{"id":8895,"date":"2025-11-20T08:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T09:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/?p=8895"},"modified":"2025-11-26T21:43:51","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T21:43:51","slug":"how-to-handle-black-friday-like-a-pro-10-tips-to-make-your-spending-count","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/2025\/11\/20\/how-to-handle-black-friday-like-a-pro-10-tips-to-make-your-spending-count\/","title":{"rendered":"How to handle Black Friday like a pro: 10 tips to make your spending count"},"content":{"rendered":"
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How to enjoy a bargain and avoid buyer’s remorse (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Black Friday<\/a> is almost upon us (and in fact, in several instances, already is). With it comes the prospect of buying more for less \u2013 at a time of year when we\u2019re all gearing up for the Big Christmas<\/a> Spend.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s understandable that we are going to find many a tempting deal.<\/p>\n

But I, among many others, have learnt that buyer\u2019s remorse is a dreadful thing \u2013 so before you get carried away by the \u2018best deals<\/a> ever\u2019, pause a moment. <\/p>\n

Take the time to consider the rules of engagement, so you can bask in the warmth of a bargain while safely avoiding the dangers of overspending, <\/p>\n

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It’s easy to overspend due to deals (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Rule 1: shop with intent<\/h2>\n

The easiest way to overspend, or buy things you really don\u2019t want or need, is to doomscroll<\/a> for deals. This is where you\u2019ll endlessly browse through offer after offer on websites, without any real idea of what you\u2019re after.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s easy to do, and I\u2019ve been guilty of this myself in the past. But there\u2019s a way to avoid it: shop with intent.<\/p>\n

This simply means only going to shops or websites for the item you already know you want. To do this you\u2019ll need to do a little planning.<\/p>\n

I tend to make a list in my phone<\/a>\u2019s notes when anything comes up that \u2028I think I need and use this as the basis for a little research.<\/p>\n

You can think a little outside the box here, too. Black Friday<\/a> isn\u2019t just a time to buy gifts or white goods. In years gone by I\u2019ve got low prices on cinema memberships, craft beer, flights<\/a>, gig tickets, restaurants and broadband. Think too about everyday purchases, especially cosmetics and groceries that you can stock up on if you find decent prices \u2013 this is where I tend to do a lot of my Black Friday spending.<\/p>\n

Rule 2: benchmark<\/h2>\n
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Do your market research before shopping (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sadly, just writing down that you need a new coat or air fryer<\/a> isn\u2019t going to help you shop with intent. Ideally you want to know the make and model \u2028you want and then get a rough idea of what a good price is.<\/p>\n

I use price history websites to get an idea of both the going price and the lowest price. These benchmarks help sort the good from the bad when the deals start flying around.<\/p>\n

This really is key to getting a bargain<\/a> and avoiding temptation based on the size of the discount. Instead you can focus on the selling price itself.<\/p>\n

For Amazon<\/a>, use the website\u2028uk.camelcamelcamel.com<\/a>, while PriceSpy is your best bet for other retailers, such as Argos<\/a> and Currys<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Rule 3: only spend what you can afford<\/h2>\n

If you follow my advice so far then you\u2019ll hopefully avoid impulse spending (one of the big ways to overspend), but it\u2019s still very easy to break your budget, especially with Christmas<\/a> pressures.<\/p>\n

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Be cautious of over-buying due to Christmas pressures (Picture: Getty Images\/iStockphoto)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But going into the red on your current account, relying on Buy Now, Pay Later or deferring payment via credit cards on non-essentials will just cause you problems in the new year.<\/p>\n

So work out before you start shopping exactly how much money you have available to spend<\/a> \u2013 and stick to that limit.<\/p>\n

I\u2019d also keep a bit of a buffer available if you can, for any surprise offers you hadn\u2019t anticipated, but are things you want and need, such as the aforementioned everyday groceries and services.<\/p>\n

Rule 4: find extra cash<\/h2>\n

Rather than borrow, you\u2019ve still got time before the sales begin to boost your coffers, or at least set in motion some extra cash arriving to offset your spending.<\/p>\n

Bank switches<\/a> are one way to get free money, with a number of banks offering around \u00a3200 right now \u2028(find all the latest offers at \u2028becleverwithyourcash.com\/banks).<\/p>\n

Check any old accounts that could have a balance you can cash in, from loyalty schemes such as Nectar and Clubcard, through to cashback sites such as Quidco<\/a> and TopCashback<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You should also check old utility providers, particularly energy firms, who could be sitting on refunds that haven\u2019t been issued.<\/p>\n

