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Money Saving Guide to Black Friday 2020

Ellie Macsymons·Oct 22, 2020

Be covid-safe and find out how to save even more online

Black Friday has quickly established itself as THE money-saving event of the year. But this year things are certainly going to be different.

For many households across the UK, Black Friday kicks off the Christmas Shopping period and is the ideal time for shoppers to pick up huge savings on expensive items like TVs, consoles, mobiles and even holidays. Online stores are set to kick start their Black Friday deals on Friday 27th November and run through Cyber Monday and into the following week. However, shoppers can expect to see many retailers dropping pre-sales and Black Friday deals early this year so it’s important to be on the ball.

With in-store shopping taking a blow this year due to COVID-19, shoppers are filling up their baskets online with a massive 58% saying they now do most of their shopping online, so it’s essential that you’re prepared in order to get the products you want at the lowest price possible!

Shop online and avoid the chaos this year. Image: Freepik.com

In the past, in-store Black Friday shoppers have caused chaos in the pursuit of snatching the best deals. This year, that just isn’t going to be safe or possible. With this in mind, staying at home and shopping online is by far the best option for Black Friday 2020!

And while we won’t be seeing crowds of in-store shoppers you can guarantee we will definitely still see queues of shoppers waiting in line to get on websites – so preparation is key to snapping up the best deals.

With thousands of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals expected from high-street stores like Curry’s, AO.com, John Lewis and Amazon, you’re likely to find more discounts online than you would do in-store and there’s no need to queue, rush around to different shops or worry about wearing a mask. Many retailers even offer Black Friday discount codes and deals in the week leading up to the big day, as well as huge discounts on Cyber Monday and usually run into the following week.

Black Friday shopping is ALWAYS better from the comfort of home. Image: Freepik.com

Below you’ll find easy-to-follow steps in our Black Friday Online Survival Guide for shopping online. By sticking to these steps you should find it easier to navigate your way through the shopping event of the year at home, without overwhelming yourself or your bank account.

Black Friday Online Survival Guide

Step 1: Use apps

Get official apps from the App Store, you may even get a new customer code while you’re at it. Image: Freepik.com

Retailers often feature exclusive offers through their apps to encourage shoppers to download them. Although you may be reluctant to download an app, most of the time their benefits are worth the visit to the app store. Not only do they offer frequent discounts you won’t find anywhere else, they also keep all your order and shipping information in one place. Many even have a ‘saved’ or ‘wishlist’ feature where you can add products you may want to buy in the future.

For Black Friday week, this is perfect. Add the products you want to your wishlist early and on the day you’ll already have them ready and waiting with a discount. In a few simple clicks, you can have your items in your basket, with your address and PayPal account already attached. All you have to do then is add your discount code or click ‘Buy’ and you’ll have beaten your fellow shoppers to the checkout.

Step 2: Make a list

Whether it’s a spreadsheet or scribbled on a notepad making a list is essential. Image: Freepik.com

There’s nothing worse than forgetting an item and only remembering it once you’ve already checked out (especially when adding it could have allowed you to qualify for free shipping.) Avoid this inconvenience, stay organised and avoid over-buying by writing a list. Once you’ve written your list, you need to research where the best place to buy it is. Which retailer offers it for the best price? Which retailer provides free shipping? Is it going to be part of a sale or deal online? Browse around and compare prices and make a note of the best two websites that stock your product. Bookmark these websites and then on the day you can check which one has the best final price. If your desired product sells out before you get a chance to buy it, you’ll also have a back-up store ready.

It’s also worth checking if you can buy a few of your items in one place. Department stores like John Lewis are great for picking up a diverse range of products and the more stuff you buy from one place, the better chance you have of receiving free shipping.

Step 3: Check social media channels & newsletters

Sign up to Newsletters, sit back and watch the deals roll into your inbox. Image: Freepik.com

Many retailers keep customers updated on the latest deals via their social media channels and newsletters. If you shop at a company regularly you probably already follow them on social media or receive emails from them. Although these emails can be annoying, during Black Friday week they’re a great way of keeping track of sales and discounts. Go through your emails, delete the ones you have no interest in and keep the ones that could be of some use. Check out the products available under the deal advertised and make a note on your list if one of your items is featured. This is a great place to start if you’re unsure on where to find the best deals for Black Friday.

Step 4: Start early

The Early Bird Catches the Worm! Image: Freepik.com

It’s better to do your research and make your list early, as Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals often start way before their actual intended dates now. Get prepared as soon as you can and you’ll find Christmas shopping a lot less stressful. By starting early, you can have your products added to your basket in your apps, your address and payment info added to your phone or laptop and your bookmarks ready with your desired products at the best prices, prior to a sale even starting. By doing all these things early you increase the chance of copping your listed items at a discounted price.

