- The naughty and nice of Black Friday shopping ● Thanksgiving dinner – the 3,000 calorie meal ● The Savvy Solo celebrates the Family of One and more. The Savvy Solo Scoop– Newsworthy events, current events, and eye-opening facts at your fingertips.
MONEY
Black Friday: The naughty and nice of holiday spending
Battles are raging, and rumors are flying about where we stand on Black Friday Sales. Brick-and-mortar stores are banking on online sales. Retail stores are looking at sales growth between 6% – 8%, which is slashed in half from last year. Some die-hard fans were out at 4:00 a.m. at the Mall of America to snag early-bird deals. For the most part, very few people were facing long lines or problems finding parking.
Black Friday online sales are forecasted at $9B , a barely noteworthy 1% over last years sales. Consumers are struggling and making deals with the devil (buy now, pay later and credit cards) to get through the holiday season. Inflation is definitely the Grinch that stole Christmas in 2022, as shoppers are literally choosing between Christmas gifts or putting food on the table.
Right now, consumers are holding on to their cash for dear life and hoping for better deals on Cyber Monday or price cuts closer to Christmas day.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
The average American consumes 3,000 calories during a Thanksgiving meal
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. From Halloween to New Year’s Day is a rollercoaster of flavors for our tummies. We think, “I deserve to splurge. I’ll think about the diet next year.”
According to USA Today, the average American consumes 3,000 calories during a Thanksgiving meal. There is no need to eat like a bear preparing to hibernate for the winter. Unlike the bear, your food won’t run away, and there will be plenty of leftovers for tomorrow.
Practice healthy habits now that you can take with you into the New Year. Moderation is key. It’s unbelievably simple to create a healthy routine.
HEALTH
SuperAgers share their secrets for superior memories in their 80s and beyond
Believe it or not, SuperAger is not an IQ thing; it’s about how well you retain memories. SuperAgers are people over the age of 80 that have superior memories. That’s right, they can remember facts with the best of 20-year-olds.
Let’s face it, when you spend an hour looking for your keys, only to find they are in the freezer, you worry that Alzheimer’s is coming your way. Am I right? I’m not gonna kid ya; there’s a lot of geek-speak in this article, but there is one easy activity that can help us stave off dementia. Learn. Learn something new every day.
If you’re going to be a Savvy Solo who ages in place, you need to keep your mind sharp. Read, cook, go for a walk, socialize, and try something new every day. Sitting in a room by yourself, watching re-runs of Barney Miller, is not activity. Do not think because you’re 80+ you have experienced all life has to offer. You don’t have to look very hard to find new surprises every day.
CELEBRATING THE FAMILY OF ONE
Being alone and being lonely are not the same thing
It wouldn’t be right if we didn’t celebrate the Family of One at the Savvy Solo.
Picture it: A black and white picture of an old man with a bowl of soup staring out his window. A gray, depressing, dismal picture of loneliness, isolation, and despair. Get real!
Thanksgiving is a time of being with family and friends. Says who? As we say at The Savvy Solo, “That’s someone else’s truth. Is it yours?” Everyone is entitled to celebrate in a manner that’s best for them without feeling shame or judgment by others.
Personally, I spent Thanksgiving with a family member. However, for Christmas, I’m taking vacation the last week of the year, and I’m already planning a plethora of activities that I will do as a Savvy Solo – I can’t wait.
I don’t let others dictate what my life should or shouldn’t be, and neither should you. Don’t let societal pressure decide who you should be and how you should live. If you understand this quote, you know being alone is right for you.
“I enjoy being alone; my soul is at peace in the silence.”
If by chance, you were supposed to be with family and friends, but you found yourself alone, you have two choices:
- Celebrate the deliciousness of being a family of one and show yourself (some well overdue) self-love and care or
- Choose to feel lonely and sorry for yourself
In any circumstance, you always have freedom of choice. Happy holiday.
MORE HOLIDAY SCOOPS
A scoop of taters: Amazon is dethroned in shoppers’ search for Black Friday deals.
Taters with a side of dressing: How to beat impulse buys and scams that can blow your holiday budget.
All the fixins: If you still feel the need to shop to you drop, get ready for Cyber Monday.