A Guide to Black Friday Shopping: 10 Tips and Tricks

Black Friday is the biggest shopping event of the year with thousands of people scrambling the web and high street for the best discounts. If you’re wondering how to make the most out of the Black Friday sales here are some top tips that will help.

1. Prepare Your Wishlist 

 

Getting your wishlist in a good place is a great way to prepare for a smooth Black Friday shopping experience. You can either build this out on the apps of your favourite online stores which usually consists of ‘liking’ the item. Or, if you’re hitting the high street for Black Friday jot down a physical wishlist list you can take out with you instead. 

2. Do Your Research

You’ve probably got a few items on your Black Friday wishlist, whether it’s a brand new mobile phone, a new Smart TV or even an ever-so-handy air fryer. It’s important that you do your research behind the products you want and start comparing prices to find the cheapest deal on the market –  a great deal comparison website is Idealo.

3. Set Yourself A Budget

It’s pretty easy to get carried away when it comes to Black Friday shopping, to avoid this set yourself a budget. Be realistic about how much money you can afford to spend and then think about the things you really need to buy. (Trust me you’ll be thanking yourself in the end!)

4. Follow Your Favourite Brands 

Social media is a gem when it comes to securing cheap Black Friday deals. Make sure you give your favourite brands a follow to ensure you don’t miss any exclusive special offers they might be running.  

5. Create Online Accounts In Advance 

We’ve all been in the frustrating scenario where you’ve gone to buy something online expecting the checkout process is going to be quick but at the last second, it requires you to make a customer account. To avoid a repeat of this, ahead of Black Friday create a series of accounts on the sites you’re likely to shop from. This way a speedy checkout process is guaranteed. 

6. Use a Credit Card

Using a credit card when making big purchases is a safer way to shop thanks to Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. In short, this means that if there are any issues with your order your card provider is jointly liable to reimburse you. 

7. Look at the Price Not the ‘Saving’

Big saving callouts sometimes can just be a sales exaggeration- instead of looking for this, focus your attention on the actual price. You can check the price history of products using price tracker websites like PriceSpy and Alertr.

8. Look For Discount Codes

Who doesn’t love a good old discount code? During Black Friday month these codes will be flying around more than ever ( a win for all you online shoppers!). The website you shop from should feature any discount codes they have running in the top banner of their website. If this isn’t the case check out websites like VoucherCodes to search for discount codes easily across multiple brands. 

9. Sign Up To Cashback Sites and Apps

Cashback websites like TopCashback and Quidco pay you a percentage of what you spend with certain retailers or a lump sum bonus. This can come in handy when securing your Black Friday bargains!

10. Always Ask For Gift Receipts 

A lot of people find the Black Friday period the perfect time to get gifts for their loved ones. If you’re one of these people, always make sure you request a gift receipt for the recipient of the gift just in case an exchange or a return needs to be made (better to be safe than sorry!) 

And there you have it, 10 top tips on how to achieve the best Black Friday shopping experience. Hopefully, you have all the advice you need to make this one unforgettable – happy shopping!