The holiday shopping season officially kicked off Friday, or really Thursday afternoon, with the illustrious Black Friday sales.

The shopping weekend continued with Small Business Saturday where patrons visit locally owned stores and keep their money in town. Here in Vicksburg, the downtown shops opened Sunday for an open house to kick off their extended holiday hours and give away poinsettias to customers.

Black Friday has seemed to lose the luster it once held. I’ve been thinking about the days of the 3 a.m. sale. It seemed like those who wanted the deal really had to work for it. I don’t know, I never did it, but it seemed like a neat experience for buying something someone found of value. It also seemed to lead to more violence and fighting.

Now with stores open on Thanksgiving the frenzy has seemed to die down. Sure the amount of people going out is the same, if not even larger with the daytime hours, but no one seems to be throwing punches like the good ole days. I’m glad, I guess. I hate that store employees have to work on the holiday, but I guess being employed is the bright side, even if it is really hard to see. I’m glad Vicksburg showed up, and not out, for the holiday shopping kickoff.

Today is Cyber Monday, and it may have a lot to do with the evolution of Black Friday. I may peruse a few online sales myself. As much as I believe in spending money locally, I do have a soft spot for Amazon. I love a good deal. While I wouldn’t fight a crowd or spend hours examining advertisements and coupons, I do a little price comparing and try to find the best bang for my buck.

To be honest, I haven’t started my Christmas shopping yet. I’m usually more of a last minute type. I truly enjoy buying gifts for other people, but I just wait until I have time and it fits in my schedule.

I’ve never been a big fan of shopping for myself. Having to make a decision as to which shirt I should get was always difficult for me growing up. My parents would, obviously, only buy me so many things and having to narrow it down was always difficult and stress inducing.

The truth is I never really needed any of those clothes. I think that is what made the decision hard. I had plenty of clothes at home, and I was just looking for new stuff simply because it was my birthday or Christmas and that meant it was time to start looking for something new. It’s strange how my mind thought I was forced to pick out stuff just because a gift giving day was upon me and really because its just fun to have different things.

Every once in a while the shopping bug will get me. I’ve found as a get older I do enjoy shopping when I have one thing in mind and I know what I want and I get on a mission to find it. It doesn’t change the fact that I don’t really need anything.

Over consumption is a ridiculous problem for anyone to complain about. Less is definitely more. I know in my experience the ones who give the most are the ones who have the least.

I encourage everyone to really think about what they have and what they need this holiday season. Know that it isn’t always advantageous to buy something just because it is on sale and its not necessary to force someone to have something just because you want to give them a gift. Life has many facets and things should be the least of those. Spend your time and money on experiences. They matter. They are what’s remembered.