Ah, Thanksgiving. It’s the holiday many of us look forward to in which we can gather with family and friends, eat delicious homemade food, and reflect on all of the things we are thankful for. Along with this holiday also comes the inevitable chatter about "Black Friday" deals, who has them, and who among us will be the brave souls to face the crowds of others who are also looking to take advantage of some of the best bargains all year. Some use the day to get a head start on their Christmas shopping list. Others use it as a way to relieve the stress of the previous day. Believe it or not, there is also a percentage of people who just enjoy the sport of beating their fellow shopper to the last 65" Smart TV for $200.

But as with most things this year, the COVID-19 pandemic will change this tradition. While many retail stores will remain open, complete with steep holiday discounts, you can be certain that most (if not all of them) will be carefully monitoring the number of people allowed in at one time. State-mandated lockdowns, like Philadelphia's Safer at Home campaign, have not only impacted the way we will interact and shop this holiday season, but it is also affecting the bottom line of businesses everywhere.

Think about it—after watching the non-stop news about the country’s coronavirus infections, school closures, deaths, lay-offs, and struggle to peacefully transfer power in the White House—are you honestly in the mood to shop?

If you are, good for you! But you may want to stop reading and click through to another website...

If you’re just not into the idea of hurdle jumping over complete strangers for a chance at a snowblower on clearance, Buy Nothing Day might be for you.

This "holiday" started in Canada in the 1990s as a way to get people to reexamine their spending habits and curtail their overconsumption. It eventually made its way to the United States and has gained popularity every year.

So, what can you do this Friday instead?

• You can examine the items you DO have and see if there is anything worth donating to charity.
• Read a book! Learn about the life-changing magic of tidying up, how to manage your money, or how the American dream has turned very sour.
• Continue the Thanksgiving feel-goods by connecting virtually with people that you would have seen in-person in previous years.
• Find an organization (such as a food bank) where volunteers may be needed.

If you make it through the day without buying anything, congratulations! But be warned—Cyber Monday is right around the corner.