Every November, we gear up for the shopping marathon known as Black Friday. Originally begun by the Americans, Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving where retailers offer huge discounts to kick start Christmas shopping. 

The deals might look irresistible, but the rush to buy can leave us with cluttered homes, lighter wallets, and a nagging sense that we’ve been sold happiness that never really arrived.

But at Loqbox, we believe the smartest shoppers aren’t the fastest clickers, they’re the most intentional. Because spending in itself isn’t a problem, but spending without purpose is.

Our research shows 32% of people regret spending money on things they didn’t need, and 25% wish they’d started saving sooner. 

This season, try another way. One that’s quieter, calmer, and far more rewarding: living with intention, and making a plan. 

It could mean making more purposeful choices, rather than acting impulsively or through regular habits. It’s not about cutting yourself off from joy, but about finding it in the places that last like time, space, and peace of mind.

The quiet rebellion of self-control

It might not look as flashy as a shopping spree, but saying “no” is a powerful act. 

Black Friday, without a plan, leads to impulse buys. You’re in a convenience trap of online shopping, where it’s easy to lose track of what you’re spending and why.

Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services make it even easier to go on a shopping spree. Did you know our research found that men tend to use BNPL for essentials, while women use it to spread the cost of bigger purchases? But regardless of gender, the ease of deferring payment can blur the line between affordability and accountability.

If you pause before grabbing something just because it’s on sale, you might notice that the space you create gives room for a moment of reflection; what you already have is enough. You don’t need to buy anything, and harnessing trust in yourself is a superpower. 

But, we’re not saying self-control is about restriction. It’s simply choosing what truly matters to you. Maybe that’s saving toward a bigger goal, or just keeping your home free from stuff that doesn’t serve a purpose. Every time you pause before a purchase, you’re building confidence in your own judgment.

Start small and set a budget for any sales you want to browse, make a list ahead of time, and stick to it. These regrets often stem from impulse buys and the convenience trap of online shopping, where it’s easy to lose track of what you’re spending and why.

If something’s not on the list, wait 24 hours before buying. Often, that delay is enough to realise you didn’t need it after all. That’s not missing out, it’s self-trust in action.

Why November is about being a planner

The best part of this season isn’t the discounts, it’s the reset. For many, resets begin in October, but there really is no ideal time to begin the shift. If it feels comfortable, why not start today?

November sits right at the edge of change, when you can reflect on how the year went and decide what you want next. Planning now, before the rush of December, gives you room to set intentions with clarity instead of reacting to pressure.

This doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing overhaul. 

Maybe it’s creating a “wishlist” for things that would actually improve your daily life. Or, it could be setting up a simple savings goal before the holidays. Small steps like these add up to steady progress.

Intentional planning helps you trade impulse for confidence. You know where your money is going, and you feel good about your choices, because they align with your values, not someone else’s marketing timeline.

Sometimes,the joy that lasts doesn’t come in a box. It’s in sharing meals, resting without guilt, taking walks, and appreciating what’s already in your life. Those moments create a sense of wealth that can’t be bought.

This Black Friday, let everyone else chase the rush if they want to. You can choose something better in calm, confidence, and a deeper kind of satisfaction. That’s the kind of Black Friday deal that’s priceless.

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