This year’s Black Friday will fall on 23rd November, but we’re sure all you bargain hunters are already aware of that. Black Friday is observed in the US the day after Thanks Giving. Since its migration from America, the shopping bonanza now marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season in the UK and many other countries that have begun to adopt the idea.
And while it’s arguably the best time of the year to go shopping, it’s perhaps the busiest too. Which is why you should have a read of our five simple steps on how to survive Black Friday 2018.
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Set a budget.
Avoid falling into the trap of overspending this Black Friday and stick to your budget. Simply make a list of all the things you need the most and set the maximum amount you’d like to spend. After you’ve gotten the essentials out the way, you’ll have the leeway to grab additional items or keep some extra pocket money for the month. Future you will particularly appreciate this.
Payday can vary for everyone, whether it’s the last day of the month, the 25th or every two weeks. But, an alternative way of managing your expenses is by using your credit card, so you won’t have to dip into your funds. This gives you the chance to return any unwanted items before having to pay it off in the next month.
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Shop online.
Black Friday sales can start from midnight, giving you the option of ordering online from the comfort of your own home. This mean you won’t be trapped in queues or tired from carrying bags all day. You can easily place your order online and receive it within the next few days. It’s important to read through return policies beforehand, should you wish to send anything back in case there’s an issue or it wasn’t what you expected.
Otherwise, if you still plan on going for a shopping spree, we suggest browsing online to research the best deals. This saves you the hassle of visiting every shop.
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Travel safely.
With hundreds of people expected to hit the Black Friday sales this year, high streets and shopping centres will be especially busy. Make sure your phone and money are kept out of sight. It can be easy to misplace a valuable item when you’re in a crowd of people and even more difficult to find after.
Whilst most of us are tech savvy, we can’t always rely on our phones to have full charge these days. So, if you’re travelling with family or friends, designate a meetup point to find each other if you’re going off on your own or happen to lose them.
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Be prepared for crowds.
Go early. You might say it every year, but you’ll find it easier to commit to waking up earlier knowing you’ll avoid the large crowd and have more of a chance finding all the things you’re after.
As has been the case these last few years, you can expect the shops to be busy as ever. For a comfortable shopping experience, we recommend wearing comfortable clothing, so ditch your heels for some comfy trainers. It’ll make your day a lot easier after all that walking.
Most restaurants and food courts will be crowded and busy, so it might be nice idea to bring your own food and drinks along with you.
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Don’t forget about Cyber Monday.
If for any reason you’ve missed out on the Friday offers, don’t dwell. The offers will continue throughout the weekend and Cyber Monday may hold even better deals. Be sure to subscribe to all your favourite retailers who’ll most likely email you their best deals.
Remember to stay safe and we wish you the very best of sales!
