5 ways to skip Black Friday and do some good

LONDON Black Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year. But, for many people it’s a day of pandaemonium that’s enough to put you off shopping for life.

Luckily, there are ways to step away from the mayhem to do something a little bit different something that doesn’t involve getting elbowed in the ribs to buy a cut price TV.

Here are five ways to do good this Black Friday.

1. Support digital activism

This Black Friday, Lush Cosmetics has released a charitable bath bomb, named Error 404. All the proceeds from the vanilla-scented product will go to the Digital Fund to support Access Now, an initiative fighting against internet shutdowns.

Internet shutdowns also known as “blackouts” or “kill switches” occur when a government deliberately disrupts the internet or mobile apps as a means of exercising control.

The bath bomb will be available from 25 Nov. until stocks last and is priced at 4.04 ($5.03).

2. Support independent bookstores

#CivilisedSaturday launched in the UK in 2015 as a way for book lovers to escape the crowds and support their local independent booksellers.

Book shops up and down the country will be serving cakes, tea and coffee, and prosecco, along with discounts off books.

There’s also something of a treat in store for fans of the Great British Bake Off. Queen of baking Mary Berry will be taking part in Civilised Saturday, signing copies of her new book Mary Berrys Family Sunday Lunches atThe Chorleywood Bookshop in Herefordshire.

Use the #CivilisedSaturday hashtag on Twitter to find your nearest participating book shop.

3. Share, upcycle and reuse

This Black Friday, Gumtree is urging people to join the #AntiBlackFriday movement. The classified ads website wants to encourage people to sell their Black Friday products that they’ve never used and to opt for second hand products in an effort to reduce landfill waste.

4. Support children’s charities

Clothing retailer FatFace is calling its Black Friday alternative Feel Good Friday. The retailer says that 100,000 ($124,000) of profits they make between 21 and 28 Nov. will be donated to local charities.

Customers can also donate directly to the FatFace Foundation via its website.

5. Support a homeless charity

UK pie seller PieMinister is giving away its frozen surplus pie stock in return for donations to homeless charity Shelter.

Aptly named Black Pieday, the initiative essentially involves getting free pies in exchange for donating to a charity which helps millions of homeless people each year.

Black Pie Day is happening at pop-up shops at 10 of the store’s UK locations from 8.30 a.m. onwards on 25 Nov.

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