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Black Friday, is a 24-hour period of sheer overspending and panic, otherwise known as the beginning of the Christmas season.
A chance for shoppers to snatch up their Christmas wish-list with the best possible deals on offer at the moment. However, is it worth all the hype or is it just another day for retailers to trick customers into thinking they are saving money on the latest products?
Love it or hate it, Black Friday is back and bigger than ever this coming Friday, November 29th. What originally started off as a tradition in the states post-Thanksgiving, Black Friday has slowly made its way to our shores over the years, becoming one of the biggest shopping days of the year.
In order to be smart about your purchases and ensure you are getting the best deals currently on offer, there are however a few things you can do in the lead up to Black Friday and across the weekend itself.
To avoid being scammed and overspending, know what you want going into the weekend. Do your research and make a list to prevent going off track and making possible impulse decisions.
When shopping online, make sure you are familiar with the site you are using and that they are a reliable high street retailer as it can be easy to fall into the frenzy of Black Friday and into the hands of online scammers.
Download retailer apps. This way you can easily browse the products you are considering purchasing while also getting notifications on the latest deals. As well as this you can compare retail prices with other retailer sites to ensure you’re getting the best possible offers. Sign up for email updates on your favourite/ brands and follow them on their social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. That way you’ll get up to date notifications keeping you in the loop on what’s happening.
Look into price-tracking apps such as “BuyVia”, “Price Spy” or “ShopSavy”. This will help you find the best deals by tracking the price history of a particular item.
Can’t wait until the 29th? Have a lookout for retailers who start their sales early such as Debenhams which announced that their sales will be beginning Monday, November 25th. It should also be noted that certain Airlines such as Ryanair and Aer Lingus tend to get in on the Black Friday sales, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for that perfect Christmas getaway.
As always, electrical items such as laptops, tablets and headphones are expected to be a big seller this year, particularly Apple’s Airpods. So, if they tickle your fancy make sure you’re not only getting the best valued one but also the best recommended on the market.
Black Friday is a far cry away from a leisurely activity, however, if done right, you can easily avoid the craziness of the weekend and hopefully, end up with what you were looking for.
Anja Zauers
Image Credit: Pixabay