Finding the Best Deals this Black Friday
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Black Friday and Cyber Monday are fast approaching and are some of the busiest shopping days of the year. Here are my top tips for finding and making to most of the best deals.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are mere days away and already there are offers everywhere. Finding the best deals can be a bit of a minefield. Is it it really a good deal? Will it be even cheaper after Christmas? Companies also pile on the pressure by having very short-lived deals sometimes only lasting an hour (I’m looking at you Amazon!)
Finding the Best Deals this Black Friday
Earlier this week I wrote a post all about how to make sure you really are getting a good deal, which I would recommend reading before buying anything this Black Friday and Cyber Monday. If you do want to still try and hunt down deals after reading that then this is the post for you, full of tips and tricks to make the most of deals and save you the biggest amount of cash possible.
This post contains affiliate links.
Where to find the best deals this Black Friday and Cyber Monday
1.Facebook
I’ve talked a bit on the blog before about how much I love Facebook and Black Friday is one time it really comes into it’s own. I’m already seeing literally hundreds of Black Friday Deals posted so think it’s going to be a bit mad on Friday. A lot of big brands post deals directly to their Facebook Pages so if there is a particular brands products you are interest in then it might be worth liking their page and putting them on ‘See first’, if only for this weekend.
Some deals Pages for you to check out
2. Amazon
Amazon is probably the most well known site for its Black Friday deals. They update throughout the day with deals starting as early as two or three days before and continuing throughout the Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend. There are definitely some bargains to be had (Including this Kindle now only £29.99) but be sure to price check before committing to a purchase.
Based on what I saw last year they also have time pressure deals that are only available for an hour and deals that are only available for a certain amount of stock. If it’s something you really want or need then go for it, just don’t be pressured into buying something you didn’t need to buy.
3. Your Inbox
I don’t know about yours, but my inbox is already filling up with offers from companies for Black Friday and Cyber Monday and there are some benefits to this – if you’ve signed up to a companies marketing materials it is probably because you have ordered from them previously, so you know it likely to contain offers that your interested in.
In some cases companies actually use individual discount codes which can only be used once rather than more general ones that can be used by everyone so look out for these. Also many companies offer a discount code when you sign up to their newsletter so if your already on their site and planning to buy something keep a look out, sign up and it could be in your inbox within a few minutes.
4. Watch Out for Glitches
With all the various offers and voucher codes flying around this Black Friday and Cyber Monday there may well be some glitches. This is when a voucher code works when technically it shouldn’t. Usually when a company realizes they withdraw the offer and cancel orders. However, sometimes orders are still fulfilled and people are able to grab a massive bargain. Watch out for these but remember there’s no guarantee of getting your items.
5. It’s not just online retailers and big brands
While it may seem like Black Friday and Cyber Monday are all about big brands I’ve also seen lots of smaller businesses getting involved this year too. While they may not be able to the same sort of discounts as big brands it’s still worth looking out for, especially if you were planning on buying something from them anyway.
So far I’ve seen a local Theatre and local sports center both offering fantastic deals, so keep an eye out on local businesses too
Make the Most of Offers and Deals
1.Price Check First
Is the deal your getting really a good deal? Many companies over inflate their prices before Black Friday and Cyber Monday to make it look like your getting a better deal than you actually are. Check prices now and write them down so you have a good comparison on the day. You can also price check across different websites using these sites
2.Voucher Codes
Even if the price is good, could it be even better? Don’t forget search for voucher codes – there are usually some around especially if you’re spending large amounts like £50 or £100. Some codes will also stack (meaning you can use more than one) so savings can quickly double or even triple.
While I’m not trying to encourage needless spending, spending a little more can sometimes have it’s benefits in this situation. For example, if you’ve spent £90 on a website and they are offering free delivery on orders over £100 AND £10 off when you spend £100 or more it’s worth spending a bit extra to get those discounts.
3. Cashback
Getting FREE MONEY on top of already fantastic deals almost sounds too good to be true, but that is essentially what cashback sites do. Simply sign up, search for the website you want shop through an click the link. The Cashback site will register your transaction and you’ll earn a percentage of what you spend back.
A few things to remember
- Cashback isn’t always guaranteed – most transactions run smoothly but don’t buy JUST for the cashback.
- Your transaction may be invalid if you use a voucher code not approved by the Cashback site. I usually find voucher codes provide a bigger discount so cashback sites are better for when there are no codes available. If the Cashback site has the code listed along with the retailer then it’s fine to use.
- Cashback isn’t usually immediate. It can take anything from two weeks to six months to become available for you to withdraw.
4. Pay By Credit Card
There are several benefits to paying by Credit Card, rather than debit when shopping online. Some credit cards offer cashback and they do offer better protection and easier refunds should a company you’re buying from go bust. This is especially important to be aware when buying flights or holidays online.
5. Delivery
I HATE paying delivery charges. I know it’s necessary cost but I will always do my best to get out of it if I can. I think with Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals it can be easy to think that you’re already getting a great bargain and not to worry about delivery. However, if you end up ordering from lots of different places the cost can soon mount up.
Here are my tips for avoiding delivery charges
- I LOVE click and collect delivery – whether it’s collecting from the shop directly or from a local newsagents this has saved me a fortune in delivery charges over the years.
- As mentioned above, if you’re close to the FREE delivery threshold it may be worth ordering a small extra item to make up the difference. I’d rather have an item worth £5 than pay £3.99 in delivery.
- If you’re a big Amazon shopper it may be worth signing up for Amazon Prime – which offers unlimited one day delivery for £79.99 annually.If you’re a less regular shopper then you could sign up for a 30 day free trial of Prime, which is perfect for Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the run up to Christmas. Just don’t forget to cancel at the end of it!
- Another top tip is using Super Saver Delivery, a website that lets you search for ‘add on’ products that will top up your shop to make it up to £20 to qualify for free delivery – meaning delivery charges are avoided and you get another product too.
- Shop around – Lately I’ve found that many products on eBay are slightly more expensive than amazon but have FREE delivery so I’ll pay £1 more to avoid a £2.99 delivery charge.
6. Returns
Don’t forget you are well within your consumer rights to return ANYTHING you have bought online. Contact the company within 14 days and then you have a further 14 days to return it. Even if you simply don’t like or it was an impulse you now regret. Shopping in-store provides less comeback (because you have already seen the item) but most stores are happy to accept a return if you have proof of purchase. They must accept a return if the product is faulty or not fir for purpose.
If you want to give something back this Christmas then why not try making a reverse Advent Calendar?
