Hello, everyone! Hope you’re enjoying a relaxing Thanksgiving. My son, RB40Jr, has the week off from school, so we’re taking it easy. This past weekend, we tackled cleaning the gutters and getting the house winter-ready—quite a task! I even managed to brave the chaos at the grocery store on Saturday and snagged a few things from Best Buy. Now, we’re all set for the holiday and I’m looking forward to some laid-back days at home.
### Black Friday Excitement
Remember the days when you had to rise at the crack of dawn to snag the best Black Friday deals? I do, though I haven’t lined up outside a store in ages. Nowadays, the convenience of online shopping is unbeatable, and the deals are just as enticing. Sure, there might be better discounts if you camp out at 5 a.m., but that’s more effort than I’m willing to put in these days. With 2024 being a stellar year for investors, I’m all for giving the economy a push with a little Black Friday splurge. Plus, with upcoming tariffs, prices might see a 10-20% hike next year, so spending now seems wise.
### Laptop – Under $500
My trusty old laptop is nearly a decade old and barely hanging on. It’s high time for an upgrade, but I’m keeping my budget under $500. Best Buy had a decent Lenovo on sale—Ryzen 7 5700U, 16GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD for $420. Not bad for blogging and general web browsing. I bought it on Saturday, though it’s still in its box. If a better deal pops up, I might swap it out.
### Xbox Controller – $40
Picked up an Xbox controller for my son—a little something for his Christmas stocking. These controllers don’t have the longest lifespan, with stick drift being a notorious issue, so I’m considering grabbing a spare just in case.
### Bluetooth Speaker – Under $100
Mrs. RB40 has been diving deep into her crafting hobbies down in the basement, and her phone’s speaker isn’t cutting it for music. A Bluetooth speaker would make a fantastic gift, drastically enhancing her listening experience. Hopefully, it encourages more crafting time down there—haha!
### Bass Ukulele – Under $200
I’ve been taking a ukulele class at the community center, and it’s been a blast. Now, I’m eager to try my hand at a bass ukulele. I’ll likely need an amp eventually, but I’m betting there are loads of second-hand ones to choose from.
In total, I’m aiming to stay under $1,000, especially since I can deduct the laptop for blogging purposes.
That’s all for today! Wishing you a fantastic Thanksgiving. What’s on your shopping list this year?
Image credit: AI generator. Just don’t scrutinize it too much—it’s a bit unsettling…
