Black Friday in the age of Millennial shopping

 
What do young people value the most in life? It seems that more than anything else it’s the life itself that matters and with that comes experience and fun. It’s no longer all about money and being surrounded by unnecessary objects – it’s more about meaning. What exemplifies all of the above more than spending money on things that help millennials develop personally and allow them to take on new challenges?

Millennials grew up with digital revolution next door, which means they spend half of their lives online. With that comes convenience and instant gratification. Instead of owning a collection of games, they prefer to play online and share the experience with others. Rather than buying DVDs, they want Netflix and other internet film watching platforms. Lavish dinners at restaurants? Casual take-aways delivered to their doorsteps will do the trick.

That being said, people in their twenties don’t overspend but rather search for ways to experience more for less. Over 80% of young people live in cities which eliminates the need for owning a car. Solutions such as public transportation and car-sharing with Uber or Grab are more convenient and entertaining alternatives to long lonely drives. It’s also a common practice to go to a traditional store, see the product yourself and then buy it online with a better deal. So while previous generations didn’t spend money because they accrued it in banks, millennials spend it on things they want, at the same time looking for the best opportunities.

It would seem that young adults are presented with those opportunities fairly easily, with events such as the Great Singapore Sale, 9.9, Single’s Day or 12.12. sprinkled throughout the whole year which abound in deals, flash sales, and other promotions. With yet another shopping holiday around the corner – Black Friday – one question arises, though. How to separate the wheat from the chaff? It is a no-brainer for an average millennial. Websites that gather the best coupons, vouchers and discounts in one place are no strangers to a person who mostly shops online and for whom it only takes a minute to save up to 80% on Lazada sales or 20% off with Zalora promo code. Instead of creating elaborate charts and wondering about the order in which they should visit particular stores so as not to miss out on a deal, millennials do all the Black Friday shopping from the comfort of their own homes with the aid of coupon and cashback websites designed for the occasion.

The economy may sometimes be harsh but many a time has proven that saving money is essential. Nowadays, it doesn’t mean we should devoid ourselves of things that bring us happiness but rather take on life as it is, with all the opportunities offered to us.