Rule 5: stop spending (for now)<\/h2>\n

Though we\u2019re already seeing many retailers launch their Black Friday offers<\/a>, in most cases the lowest prices are going to happen on Black Friday itself. This means I try to avoid spending any cash in early and mid-November.<\/p>\n

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Try to have restraint and don’t spend all at once (Picture: Richard Baker \/ In Pictures via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There are exceptions. As much of Black Friday<\/a> is about clearance, it could be the stock goes before we even reach November 28. So if you\u2019re worried about missing out completely (on something on your list, of course), then snapping it up now isn\u2019t a bad move.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve just got some reduced-to-clear slipper-socks from John Lewis<\/a> that would definitely have been gone in\u2028a week.<\/p>\n

Rule 6: unsubscribe<\/h2>\n

Despite your best plans, you can still \u2028get waylaid by emails and adverts bombarding your inbox and feeds. These bring that temptation to stray from your list, which in turn means you spend more<\/a> than planned.<\/p>\n

If this is a concern, then unsubscribe from any email and unfollow any account that you don\u2019t intend to \u2028shop with.<\/p>\n

However, for brands you are planning to spend with, then an email is a good way to keep informed of offers or \u2028extra savings<\/a>. <\/p>\n

You can also set price alerts with PriceSpy, Idealo and others to find out when the item you\u2019re after has hit your desired price. <\/p>\n

Rule 7: find the lowest price<\/h2>\n

Once you\u2019re ready to start shopping, don\u2019t just assume the first price you see is going to be the best one. Compare against other retailers but remember to factor in extras such as delivery costs and guarantees. It could be worth paying a few quid more to get these. And you can take it a step further with price matching. John Lewis is the most famous shop to do this, but others include AO, Halfords<\/a> and All Beauty<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re normally limited to making \u2028a claim in just seven days after purchase and they\u2019ll usually only\u2028match certain retailers but it can \u2028pay to go with one of these shops in \u2028the first place. <\/p>\n

Alternatively, others such as Argos and Amazon will usually promise to refund the difference if they lower prices on things you\u2019ve already bought before Black Friday. <\/p>\n

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Shop where you can get a refund, just in case (Credits: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Rule 8: stack savings<\/h2>\n

The discount from the retailer isn\u2019t the only way to pay less. You can earn money back on your spending if you use a specialist card such as one from Trading 212 or American Express rather than your everyday debit or credit card<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Combine this with voucher codes or cashback sites to bring the price down even further. Look out too for short-term flash bonuses. These can run all year but there are always more on Black Friday weekend itself. <\/p>\n

For example, last year I stacked Boots\u2019 Black Friday<\/a> offers with a \u00a315 voucher from Vouchercodes for spending \u00a350, and received a \u00a320 bonus cashback from Quidco for spending \u00a3100 at Argos.<\/p>\n

Rule 9: return <\/h2>\n

Once the frenzy is over, if you do find you\u2019ve overspent, don\u2019t despair. You can still send online purchases back for a refund as long as they\u2019ve not been customised or are perishable. <\/p>\n

What you do need to be careful of are return fees<\/a>. Research for Be Clever With Your Cash found one in three shoppers did not check whether these were free before making a purchase, and as a result one in five lost money.<\/p>\n

This is where shopping around and price-matching<\/a> in advance can really pay off. If prices are the same, go with the retailer that will let you send things back for nothing.<\/p>\n

You should be checking high-street stores too, as there\u2019s no legal right to return anything, unless it\u2019s faulty. <\/p>\n

That means some will only give you \u2028a credit note, or could refuse any form of refund.<\/p>\n

Rule 10: wait<\/h2>\n
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Wait for other sales, rather than exhausting all of your budget on Black Friday (Credits: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Finally, remember that Black Friday isn\u2019t the only sale before Christmas<\/a>, let alone all year.<\/p>\n

You will have other opportunities to buy the items on your list at low, if not lower, prices. So if you don\u2019t actually need it right now and either your budget is too tight or the prices too high, just hold off for a bit.<\/p>\n

Two items on my list are a parasol base and a hose \u2013 not typical \u2028winter purchases! I\u2019m hoping the non-seasonality for them will help me get clearance items, but equally it could already be too late. If that\u2019s the case, I\u2019ll just get these next year.<\/p>\n

Andy Webb is the founder and head of money site Be Clever With Your Cash, becleverwithyourcash.com <\/p>\n


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