Sooner or later, the honorable Starks of Winterfell are always right: Winter is coming… and in our world, with the approaching cold, that means Black Friday, too! It’s inevitable. The only thing we can hope for is less chaos and more common sense and politeness. But that’s a tough order! The best we can do is look for a humorous silver lining.

Whether you’re actively looking for good deals, stocking up on Xmas gifts, or just here to poke fun at all the shopping madness, scroll down for some of the funniest and most relatable Black Friday memes, as collected by the team here at Bored Panda. Psst, don’t forget to show these pics to everyone else standing in line at the shop! We’re sure they could use a good laugh, too.

We got in touch with marketing psychology expert Matt Johnson, PhD, who specializes in topics such as consumer psychology and serendipity. He shed some light on the risks of overadvertising and shared how we can all avoid overspending this Black Friday and Cyber Monday when good deals seem to be everywhere. You’ll find Bored Panda’s interview with him below!

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We asked Johnson about the drawbacks of potentially advertising too much, as well as where the line is where it starts becoming a problem for companies. He explained that there are “significant drawbacks” to overadvertising, especially during the “high-stakes holiday season.”

“While repetition can increase brand awareness, too much exposure can lead to ad fatigue, where consumers feel overwhelmed or annoyed. This not only diminishes the effectiveness of the ads but can also damage the brand’s image, making it appear desperate or inauthentic. From a consumer psychology perspective, excessive advertising may trigger psychological reactance—a natural resistance to perceived pressure—which makes consumers less likely to engage with the brand,” marketing psychology expert Johnson told Bored Panda in an email.

“Additionally, oversaturating ad channels can dilute the impact of individual messages, causing them to blend into the noise of competing advertisements.”

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According to Johnson, the ‘line’ when it comes to advertising (too much) lies in balancing frequency with relevance and creativity. “Focus on delivering high-quality, personalized content that resonates emotionally and adds value, rather than bombarding consumers. Smart brands prioritize strategic targeting over volume, ensuring their ads enhance, rather than disrupt, the holiday experience.”

Bored Panda was also interested in how everyone can avoid overspending this holiday season when it feels like there are awesome deals everywhere pressuring people to buy as much as possible.

“This is a crucial topic this time of year. One of the biggest ways to avoid overspending during Black Friday and Cyber Monday is intentionality. Be deliberate in your shopping decisions. Start by creating a prioritized shopping list based on your actual needs or planned gifts, and set a firm budget,” Johnson said.

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