This year Black Friday will take place on Friday, 27th November, so if you're looking to bag a bargain or
two as the big discount day approaches, follow some of these simple steps to find the best deals.
Black Friday is one of the most anticipated shopping days of the year and any sane person can see why - the bargains that can be got are simply unreal. Last year, I bought my three kids aged two, three and four replica micro-scooters including postage for less than sixty quid and almost eleven months later I still hail it my best Black Friday purchase ever.
However I didn't just find it online, I searched and scavenged online for weeks on the lead-up and when the time was right I executed the bargain buy with sheer delight.
This year Black Friday will take place on Friday, 27th November, so if you're looking to bag a bargain or two as the big discount day approaches, follow some of these simple steps to find the best deals possible this Christmas.
Make a list
Sounds simple I know, but write a list of the top ten things you need to purchase this Christmas along with the average prices of the items.
Sign up for emails
At least a week before Black Friday approaches, sign up for the newsletters of the online stores you will be hoping to shop this year. This way you will get discount codes, offers and exclusive deals right to your inbox.
Prioritize your list
When it comes to looking for the best deals and discounts, figure out which items are the most important on your list. Be specific and keep everything organised or you will most likely buy things you don't really need meaning you're not saving money in the long run.
Social Media
Turn on notifications for your favourite business accounts on Facebook, Twitter and even Instagram. Some retailers and even bloggers, will use their public platforms to announce exclusive codes and offers to customers ahead of the general public.
Be prepared
If you're anything like me and will do most of your shopping from the comfort of your couch, set up accounts with the online retailers you will most likely buy from in advance. This way you can drop items into your cart and buy them straight away. If you take too long, the item may be sold to another customer by the time you're ready to checkout.
Setting a budget
Set a predetermined spending limit will prevent you from going overboard on items you really don't need helping you stay on target.
Do your homework
While making your list of must haves this Christmas, check what time the stores you want to buy from open and close at or when exactly the online sale will go live. Some stores do pre-sales, others wait until cyber Monday and some may not have sales at all so it pays to be prepared.
Compare prices
And finally, once you've found a good deal, use price matching websites and shop around to see if you can get it cheaper elsewhere.
