With only 24 days left until Christmas it still seems as if companies are fighting harder than ever for our holiday business. Macy’s is sending out extra coupons, Kohl’s is offering 25% off everything in the store; even small second-hand stores are holding “special” promotional offers.  But are you savvy in taking advantage of their deals or are you really paying close to full price on these items?

This year I participated in Black Thursday for the first time.  Like a vicious hungry tiger pounces on an injured gazelle, I can regretfully say that I saw consumers snagging merchandise up like it was prey.  Deals seemed too good to be true that there were multiple individuals with shopping carts full to the rim. Three plasma televisions, twelve packs of socks, sixteen flannel shirts, two Dyson vacuums and plenty of other small items. Extreme shock made me put down my basket to investigate whether or not these deals were as good as they seemed. I rushed to a random display of unnecessary knick knacks (with rush and excitement) and sure enough I had followers. All I had to do was display the slightest bit of enthusiasm and before I knew it every item was in another person’s cart.

Just because there was a glittery sale price, another person wanted it and it was Black Thursday, for some reason it justified purchasing everything in sight. Be wary though, huge discounts can often be a result of companies marking up products, above their normal sale price, and then slashing the price for the holiday season. So even though you think you are getting 60% off that special item, because of high markups you may be paying close to full price and not even know it.

When venturing out these next 24 days I caution to you look at price tags and realistically ask yourself if that item is worth the price after the discount.