You watch them in movies, listen to their songs, and maybe follow them on social media: celebrities. However, did you know that some celebrities are actually using their fame to raise awareness for good causes? Here are 4:

Leonardo DiCaprio

The Revenant, the Wolf of Wall Street is also an environmentalist. As a matter of fact, DiCaprio has his own foundation, the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, which works towards the preservation of nature, helping endangered animals and species, and protecting the environment. His official Instagram page is uniquely dedicated to stories, images and news about the environment.

Did you know that our Bank, Banque Libano-Française (BLF), is also committed to helping the community?

Nadine Labaki

Lebanese actor-director is known for shedding light on societal problems through her work. Most recently, her movie “Capharnaum” tackles poverty and the difficult life of children living on the streets, specifically in Lebanon, but also in the world. This has led to a campaign discouraging early marriage and random pregnancies.

Elissa

The Lebanese singer is also a great example of celebrities who use their fame for good causes. In fact, Elissa recently shared the news of her cancer diagnosis through a song and a video clip. She wanted to encourage cancer patients to stay strong, and to remind them that everything is possible, even beating cancer. Her recent struggle was evidence that those who keep a smile on their face and go through their daily lives normally may be fighting their hardest battles.

Angelina Jolie

Worldwide actress and director is also a UNHCR goodwill ambassador.  She is involved in child immigration and education, human rights, and women’s rights. Indeed, Jolie travels around the world with UN organs to visit refugee camps and offer help and support to those who are suffering. She has financially contributed to a lot of causes, such as the Malala Fund, in order to ensure women receive education.

Oprah Winfrey

The famous self-made spokesperson and talk-show host is also a big time philanthropist. Indeed, over the years, Oprah has donated money to several humanitarian causes, mostly those involving education, and those aiming to preserve African-American heritage. She is known for her generosity and kindness, and she has even been awarded for her humanitarian work.

If you live in Lebanon, or anywhere on this little planet called Earth, you have most probably been jammed with all these Black Friday ads.

No one is complaining here. I mean who doesn’t love the sight and sound of a “before-after” reduced price?
Yes. You’re probably imagining it now.

Well, here are 6 smart tips that will help you enjoy your Black Friday without having to end up with an over-spending problem or new items that you probably will never wear nor use – which btw happens all the time.

1. Make a list: bucket list, wish list, love list, ex list… They all have list in common

There’s a list to everything and shopping comes first when it comes to planning.
Write down the things you need and put them in order of priority. Also, don’t forget to list them by stores to make your mission easier. It’s easy to lose focus when you arrive to the store and to try on things that you never wanted in the first place, so try to stick to your own list first.

2. Then comes the backup plan

So you haven’t crossed out anything from the list yet. Well, grab list number 2, your backup plan. Everyone and everything needs a backup plan and Black Friday is no exception. Try to benefit from discounts and low prices on items and things that you know you will probably need anytime soon.

3. Take your friend with you

Black Friday doesn’t have to be a competition or a life or death mission. Well, some people take it way too seriously, but you don’t have to. Make it fun and memorable. You will always find some things to laugh about while with a friend and you can always help each other out with finding out the right items in the stores.

4. Budget. Because you probably do not own a bank…

Stick to your budget. Set yourself a number in order to make Black Friday a smart shopping and not end up overspending. Sticking to your budget means you won’t have to deal with any impulse shopping.

5. Don’t be fooled

Yes, having the before and after mark makes the item looks like an IT deal. However, make sure to double check. Remember, not all items are deeply discounted. Sometimes, the original price was too high to begin with and can be found elsewhere in the market place. Other times, the discount itself might not be that great and you end up paying the same price with just a small twist.
Don’t let them marketers fool you. It’s called Black Friday for a reason.

6. Don’t forget that you benefit from various discounts with your Lucky to be Young card even if it’s not Black Friday 😉

Yes, your Lucky to be Young card is your passport to enjoy amazing discounts all year long at stores and restaurants you love! Check them out here.