Step 5: Make sure it’s a good price

Grab a brew, sit down, get yourself comfy and get ready to do your research. Image: Freepik.com

It’s also important to note that just because there’s a deal on it doesn’t mean that you have to buy. You may find yourself panic-buying and over spending on products that you don’t really need or haven’t thoroughly researched. Take your time and shop around to ensure you find the best deal before committing to a sale. An easy way to find the best deal is to use a price tracking website. These tools allow you to see a product’s price history and compare current prices to original RRP amounts. By using one of these trackers you can avoid falling for a deal that only sounds good because it’s saving is based on a RRP amount. By comparing the amounts on one of these websites with the discounts advertised during Black Friday week you should be able to find your desired product at the lowest price possible.

Check out these websites:-

Step 6: Have your voucher codes ready

Use our where to enter your code guides to familiarise yourself with where you enter your code. You can find them on our retailer pages if you scroll down the page.

On the topic of being prepared, remember to look for your voucher codes in advance. Collect Black Friday codes, student codes and other discounts, write them down next to your products and speed up the buying time on each website. It’s also worth having a backup code ready in case the first one expires last minute. Voucher code sites like NetVoucherCodes keep their retailer pages updated with the latest Black Friday codes on popular items like coffee machines, TVs and other gadgets and electricals. Simply visit our A to Z find your store and check if there are any live codes. We also feature a dedicated Black Friday section on our website, making it easier to find specific codes for the big day.

Step 7: Use a credit card or PayPal

Using Credit Cards and PayPal offer you added protections, just make sure you clear your credit card bill at the end of every month to avoid any interest. Image: Freepik.com

Stay protected during Black Friday and Cyber Monday by using PayPal or a credit card. Although online shopping is the future, it doesn’t mean it comes without its risks, and during one of the busiest shopping events of the year, there’s bound to be some hiccups. By completing online purchases using third-party apps like PayPal or your credit card, you not only gain protection, you’re also exposed to great finance options and buy now, pay later alternatives, ideal for those of you with a long and expensive Christmas list. PayPal is also great if you’re buying a hurry. Many websites allow you to ‘checkout with PayPal’ which means you avoid having to enter your personal information. Simply log in to your PayPal account and you’ll find your address, contact and payment details already attached. All you have to do then is click ‘buy now’ to complete the transaction.

Where to buy…

If you need some help on where to look for the best Black Friday deals, below you’ll find a shopping guide for some of the most popular electricals for 2020. Black Friday is the perfect time to buy these costly items at a discounted price although they do sell out fast so make sure you follow the steps detailed above to get your hands on them first.

Black Friday TV Deals

If you’re looking to purchase a TV this Black Friday then Curry’s is a great place to start. Every year Curry’s provide fantastic deals on their 4K Ultra HD TVs from brands like Samsung, Sony and LG. Majority of these TVs are QLED with built-in Alexa and Google assistants as well as catch-up TV and 4K streaming features. During the week running up to Black Friday, Curry’s provide Black Tag Deals on a huge range of 4K TVs, consoles and mobiles so this is the perfect time to buy. In 2018, they offered up to £700 off selected OLED and QLED TVs so you can expect discounts as good as this or perhaps even better. Curry’s also offers free delivery on all orders and urges customers to download their app to help beat the queues.

Console Deals

Curry’s is also a great place to shop for consoles and other electricals, although retailers like AO.com and Argos also boast a great selection of console deals on Black Friday. Shop the gaming range at AO.com and find discounts on PS, Xbox and Nintendo consoles as well as games like Fifa and Call of Duty. Visit Argos’ tech range for discounts on Fifa 21, the Nintendo Switch, PS4s and the XBOX One. Argos also offers click and collect at every one of their stores as well as selected Sainsbury’s Collection Points. They also provide fast-track, same-day home delivery for just £3.85 as well as the option to spend and collect Nectar points while shopping online.

Game is also the ideal place to visit for discounted consoles and gaming software. Sign up to the Game newsletter now and gain first access to this year’s Black Friday deals. Last year Game offered a Buy One Get One Free deal on PS4, XBOX One and Nintendo Switch games as well as £20 off the Nintendo Switch Lite Bundle.

Mobile Phone Deals

If you’re looking to save on mobiles this Black Friday then visit one of the retailers mentioned above, or check out Very, Littlewoods and Amazon. Every year, Very and Littlewoods boast great deals on smartphones from names like Apple. Find discounts on the latest versions of iPhones, Apple Watches, Airpods and iPads as well as other electricals and devices. Very and Littlewoods urge customers to download their apps and sign up to their newsletters early to receive updates on Black Friday deals. They also feature a ‘Save for later’ section on their website that allows you to keep track of tech you may want in the future.

