It’s no secret that the festive season is fast approaching, as soon as Halloween and Bonfire Night are over our minds immediately begin to daydream about mince pies, mulled wine, time with friends and family and presents!!

There’s something wonderful about buying presents for the people that we love, but it does take a lot of time and can be quite stressful. With only 5 Fridays to go until Christmas Day, we know that shopping panic is likely to be setting in, but…

HAVE NO FEAR BLACK FRIDAY IS NEAR!!

Black Friday has become a significant event in the lead up to Christmas day and this year on November 29^th you’ll be sure to find countless deals from lots of retailers!

Famous for frenzied scenes where shoppers queue for hours on end, stampede into shops and brawl over the last PlayStation, Black Friday can be hectic!!

So, we’ve compiled a list of tips to become a shopping ninja and grab the best deals for your Christmas gift list this Black Friday!

Get digital!

Sign up to retailer newsletters, like or follow their social media pages and keep your eyes peeled for their offers! Hint – avoid clutter in your regular inbox by creating a burner email address just for retailers!

Do your homework!

Make a list of what you’re after! Do your research who stocks what and be prepared to shop around to get the best price.

Plan your day!

Put together an efficient itinerary, decide which shops you need to visit first and allow more time than you think you need at each shop. We suggest you begin with your must-have item, and then plan the rest of your route from there.

Set a budget!

It can be super easy to get carried away if you do not set yourself a budget. Figure out what you can afford to spend and stick to it.

Price Match!

Do your research (read the fine print) and check if stores have a price matching policy. Some retailers, including John Lewis, will match prices on Black Friday deals. Most retailers will require proof when price matching, so have your phone handy to show competing retailers’ evidence.

Teamwork makes the dream work!

First of all shopping with friends is so much fun, especially when it includes a coffee break! But shopping with a friend on Black Friday is an ingenious shopping tactic! You can work together and divvy up shopping duties making it a faster more manageable shopping trip.

Know the return policy, and get gift receipts!

Retailers aren’t permitted by law to have a returns policy so first of all, double-check if a shop has a return policy before you head out on your big shop and secondly be aware of final-sale items and other non-returnable purchases. Furthermore, get individual gift receipts for the things you buy as it’ll help your recipient out should an exchange/return be needed. BUT make sure you get a regular receipt as well for budgeting purposes.

Make it work for you!

This is sound advice at any time of year, sign up to cashback sites such as Topcashback or Quidco! They allow you to get a percentage of money back on your purchases. It’s also worth checking with your bank as your credit card might offer cash back on purchases at specific shops.

Relax

As we’ve said Black Friday can become frantic! So no matter what your shopping trip brings, remember to relax and enjoy yourself with good company!

And for those of you fortunate enough to live in London take yourself over to ICON Outlet at The O2 Arena for some mega deals! https://iconattheo2.co.uk/