There has been a lot of buzz in the fashion blogosphere about Black Friday, and I wanted to give an example of when sales shopping isn't impulsive consumption, but instead a serendipitous encounter. I have been looking for the perfect pair of brown winter work shoes for months now, and while my ballet flats (so cute, and yes I have to post a pic, its like the compulsion to brag about your children) have sufficed at my business-casual workplace, I've wanted something more dressy to add to the repertoire.
So I stopped by Macys (my old stomping grounds) for their pre-thanksgiving sale, and stumbled across these "Kim" Slingbacks by Michael from Michael Kors, and they not only fit my foot perfectly, but were a perfect fit for my shoe shopping needs. Besides that, they are by a reputable brand and are high quality, making them a complete steal - about $40 marked down from $109 (they are still the full price at Macys.com).
And on Black Friday itself (which in my family is as much a tradition as turkey on Thanksgiving) I grabbed the last pair of Ugg Downtowns in Henna in my size for half the price of retail ($70 from $140), taking care of my Ugg Dilemma. Again, not an impulse purchase, but something I had wanted and waited for.
That is how to make the most out of holiday sales - not to buy anything and everything that is cute and cheap (and thus frittering away your money), but to get great deals on things you already need. If you think the rush of sales shopping is a real high, think of how long-lasting the satisfaction will be when you shop sales strategically to get what you actually need.