Do you like to shop on Black Friday? Do you often say, “I often spend my- oh my god I want that so much!” Do you often come home on Black Friday to an unhappy mom or dad yelling at you because their credit card went into debt? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this article is for you: read closely.

Before you go out shopping on Black Friday, ask yourself the following question: how much saving or spending is too much? After seeing a sale, we are often all of a sudden convinced that we need a product solely because it is discounted. No other day is a greater culprit of inducing this than Black Friday.

Black Friday is one of the most dangerous days of the year for your wallet. In the hype of the sales and the holiday atmosphere, people often do not think twice about a purchase. Black Friday is full of pricing drops, saving highs and spending induced depressions. Rushing, waiting, and pushing are common sights on Black Friday. Every year, ferocious Black Friday shoppers race around shopping centers in search for the best deals. In fact, in 2016, there were 101.7 million people who braved the crowds on Black Friday. To put that in perspective, that is 31.5% of the United States.

So how can you protect yourself? It’s simple: do not participate. That is, of course, unless you really, really want to. So if you will not be able to survive unless you spend big on Black Friday, here are some tips.

First off, set yourself a reasonable budget and stick to it, at all costs. If necessary, have another person enforce that budget. It can also be helpful to make a list of what you actually want. This can prevent an impulsive purchase just because a product is on sale. If you are having trouble deciding whether or not to make a particular purchase, do not make the transaction. The hesitation is for a reason. The last thing you want is to regret purchasing a product.

Another great option is to shop online because it avoids lines and unsafe situations. Why go out in public when you can sit on your bum all day buying junk on Black Friday and Cyber Monday? Make sure to scour the internet and your inbox for the best deals: more often than not, it is possible to find a deal on one website that is better than a deal on another. Also, who wants to deal with the incompetent penny-counting cash-using people who delay checkout?

These days, children ask for the most outrageously expensive products. Therefore, people want the best deals when holiday shopping. Do not be that person who does all of their holiday shopping on Black Friday. Let’s be real, people who walk through the mall with boxes upon boxes look pretty ridiculous. Shopping on Black Friday is stressful; buy holiday gifts in advance. Do not make yourself go crazy trying to shop all day; life goes on even if you do not buy every single gift. In addition, Pre-Black Friday sales can be just as good as those available on Black Friday itself. In fact, there are often sales that do not relate to Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Do yourself a favor and keep your Black Friday spending to a minimal. Please, for humanity’s sake.

So what should you take away from this advice? It’s simple: make good decisions on Black Friday. Trust us, you do not need any regrets during this jolly time of year.