sense most online business are having black friday is it worth buying something or should i pass and try to save my money. im a teen i have around 200$ but i would like to limit myself to 100$ or less. im probably posting this in the wrong place but im not sure, i just want to make a smart choice when it comes to money.
also i will not be investing in stocks or crypto so please dont suggest it.
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Unless you have something in mind that you want, that you know you can get a good deal on, I think you would be better off saving your money than buying something you don’t want/need just for the sake of a black Friday deal.
This whole black Friday thing gets hyped so much that you start to think “I better get in on these bargain prices,” but the truth is that some retailers actually raise their prices on some things in October and then lower them back to regular 40% markup and call it a “SIZZILIN SALE PRICE!!!”
So in conclusion, if there’s something you want, check different sources and compare prices. Otherwise, don’t get scammed into thinking you’re missing out, you are not. Source: I am 55 years old, have worked in retail.
This. Black Friday skus are made specifically for Black Friday. They are made cheaper specifically to sell on black Friday, they aren’t magical deals, they’re low cost crap.
Have more experiences as a teen. Take your friends out to a movie or a dinner, buy some snacks and stay up all night with them playing videogames. That will be more fun than a TV that breaks after 6 months
Surprised nobody suggested condoms.
It’s going to expire! Chicks are hard to get in teens.
Well, the question was “What is something worth buying as a teen?”
Condoms only cost a couple dollars, but can save you the much greater cost of dealing with an unwanted pregnancy or an STD. If the time for the seks comes unexpectedly, and you have a condom around, you’ll be REALLY glad you have one. Plus, they’re always a fun topic of conversation: “woah, what’s that?” “well, you know how I am, heh heh…” “oh yeah then why’s it almost expired?” etc.
They expire after 3-5 years. Then you can open them and inflate them and use them for a prank or art installation or something, and go get some more.
Buy one for fun. Buy 144 and be gross.
Personally when I was younger, I lost many account credentials and important files when my laptop got stolen at school so an external hard drive is worth it or even a subscription to a cloud based storage provider if you prefer that.
Edit: personally I’d go with an external drive (40ish usd for a tb)
Don’t buy makeup, buy yourself some backup.
A great rule of thumb I have adopted as an adult to save money, is anytime I wanna impulse buy something I write it it down.
Then I come back to it 2 weeks later and if I still really want it then, I buy it.
But so often after 2 weeks the novelty has warn off and I look at the list and go “ehhh, meh, nevermind I dont want it that bad actually”
If you can’t answer this question for yourself, then you don’t have any burning need to spend the money. Just keep it for when you find you actually have a need.
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If you’re not willing to invest it, and you don’t already have something in mind you want to buy, then I say just save it.
Aside from that it depends on your hobbies. If it were me as a teenager it might be nice to get a decent fishing rod or multitool - something that you will use for a long time into adulthood.
Saving up to travel is also something you probably won’t regret, and will create lifetime memories that define you.
This might not be the most fun advice, but it’s the right advice.
The earlier you start saving the more money you’ll have when you truly need it.
An electric toothbrush.
As someone in their 30’s who didn’t take care of my teeth for a while, I’m going to have to second this recommendation. It will save you a lot of grief down the road.
Unless you have something specific you want, I’d advise not to spend money just for the sake of it, even for perceived savings from deals. That’s part of the trick with Black Friday deals - marking things down to get people to buy things they wouldn’t even think to get in the first place.
Some wisdom I remember reading a while ago: if you’re looking at something that is 75% off, just remember you can save 100% by not buying it.
Just because it’s cheaper doesn’t mean that you suddenly need it when you didn’t need it before.
And just because they tell you it’s cheaper doesn’t mean that it is cheaper.
So go price something you want now, so that when the price theoretically falls you know whether it should be bought at all.
Don’t spend your money because it’s a " good deal". In theory your guardian(s) are covering the expenses the rest of as as adults just accept. Therefore take advantage and spend your money on what brings you joy.
Great advice. This way they’ll never learn how to handle money!
It’s $100. In 2023 that does not even cover groceries for a middle class household of four for a week.
If you want to advocate absolute austerity to someone who has no expenses yet - go for it. Me? The world is shitty enough as is - of something’s going to make you happy, and you have no other expenses, go for it.
Agreed.
Most of the “stuff everyone should buy” is stuff you really don’t need as a teenager, like cast-iron cookware or a stand mixer. If you have hobbies you want to pursue, you should find a specific group around that hobby and ask them. A lot of black Friday “deals” aren’t really deals, though - some companies will actually produce lower quality product lines specifically for black Friday sales, so if you end up buying something big like a TV or something like that make sure you do a little research.
If you want general financial advice, I wouldn’t put it in a retirement account like the other guy said. You have plenty of time for that, and you probably have milestones coming up that you’ll want money for - buying a car, graduation celebrations, going to college, getting your own place, whatever. So saving it for that kind of stuff is never a bad idea.
If you already have a hobby, invest in that. Otherwise try something new.
Or don’t participate in Black Friday and save it.
I wish I was a teen with $200 to burn again.
I have no idea what you should buy in particular but just have fun, you won’t be a kid for long.
Sounds like you need a cheap guitar
