Budgeting among the bargains: How to get the best out of Black Friday
The Black Friday countdown is well under way, with less than a fortnight until the year’s biggest sales event — and tempting deals already starting to pop up.
Yet, with record levels of inflation and soaring interest rates, many households’ finances are under extra strain. So it’s important to plan carefully to avoid overspending and be sure those ‘best buys’ are right for you.
Here are ten tips from Catherine Hiley, telecoms expert at Uswitch.com, to make sure you’re staying savvy and saving while shopping this Black Friday.
1. Make a wanted list
"Whether it’s a scribbled list or a detailed spreadsheet, writing out exactly what you want to buy during Black Friday is a good way of focusing your mind and avoiding overspending.
“A list of items, complete with your reasons for buying them, will help you stick to a plan and avoid last-minute ‘impulse’ buys.”
2. Prepare in advance
“For most retailers, Black Friday extends far beyond one day, and you can expect plenty will be offering discounts ahead of the 25th. If you see time-limited offers on a site that haven’t yet ‘gone live’, it’s worth registering an account to make sure you can log in and complete your purchase quickly.”
3. Eyes on the price
“If you’re looking to buy a particular item, research how much it costs across different retailers in the run-up to Black Friday to make sure you’re getting the best available price.
“For smartphones, some of the best bargains are likely to be found on older handsets by tech giants, like Apple, Samsung and Google. If a new flagship device has been launched this year it is likely to push previous models down in price, as companies look to shift their stock.”
4. Get customer feedback
“While it’s easy to be tempted by substantial discounts, if you see a particularly good offer on a product, take a look at how it’s been reviewed by other customers to check its quality and that it meets your requirements.”
5. A switch in time
“Gadgets are a large part of Black Friday but many consumers can find the biggest savings by looking at their household bills. Some of the best deals on broadbandand mobile contracts are available this month. So if you’re at the end of your contract, it could be the perfect time to switch. In particular, if you’re out of contract on a pay-monthly mobile phone deal, you might be able to move to a cut-price SIM Only deal and keep your handset, which could save you £321.”
6. Bundle it in
“Households out of contract on their broadband who are also interested in pay-TV and streaming services should keep their eyes for special bundle deals, tying the services together. Sky now includes a Netflix subscription with many of its standard TV deals, so if you’re already paying for both separately, you could save at least £6.99 on your monthly bills.”
7. The extras factor
“As well as the discounts on items themselves, it’s worth considering if you can get extra cashback by purchasing through a particular website or with certain credit cards. Remember, this should be viewed as an added bonus, rather than a reason to buy a product. And if you’re paying with a credit card, be sure to pay off the full balance at the end of the month to avoid interest charges.”
8. Watch for scams
“During Black Friday, many smaller retailers will be sharpening their elbows with large companies to try to secure your business. Yet the sales season is also a time when scammers will look to swoop on unsuspecting shoppers.
“If you find yourself on a site you haven’t visited before, be careful to check they’re legitimate — especially before you share your bank details. See if they have good reviews on independent websites and look for signs that the site is secure, such as a padlock in the address bar and ‘https’ at the start of its name.”
9. It’s not all about new
“This Black Friday promises to have some great deals on refurbished devices, in particular mobile handsets. These nearly-new items are often indistinguishable to full-price models and come with a guarantee for added peace of mind.
“On flagship smartphones, you can save hundreds of pounds by going down the refurbished route. And pairing one with a Black Friday SIM Only deal is a cost-effective alternative to a standard pay-monthly contract.”
10. Vouch for it
“Some companies push the boat out on customer loyalty bonuses for Black Friday, so watch out for brands offering vouchers or gift cards that can cut the cost of repeat buying with them. Apple has previously issued gift cards of up to £160 on big-ticket items like MacBooks, so it can make sense if you are planning more than one tech purchase.”
See Uswitch’s guide on how to get the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday broadband deals here.
About Uswitch
Uswitch is one of the UK’s top comparison websites for home services switching, including energy, broadband and mobiles.
More people go to Uswitch to switch their energy, broadband and mobile than any other site, and we have saved consumers over £2.7 billion off their bills since we launched in September 2000.
Free mobile app Utrack also helps households manage their home energy usage and make potential savings.
Uswitch is part of RVU, a group of online brands with a mission to empower consumers to make more confident home services, insurance and financial decisions.