Goodbye bookstore credit card account

We are down one more bill. I said goodbye to my bookstore credit card account. This one was a toughie for lots of reasons. The credit account was to a bookstore that I adore. Not only is it a local place to buy books and talk with staff but, it is also one of my favorite places to pick up gifts. I closed my eyes, handed over my debit card and signed on the dotted line. That was it. I was out the door before I could change my mind (or find something else to buy).

Temptation wasn't finished with me. I was surfing when the ad to open a credit card account at a major online bookseller smacked me in the face. It's hard to tell you how strong the temptation was to open the account. Sitting on my hands is one of the lessons that I'm learning as we dig through the debt pit.

My tactic was to close the computer and take a walk. This gave me time to think things through. Paying off the credit card account at the other bookstore gave me another measure of freedom. Did I really want to exchange that freedom for another ball-and-chain load of debt?

You should have heard the argument in my head. Then again no, you shouldn't have. Reasoning won out in the end but it was a very close call.

My thinking is that if I could find the willpower to limit my Black Friday shopping, then I could say goodbye to the bookstore credit card account and leave it closed. There is no point in opening another account and struggling to pay it off. It's time to say "enough is enough" and walk away. It's a small victory but it feels good. I think that I'll leave it that way.

Reducing my Black Friday spending

This year, I am limiting my Black Friday shopping to the bare bones experience. Black Friday is one of my favorite times of year. I have fond memories of going shopping with my daughters and having a breakfast snack of Cracker Jacks. A store named Proffit's gave tons of the stuff away on Black Friday. The prize in each box ranged from some really cool items to deep coupons.

It was also a day for spending money. Granted, everything we purchased was either on sale, bought with a coupon or I used a combination of coupon and sales when possible (sound familiar). We were always sucked into the shopping frenzy and blew our budget.

Things are a little different this time around. Every time I think about overspending I take a minute and evaluate where we are financially (see blog post). It's giving me more confidence to leave the debit card behind. I'm still going to go out to enjoy the Black Friday crowds a little wiser than in previous years and it's giving me more confidence.

After Christmas sales rack up bargains

After Christmas sales rack up the bargains. I hit Wal-mart and some other stores to sift through the clearance tables. This is my favorite time of year for bargain hunting. I can pick up items that help me save money all year round. With practice, it is not hard to spot items for weddings and birthdays.

Remember, spending money on something that isn't needed or won't be used doesn't save money. After Christmas sales hold a special temptation to splurge. All these tempting items are just begging to jump into my shopping card. Lists help keep me on budget and away from getting out of debt suicide.

Wedding gifts and birthday presents are two items that I like to grab on the after Christmas sales. The large bath baskets work for best friends and new brides. I also like buying fragrance kits and kitchen sets to use as gifts. There's nothing like buying them at half price or less during the after Christmas sales.

Holiday purchasing is great. I'm not just talking about Christmas here.  Red is great for Valentine's Day and the 4th of July. How about green for St. Patrick's or Earth Day. Silver and gold are perfect for anniversaries.

The list could go on forever but you get the idea. There is a lot that you can find on after Christmas sales to help save money the rest of the year. A little shopping now can save money that I can use to get out of debt. For me, that's probably the best reason to hit those bargain bins. Want to join me?

I survived Black Friday without going into the red

For me, Black Friday shopping isn't just about the deals. I just enjoy being a part of the crowd. The deals were still there and I was able to make it through Black Friday without going into the red. Most of the special savings deals began at midnight in a lot of stores. This definitely detracted from the fun.

I'm not complaining much though. We went out and spent a lot less than we usually do. This may not be good for the stores but it's better for my bottom line. My hope was to snag two household appliances from Wal-Mart. I misread the ad for Wal-Mart so the deals were gone when I got there. Instead, my purchases consisted of a curtain rod and a package of dryer sheets.

Part of the way I survived without going into the red was to ignore the other sale items and focus on what I had come for. Picking up what my family needed was also on the agenda. Hence, the purchase of the two household items.

It wasn't the most fun Black Friday shopping trip but it was my least expensive.

Why Black Friday deals can cost a bundle

Don't get me wrong. I love Black Friday shopping. After adding up the total cost I've decided not to go this year. Black Friday deals can cost a bundle in hidden costs. The problem isn't in the items themselves but in everything else that goes with shopping that day.

For us, the usual pattern has been to gas up the car on Wednesday. My family typically spends part of Thanksgiving day deciding where we will go and creating a plan of attack to snag those great deals. Then Black Friday we get up extra early and head out. We always take water or other drinks with us. After we've shopped for a couple of hours our drinks are exhausted. That's when we hit a fast food restaurant or coffee shop.

Extra expenses so far are gas and breakfast out. If we brought bottled water instead of tap that's another expense. It's part of how Black Fridays can cost a bundle. The expenses sneak up on you and keep on sneaking.

Late morning means more shopping and lunch out. We usually wind up going to a sit-down restaurant or Shoney's. After a little more time in the stores we'll get thirsty again and probably buy another bottled water or soda.

Extra costs so far are gas, breakfast out, water or sodas and lunch out.

Then, there's all the extra items that somehow find their way into the shopping card. The fun of Black Friday shopping can cost a bundle because those little sale items add up. Going to different stores and sitting in traffic also adds to the gas expense.

Getting old isn't for sissies. The next added Black Friday expense is possibly the only one that's worth the effort. Alleve or Tylenol are wonder medicines when it comes to headaches. It's another way that Black Friday deals cost a bundle. Somehow I always seem to forget to bring it along. Other times I manage to lose the bottle on the way out the door.

Either way, I just want to pick up what I need and get out of the door. The problem is that I forget what I came for and make up for it by over purchasing. It isn't anything that I set out to do it just happens.

Later on I'll look at how those Black Friday deals cost a bundle and probably take a little more Alleve. It's fun but I'm asking myself this year if the effort it worth it. Right now, it's not looking so hot.

What do you think? Are you shopping on Black Friday? If so, how do you plan to spend less and enjoy the day more? Let me know by leaving a comment.