ThankYouByeBye: Our New Black Friday Tradition
A More Intentional Way to Spend the Day After Thanksgiving
Something about Black Friday has never felt right to me. One day we’re sitting around the table sharing what we’re grateful for… and the next we’re supposed to doorbust a big-box store before sunrise to beat strangers to the cheapest deal.
The dramatic shift from giving and gratitude to hyper-consumerism gives me major whiplash.
So this year we’re opting out and creating a new tradition – one that feels more intentional, grounded, and aligned with the spirit of gratitude and community.
What We’re Doing Instead
This year, instead of diving into the Black Friday rush, we’re starting a new family tradition we’re calling ThankYouByeBye — a big, intentional clean-out + donation day inspired by Marie Kondo’s “thank you and goodbye” practice.
As a family, we’re gathering up the things we’re no longer using, saying a quick “thank you” for the role they played in our lives, and then passing them on so they can have a second life with someone who needs them more.
It’s simple, it’s grounding, and it keeps the spirit of gratitude going long after the Thanksgiving table is cleared.
Why This Tradition Matters
Growing up, the Friday after Thanksgiving was rarely about shopping. It was slow mornings, pumpkin pie for breakfast, busting out the holiday decorations (and music!) with the fireplace on, and maybe a hike, weather permitting. It was a simple, cozy rhythm that provided a peaceful transition into the next season.
Now, with my daughter’s birthday in early December, we hold off on the full holiday explosion so her day still feels separate and special. But I still wanted something meaningful for that in-between Friday: something that carries the gratitude forward, gives our home a little breathing room between celebrations, and helps our kids connect the holiday season with giving rather than getting.
ThankYouByeBye turned out to be the perfect fit. It aligns with the values we’re trying to raise our kids with: gratitude for what we have, awareness that not everyone has the same, and the understanding that letting go can be generous, not scary. It creates space in our home and in our hearts, and it gives our things a chance at a second life instead of sitting forgotten in a bin somewhere.
Most of all, it feels like a tradition that matches the kind of season we want to create: slower, grounded, intentional, and connected.
How ThankYouByeBye Day Works
1. We walk through each room and look for anything that feels ready to move on.
Toys, clothes, books, the items that have been outgrown, ignored, or quietly collecting dust. Nothing overwhelming or all-in-one-day… just whatever feels naturally ready to go.
2. Each item will go into one of three piles:
Trash - things that are broken, stained, or truly at the end of their life
Donation - items still in good shape that someone else could use and enjoy
Maybe Later - for anything the kids (or we) aren’t quite ready to decide on.
If someone’s unsure about something, we don’t put pressure on it. We tuck it away in a closet or garage. If no one asks about it in a few months, it goes to donation. If they do, it comes back out.
3. We say a quick “thank you” and “goodbye” before placing an item down.
It doesn't have to be dramatic, sometimes we literally say it out, and sometimes it’s just a quiet moment of pause. Either way, it helps shift the mindset from “getting rid of something” to honoring that these things had a purpose and now get to move on.
Something like:
“Thank you, 15-year-old plastic coconut-shaped drink cup. We’ve had some wonderful memories together. I’m grateful for them. Peace be with you on your next journey.”
It softens the letting-go process and makes it a gentle, mindful moment rather than a stressful one.
4. We try to donate with intention.
Believe me I understand the urge to just drop everything off at Goodwill, but this year we’re taking some time to find local organizations that can actually use the items we’re letting go of.
For example:
Toiletries, linens, kid clothes can make a real difference at women’s shelters or transitional housing programs
Old towels might not be accepted at Goodwill, but animal shelters are often thrilled to have them.
Toys, books, and holiday décor are often welcomed by community centers, and preschools.
It only takes a few minutes of searching, but it helps ensure our things go exactly where they’re needed (and don’t end up in a landfill). It feels good knowing these items get a second life, and it’s a way for the kids to see how their small acts of letting go can ripple outward into real generosity.
Want to Try It?
We’re doing our first official ThankYouByeBye Day this year, and I’ll report back on how it goes.
If you try a version of it in your home, please let me know!
Whether you go on a hike, stay cozy with leftovers, start decorating for the next holiday, or try your own ThankYouByeBye Day…
Tell me how you’re spending the weekend after Thanksgiving.
I love hearing how families create meaning in those quieter in-between moments. 💛