For some Simpson students, waking up before dawn to wait in long lines is worth getting great deals on purchases.

The day after Thanksgiving, also known as Black Friday, is a time when many consumers are drawn to the best deals and offers of the season. There are many theories about the origin of Black Friday, but today it represents an economic boost in company profits as people flood the stores.

According to economy expert Kimberly Amadeo, 74.2 million people went shopping on Black Friday this year. Compared to recent years, this is one of the lowest numbers of people who have participated in Black Friday shopping.

For Simpson student Allie Karpurk, Black Friday shopping is a tradition she enjoys participating in every year.

“I like to use Black Friday as a day to get my Christmas shopping done for a good price while I’m home from school,” Karpurk said.

She gives advice to those who might be interested in Black Friday shopping, but have never gone.

“Be prepared to be aggressive and wait in long lines,” Karpurk said. “If you’re going for a major sale, get there early because people have no problem lining up outside the store before it opens.”

While some students still hold onto the tradition of shopping inside the stores with friends or family, others prefer to shop online.

Angela De La Riva, a senior at Simpson, feels there are both pros and cons of sticking to traditi

onal Black Friday shopping versus online shopping.

“I think it’s easier to buy things in person because you’ve actually held it in your hands, looked at it in other colors, tried it on and compared it with other things in the store,” De La Riva said. “I think it’s easier to stay on budget and be aware of how much you are spending when you are actually at the store.”

De La Riva also thinks online shopping provides conveniences that influence people’s decision to shop online instead of in the stores.

“You aren’t really sure what you are getting until it gets delivered, and I think it’s easier to convince yourself that you are getting a way better deal online because you can’t compare it to other things in-store,” she said. “There’s also the convenience factor – you don’t even have to get out of bed to shop.”

Cyber Monday, the first Monday after Thanksgiving, is one of the busiest online shopping days and a popular way for retailers to gain money. Although many people go back to work on Monday, they still browse sales on the Internet.

According to digital coupon site RetailMeNot, 1 in 4) working consumers plan to spend four hours or more shopping online for gifts during work hours on Cyber Monday.

Cyber Monday has many differences compared to Black Friday including online-only deals, fewer advertisements and offers that are normally from smaller retailers. Since Cyber Monday is online, many stores, like Wal-Mart, Target and Amazon, start their Cyber week sales on Thanksgiving, instead of the day after.

Whether Simpson students would rather experience the excitement and rush of Black Friday shopping or stay in and shop online, no one can deny that Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the busiest days of the year when money keeps rolling in.

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