Half of students at Morton East may stay home instead of shopping due to stress.

The day after Halloween is the time where many Americans begin to mark their calendars for the “biggest holiday” and the most important day is yet to come, Black Friday! Black Friday has traditionally marked the beginning of the holiday season, and the time when people get very chaotic with their holiday shopping for gifts for friends and family. In years past, Black Friday was the shopping event that everyone waited for due to the highest discounts of the year of any major store. According to NBC news, most Americans can expect to save up around $390 this Black Friday. However, in recent years, there has been a rise in more days being added such as Cyber Monday, and Small Business Saturday and Sunday. With some stores making discounts lower while also spreading out the discounts for the week of Black Friday, and even the entire month of November. In a survey of 104 Morton East students, 50 students don’t go shopping on Cyber Monday or Black Friday, due to the stress that comes with holiday shopping. 

“[One] reason why we don’t go holiday shopping in general is because my parents didn’t want to carry around kids and have them complain while they shopped,” senior Jeanette Villegas said. 

Other Morton East students agree. 

“I go shopping online because I don’t have to deal with people, and the stress that comes with not being able to find what I need,” senior Alondra Padilla said. 

There are also people whose holiday shopping consists of both in person and online shopping. 

“I go both in person because sometimes there are things that I want that aren’t online and I can get them in person, and online because I don’t want to go to the store,” senior Daniela Hernandez said. 

While some site the stress of holiday shopping as a reason not to go holiday shopping anymore, others see the financial issues that come with holiday shopping. 

“I would go holiday shopping for gifts for others, but I’d rather save my money for other things,” senior Rebecca Cahue said. 

However, there are some ways that people can save money this holiday shopping season. 

“Checking the price is always good, when you see a price somewhere, and it looks really good, just do a quick search and see if that good price can be found somewhere else, and you can get more things with it, maybe even free shipping and it comes to your house, easy returns, whatever the case is, and then of course the quality is another thing you need to look at. Yes, there might be something that’s a really good price, but it might not be the same quality, of a good that’s a little bit more expensive, it’s better quality and lasts longer,” AP Microeconomics Teacher Mr. Thevalakara said.