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Black Friday top tips
Black Friday is packed with tempting deals, but the best savings come from shopping smart. A little planning can help you avoid impulse buys, spot genuine bargains, and get more value for your money.
With so many great deals coming and going around Black Friday, it can be hard to know what to buy and when. Instead of being bogged down or bamboozled with offers, we’ve got plenty of tips to get you focused and on the right track in time for the big day. Luckily, lots of retailers run promotions throughout November, so you’ve got time to prep, compare prices, and shop confidently.
Here are our top tips to get the most value from Black Friday:
Create a wish list in advance
You can do this before the sales even begin, just figure out what you need and note it down. This will not only help you stay focused, but you can also jot down prices, so you know what a good saving looks like.
Look beyond the prices
Stay cool, calm, and collected when you’re browsing. It’s all too easy to see a good price and jump on it immediately. Make sure every deal is good value for you and avoid buying extra to reach a free delivery value as it could end up costing more in the end.
Take advantage of price match offers
Before you buy anything, check if the retailer has a price match promise. It can help you get the best deal without having to shop around too much. It can really save some cash on big ticket items, like appliances, TVs, and laptops.
Set a budget before you shop
Try not to get carried away during the sales by setting a strict budget. It’ll help keep your spending in check, as well as saving you the hassle of arranging returns when you check your bank balance. And, most importantly, it’ll stop you falling victim to impulse buying.
Sign up for emails and deal alerts
Lots of retailers offer subscribers early access, exclusive discounts, or notifications when new offers are available.
Now, you’ve got everything you need to shop smart and get the best value deals out of Black Friday, whether you’re in need of new tech or grabbing your family’s gifts for the whole year ahead. Our best advice is prep, stay focused, and know what you need to save yourself from going overboard.
- Are Black Friday sales worth it?
Black Friday is one of the biggest sales seasons of the year, giving you lots of chances to save money — especially on tech and home essentials. But it’s worth noting that not every deal is as good as it seems. The key is to research in advance, so you can shop the sales the smart way, picking up exactly what you need for the price you want to pay.
- Is there a best time to shop Black Friday deals?
Some products sell out quickly when deals first launch, while other discounts improve closer to the day. The best advice we can offer is to know what you want and how much you want to pay, and when you see an offer you’re happy with, that’s the best time to buy. Waiting can mean you lose out and purchasing the first discount you see can mean you pay a bit more, but it all depends on what you’re shopping for.
- Do certain products offer better discounts?
Electricals are a common discounted product category, including TVs, laptops, smartphones, headphones, gaming products, and appliances. Some retailers also create exclusive bundles to give you extra value through accessories, installation services, or extended warranties.
- How can I check I'm getting the best price?
Shop around to check the price at all the major retailers, look at their price match promises, and the overall offer. One deal might have a cheaper product, but another might be cheaper overall if you’re looking at delivery costs, additional accessories, or installation services. Another way to check you’re getting a good deal is to check reviews and product specs to make sure it’s the right product at the right price, instead of just a cheap product.
- Is Black Friday only 1 day?
Black Friday officially falls on a single day, but lots of retailers release special deals in the week before and some extend the offers throughout November. Cyber Monday is another important date for tech deals. This longer sale period gives you chance to research products, compare deals, and make the right decision.
- Should I wait until Cyber Monday instead?
Lots of retailers run the same offers across both events, but some retailers introduce new discounts for Cyber Monday. It’s worth checking both, but there’s no guarantee the price will drop if you wait.
- Is Black Friday the cheapest time of year to shop?
While Black Friday is a key calendar event for shopping, there are other seasonal sales to look out for, including January, Spring promotions, and end-of-season clearances. It depends what you’re after and the best way to get a great deal is to keep an eye on what you’re after and buy when there’s a good value offer all around, including extras like bundle accessories, delivery costs, and discounted installation services.
