skip the fast fashion “hauls.” Instead, grab one or two high-quality pieces from brands you already love and wear. Check Rakuten for cash back** and if you’re a new user you’ll get a $50 welcome bonus after you spend $50 at cash-back eligible stores!
2. Everyday essentials.
If you’re restocking things you’ll use all year—household staples, tech you’ve budgeted for, or replacement appliances—Black Friday can be a great time to save.
3. Experience gifts.
Tickets, classes, or subscriptions (hello, meal planning help from Cook Smarts**) make excellent low-clutter gifts. You’re buying time, not stuff.
4. Big purchases you’ve planned for.
If it’s already in your budget, this is your green light. Not “because it’s on sale,” but because you’d buy it anyway—sale or not. We’re personally signing up for Aura.
Aura is a full-coverage digital safety and identity protection** platform for individuals, couples, and families. It monitors credit bureaus, public records, financial accounts, and personal identifiers. It also includes VPN, antivirus, password manager, and $1M (or more) identity theft insurance per adult to help you recover swiftly from fraud. Not a sexy gift but one that we’ll be super thankful for in the long run!
💸 Worst Deals (for Your Wallet & Values)
1. Doorbusters you didn’t need.
If it’s labeled “limited time,” it’s designed to rush your brain. Take a breath. Most sales cycle back around in January anyway.
2. Tech traps.
Discounted gadgets often mean older models with short support lifespans. Ask yourself: “Will this still serve me next year?”
3. Emotional spending.
Feeling stressed, lonely, or just festive? Try a walk, playlist, or group chat before a cart scroll. The sale will still be there—your peace might not.
🎧 On The Pod
Do you really need a financial planner? That’s the question we answered on Tuesday’s episode.
🎧 Listen now on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
👉 Watch the episode on YouTube
If you’re not ready for a financial planner but want to reset your finances with a trusted source, look no further! This Black Friday, we’re offering our personal finance course, The Financial Reset, at 50% off!
The Financial Reset is our 5-week guided experience that helps you stop overspending (without guilt!), save intentionally, and finally feel confident with your finances. No shame, no spreadsheets, just a practical reset that actually lasts. And it’s on sale for one week only! Use code BLACKFRIDAY2025 at checkout.
Happy shopping friends!
Jen
**Means this is a sponsored or affiliate section. We may earn a small fee or commission when you choose to try one of our sponsor or affiliate partners. But opinions are still 1000% our own.