Amazon is also a great place to start when looking for Black Friday mobile deals. As the company responsible for popularising Black Friday in the UK, each year Amazon is expected to bring some of the best online discounts during Black Friday and Cyber Monday week. Previously, they’ve offered up to 75% off across their store with up to 25% off selected Huawei P30 smartphones and 50% off the first four months of Audible subscriptions for iPhones, Androids and tablets.

Supermarkets and department stores like Tesco, Debenhams and John Lewis are also great places to find Black Friday discounts on electricals. And, by using a code from us alongside your order you’re guaranteed to secure tremendous savings on this year’s must have tech.

You can even bag a great deal on your next holiday!

Black Friday is a great time to save some cash on your 2021 holiday, never more so than this year as there will be some bargains to book and look forward to. Image: Tui.co.uk

You can even snatch up huge savings on holidays and staycations. Previously, retailers like TUI and First Choice have offered up to £150 off long-haul holidays as well as Black Friday competitions that have allowed customers to win back the cost of their holiday. Other holiday companies that have offered Black Friday deals in the past include EasyJet holidays and Expedia.

Black Friday Fashion

Another massive staple on everyone’s list this Black Friday is of course fashion! Whether you’re wanting to snap up discounted prices on designer gear or treat yourself or loved ones to something stylish, you’ll be happy to hear that all your favourite online stores are preparing to slash their prices this Black Friday.

From gifting to party dress shopping, indulge in prices of up to 30% off at the likes of Missguided, Pretty Little Thing, Tessuti, JD and Footasylum to just name a few. In fact, in 2019, Footasylum offered shoppers discounts of up to a huge 60% off. And if this is anything to go by, customers are certainly in for a treat this year. Very, House of Fraser and All Saints are just more examples of popular stores joining the Black Friday lineup this year – great options for snapping up designer pieces at low prices. With COVID-19 wreaking havoc on the world, online shopping is the way forward this year, so ensure you’re prepared and have your fingers at the ready!

Keep in mind that many of your favourite online stores tend to drop their prices in the week leading up to Black Friday. Many even run into the following week with Cyber Monday being a lifeline for the last-minute shoppers. However, to ensure you get your hands on the goods you want, preparation is key! Many stores are urging customers to sign up for their newsletter and download their apps for regular updates. So whether you’re eager to pick up those new trainers, you’re filling your wardrobe with more weather appropriate clothing or gifting loved ones, get prepared and don’t miss out this Black Friday. Stay home, fill up your baskets and kick start your Christmas shopping.

So, what now?

Now that you’ve read our survival and buying guides you’re ready to start prepping for Black Friday 2020. Stay home, make a list and get organised for Christmas. Follow our advice and check out the retailers we’ve mentioned above for savings on everything from iPhones to 4K TVs and more. Still can’t find what you’re looking for? You can find a huge selection of other electrical, fashion, beauty, home and holiday retailers who participate in Black Friday on our website, alongside hundreds of money-saving codes and deals.

If you still find yourself needing more information on Black Friday then take a look at our FAQ section below…

Black Friday FAQs

Will Black Friday happen in 2020 UK?

Yes. Black Friday 2020 is still expected to go ahead online this year, although it’s still uncertain whether in-store Black Friday shopping will be possible or safe. Therefore, it’s advised that you get ready to shop online, at home, this Black Friday. Majority of the popular high-street retailers in the UK are presumed to take part, although you’ll need to sign up to their newsletters or bookmark their Black Friday deals pages to be sure.

When is Black Friday 2020?

Black Friday will take place on Friday 27th November 2020. However, deals are expected to start filtering in the week leading up to the big day. Cyber Monday will then take place on 30th November 2020 with deals to follow in the days after during Cyber Week.

How Black Friday Works?

On Black Friday (the last Friday in November) retailers across the UK, US and other parts of the world hold sales in-store and online. Black Friday, and the days leading up to it, see some of the biggest sales and discounts all year, making it the perfect time to shop for Christmas. It’s up to individual retailers whether they take part. To find out if a specific retailer is taking part in Black Friday this year: check their FAQs section, search for their Black Friday deals page or sign up to their newsletter.

Can Black Friday items be returned?

Usually, items bought on Black Friday can be returned. However, the returns policy often differs from the usual one during the period between Black Friday and January. For a more specific answer regarding the retailer you’re buying from, check their FAQs section or contact their customer service team. By beginning your Black Friday preparation early you can collect essential information like this before you decide to buy on the day.

Are Black Friday deals worth it?

Yes. Many of the deals offered during Black Friday week are superior to those you’ll find during other parts of the year. However, we reiterate the importance of planning and sticking to a list while shopping during Black Friday in order to avoid spending money on deals that aren’t worth it. Make sure you compare Black Friday prices to usual amounts and price tags at other retailers to avoid getting conned.

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