Black Friday is no ordinary Friday. Almost all the high street shops slash their prices and you can bag a real bargain before Christmas. Check out our top tips to avoid the rush, spend responsibly, and enjoy the potential savings.

Write a list, and stick to it

It’s easy to get carried away when you’re hitting the sales and end up with a basket full of things you don’t need but ‘are too good a deal to turn down’. If you approach Black Friday with this mentality, you could end up spending a lot more money than you’ve set aside for it. Write a list of things you need before hitting the sales and stick to it.

Look at the price, not the saving 

Don’t be lured into a false sense of security by price tags with massive savings on them. You may see signs like ‘was £500, now £50’ in the shops, but these are probably exaggerated. Some reports suggest that retailers hike the prices of items in the weeks leading up to Black Friday, so they can claim dramatic savings. To avoid falling into this trap, do your research so you know the current market value of the things on your shopping list.  

Don’t forget Cyber Monday 

Historically, retailers offered deals in their physical stores on Black Friday while Cyber Monday catered for online customers. Today though, the divide is less clear. So, if you didn't get the product you wanted on Friday, keep your eyes peeled over the weekend, there might be a deal worth waiting for.

Dig out your gift cards

Spend Thursday night rummaging around your draws for old gift cards you haven’t spent yet. Double savings = double the savviness!

Shop responsibly and be considerate!

Black Friday is notorious for attracting frenzied customers desperate to bag a bargain in the run up to Christmas. It can bring out the worst in people so shop considerately and if you don’t fancy navigating the crowds, jump online instead.