Black Friday is, without a doubt, the perfect time to buy things you need. But it can also be a great time to overspend if you're not careful. When you're trying to save money, it's easy to get caught up in the hype of Black Friday and end up spending more than planned. You might end up buying something you don't actually want or need, or even worse—something that doesn't fit or isn't compatible with other items in your closet.

Here are some tips for shopping during big sales, so you don’t end up regretting your purchases: 

1. Shop responsively

Make sure your purchases aren't going to contribute to the problem of overconsumption in our society. Many retailers are now offering discounts in an effort to compete with other stores and stay relevant—but these discounts may come at the cost of workers' paychecks and working conditions. Buying from companies that care about their employees means that you're getting a bargain without hurting someone else's bottom line. 

2. Shop small/local

If you're buying from a small business or an independent designer, you can be sure that your money is going directly into their pockets instead of into some millionaire's pocket. By supporting small businesses you are also making a major economic impact in your community. According to the SBA, since 1990, big businesses eliminated 4 million jobs, while small businesses added 8 million jobs. The more you shop at a local store, the more potential job opportunities you could help them provide.

3. Avoid fast fashion

Fast fashion means cheap clothing made at high volume with little or no attention paid to worker safety or environmental impact. You can avoid fast fashion by buying quality clothes that last longer than one season—and maybe longer than one person!

Did you know? 92 million tonnes of clothes end up in landfills. This is the equivalent of a rubbish truck full of clothes ending up on landfill sites every second. 

Tons of discarded clothes at the Desert of Atacama, Chile. 

4. Make a list 

It's important to take the time to make a list of what you want and then stick to it to help you stay conscious of how much you're spending. If something catches your eye while shopping, ask yourself how much value it adds to your life before adding it to your cart or basket—and if the answer isn't "a lot," don't buy it!

5. Do Your Research

Along with a budget and a list, do your research and compare prices in advance so that you know you’re buying quality items.

We know you’re smart and that you can handle sales, but we also know that the Holidays are an overwhelming time of year, where you might get carried away. We hope these tips were helpful!