The event made its way over the Atlantic in the early 2010s via American retailers such as Amazon. It is estimated that last year we spent £13.3 billion during the Black Friday period. 

But do we really need to partake in this mass frenzy for so-called bargains? 

From an environmental perspective, Black Friday is incredibly detrimental. Retailers encourage their customers to buy as much as possible leading to significant amounts of waste and over consumption. It is estimated that around 80% of purchases made on Black Friday eventually end up in landfill.  

From a financial perspective, we believe it's a great idea to spend your money wisely, and we know that Black Friday is a good method to get your Christmas shopping done on a budget. But it's crucial to consider if you were going to buy something in the first place or whether you only got it because it was in the sale. 

If you want to get started on your Christmas shopping, here are our alternatives to Black Friday. 

Held on the first Saturday of December, Small Business Saturday aims to promote and encourage us to shop at small, local businesses. You can use their website to find small businesses in your area. They might even have a sale on so you could still find a bargain! This year’s event will be held on the 7th of December. 

This event aims to promote independent artists from photography to illustration and jewelry. They are dedicated to supporting local artists and to promoting the impact that the arts can have on the economy. This is primarily an American event but there are some UK artists taking part too. This year’s event will be held on the 1st of December. 

If you’re looking for a good bargain and you want to shop more sustainably, look no further than your local charity shop. Not only can you help your bank balance, but you can also help a worthy cause too! 

Before you start looking at Black Friday sales this year, take a moment to consider do you need it, or is it just an enticing sale?