Black Friday or Black Hole? Where Your Money Really Goes

Vivian is diving deep into the art of Black Friday shopping without the chaos. She breaks down what deals are actually worth it (spoiler: that "70% off" TV might cost you more in the long run), how retailers use psychological tricks to make you spend more, and why that doorbuster deal always seems to be sold out. Vivian dives into the controversial world of retail tactics, from fake discounts and manufactured urgency to the math behind "buy now, pay later" schemes, explaining why stores lose money on some items just to get you in the door and how they make it all back. Plus, she answers your burning questions about when to actually shop (hint: it might not be Friday), how to spot genuinely good deals versus marketing gimmicks, and whether Black Friday is actually the savings goldmine everyone makes it out to be. Follow the podcast on Instagram and TikTok! Got a financial question you want answered in a future episode? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices