Christmas Shopping Deals
Where has this year gone? In a matter of days the clocks will be turning back. Before we know it, Christmas adverts will be flooding the TV, and Christmas paraphernalia will litter shops. Well, more Christmas paraphernalia – I’ve seen advent calendars floating about since September!
With plenty of time to prepare this year, and always looking for money saving ideas, it’s a good time to start thinking about Chritsmas presents.
If you are organised enough to have already purchased most of your presents – well done! If not, don’t panic – you still have enough time to get everything done!
Black Friday Sales
This caught on in the UK in around 2010, introduced by Amazon of all places. Makes sense, considering Amazon is an American company, and Black Friday, closely followed by Cyber Monday, started off as an American concept!
Not that we are complaining; we love a good sale.
But is it worth waiting for the Black Friday/ Cyber Monday sales? Not always. Over the last few years, it was reported that during the BF/CM sales, many prices had actually increased from what they had been in previous weeks.
So how do you know if its worth holding out? The short answer is – you don’t.
But there are a few ways you can stay ahead of the game, and ensure you grab the best bargain possible.
Research Your Product
If you are after something specific, like a certain TV or fridge, then do your research before-hand! Check out what specs you want, which ones have good vs bad reviews, and what product you would be happy to purchase.
Keep An Eye On The Price
Now you know what product/s you are after, check the prices leading up to BF/CM. It’s all very well them lowering the price to from £800 to £699 for the new TV you were after, but if the price was £600 the week before, then you are not getting the best price! Also, check out multiple retailers – as we all know the same product varies from shop to shop.
Check The Brand
Have you ever noticed uncommon or lesser known brands being pushed out on days like these? We have a Blaupunkt TV that we brought in a Black Friday sale years ago. Luckily, the TV has had no issues and was what we were after spec-wise, but beware – shops will use this as an opportunity to push all their old stock, so you may not always be getting quite what you’re after!
Check Your Time Frame
As well as BF/CM, many stores have a Black Friday Week sale – meaning that you may get a better deal just before/ after the actual Friday. Some shops will push certain products on certain days – such as oven deals Monday, TV deals Tuesday and so on. Keep your eyes peeled, to ensure you don’t miss your shot!
How do I Know If I’m Getting The Best Price?
Honestly? You don’t. All you can do is research, stay alert, and keep your eyes open for the best deal you’d be happy with. And if you haven’t managed to grab a bargain, remember the January sales are just around the corner!
