"Complete abstinence has a philosophical purity but humans weren't meant to live like monks."

They were rather meant to hunt for black friday deals and dive into consumerism?

I'd say, I don't know and suspect no one knows how we are meant to live. We can just find out and decide ourself.

(I've met monks who were way more content, than your average consumer, but it is not my way of living either)

My point is that if you really need/want it, you’ll remember on Black Friday without the list. But you won’t be buying unnecessary stuff just because you put it on a list at some point. I certainly don’t advocate for complete abstinence.