Most people can agree that holidays are awesome, and Labor Day is no exception. It's a long weekend; you get to hang out with friends and family, savor the last barbeque of the summer, and play in the sun.
Labor Day has changed some since the first one in 1882. Back then is was a break from the grueling grindstone, celebrated with a demonstration and a picnic. Modern parades and barbeques aren't that different. What has changed is Labor Day's impact on the retail sector. What used to be the day that celebrated the American working-person is now an excuse for a sale to draw in all those consumers shopping on their day off (ironically that means that a bunch of retail workers have to work).
Yet the sales still call to us. And rightly so: every savvy shopper knows to take advantage of every sale. Finding a $100 dress on sale for $29.99 or buying 20lbs of books online with free shipping rocks. Just purchase wisely:
- Only buy stuff you need. Just because the chair with a built-in refrigerator is 50% off doesn't mean that you can't still live without it.
- Only buy stuff you can afford. Taking advantage of a sale is one thing. Putting the purchase on a credit card, where it will take you a year to pay off, probably won't save you much, if any, money in the long run.
Personally, I'm going to go shopping for a mattress. Investing in your retirement is essential in the long term, but investing in quality sleep is a requirement in the short term. Then I'm going to check out my list of stuff-I-need-but-can-make-do-without-until-I-find-the-right-price. Then I'll probably treat myself to something fun, like the wireless headphones I've been eyeing for months.
While you're out there, be gracious to everyone who doesn't get to sleep in on Labor Day. It could be you behind that comic book store counter.
--Jennie
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