Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday

This November, the debate of Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday starts again. 

These are the two most popular shopping days of the year and are just in time for the holidays. Many people love these dates for the discounts they get on items, helping them buy gifts for friends, family and maybe even themselves. For a long time, Black Friday was the peak of getting steals while shopping until a couple of years ago when Cyber Monday started.  

Black Friday started back in the 1950s in Philadephia to get people to go shopping after the Thanksgiving holiday.  Black Friday is always the day after Thanksgiving and starts early in the morning or even at midnight after Thanksgiving. This day is when people can go in person to their local mall or stores and shop and satisfy their heart’s content for only one day. “I like going into stores. The rush gives me excitement,” senior Meghan Lanz stated. The most popular items bought are some type of tech, toys, beauty or clothing. The only problems people have with this shopping day are the crazy and busy parking lots and lines. “Black Friday can get a little hectic,” senior Taryn Petty stated.

Cyber Monday started in 2005 and is three days after Black Friday. It can last up to a week for some stores, unlike Black Friday that only lasts for a day. Instead of in-person shopping, people shop online or virtually. “I prefer Cyber Monday because I can stay home,” sophomore Max Mcbride stated. Realistically, Cyber Monday has been doing better than Black Friday. Cyber Monday has become more popular, in 2020 there was a new record of 10.8 billion dollars made during the virtual holiday while Black Friday only made 9 billion.  

Cyber Monday seems to have better discounts for gifts, while for items you buy less often you will probably find a better deal during Black Friday.  Though it depends on the store and item being purchased, some have better discounts than others. Over 100 stores and websites are guaranteed to have sales during Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Some of the more popular or trendy ones are Amazon, Apple, American Eagle, Best Buy, Dicks, Target, Walmart and many more. Some tips for getting the best deals are to set sale alerts on your phone. If possible, use a credit card that has purchase protection to minimize damage if something were to go wrong, and remember to have fun!