14/10/2022
10 Top tips for smart Christmas gift shopping on Black Friday 2022 (and two for donating on *Giving Tuesday!)
The last Friday in November marks a big date in the consumer calendar – the Black Friday Sales. This year Black Friday falls on 25th November, when shops are expected to heavily discount items before Christmas. A weekend of deals (or sometimes a whole month) draws to a close on the following Monday, known as Cyber Monday.
Love it or hate it, if you’re smart with your shopping you can save serious money on Black Friday 2022. Here we look at how to make Black Friday work for you, giving you smart tips on how to get the best Black Friday deals. We also touch on how best to donate to charity on the 'Giving Tuesday' that follows.
1. Know what you’re looking for
Keep a list of what you want and who it’s for. Then stay in your swim lane – don’t get side-tracked by other promotions along the way. Know how much you are prepared to spend, and resist the temptation to splurge.
2. Research
Check how much products cost before Black Friday arrives. That way you’ll know for sure a discount is genuine.
3. Be Prepared
Streamline the experience by setting up online accounts and bookmarking favourite sites ahead of time. It allows you to dive in to sales and get what you want but with less friction.
4. Bulk Buy
Unless there’s a big picture of Santa on whatever you’re buying, consider buying birthday presents for the year ahead too. This is particularly useful for children with long wish-lists that can’t be satisfied by Christmas alone. Duplicate your shopping if a gift could be given to a friend as well as a relative. For example, beauty boxes from luxury beauty company LOOKFANTASTIC are likely to have wide appeal.
5. Consider ‘All in One’ shopping
If you’re shopping across departments – such as clothing and technology, then it might be worth choosing an online department store like Debenhams, or a budget retailer like Studio. Black Friday can be a tiring. Finding a one-stop-shop for the majority of your wish-list will hopefully save you time as well as money. Plus, there’s a strong chance that you’ll be able to find a site-wide discount code to bring down the total cost of your basket.
6. Compare
Though shopping under one roof is convenient, it’s worth comparing retailer offers for more expensive items. Use the shopping tab on search engines to help you narrow the search and find where’s cheapest.
7. Be an early bird
You don’t have to wait for Black Friday itself, as sales can start early. It’s a price versus stock drop conundrum – prices could go lower but stock could also run out. Get a heads-up about upcoming offers by becoming a member of shops, or signing up to newsletters. Last year Superdrug started sales early for its Health and Beautycard members. A physical or digital card is free and comes with additional benefits. There are likely to be a wealth of gift options from perfume to make-up or jewellery. A Boots Advantage card is also free – bagging you extra offers and points to spend. Sign up to emails with Zavvi and be among the first to find out about deals and launches, plus you get £5 off your first order if it’s over £50. Zavvi sells a broad range of branded memorabilia, artwork and clothing, as well as retro turntables and a vast choice of vinyl. The film, TV and music buffs in your life will thank you.
8. Don't forget your pet
Whether it’s food or accessories, there’ll be ‘pawsome’ deals for our four-legged pals too. Past discounts don’t guarantee future offers but in previous years there have been savings on luxury dog beds from Joules and animal vitamins from VioVet, for example.
9. Double dip on discounts
Use a cashback or shopping deals website to make extra savings. Start looking early at what discount codes are available for the stores you’re likely to buy from.
10. Pay with a credit card
Credit cards give shoppers extra protection when buying items priced £100 or more. If a product is broken or the shop fails to deliver, a credit card provider has to refund you when a retailer won’t. This is the law under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.
Giving Tuesday
Giving Tuesday is a day encouraging people to give selflessly – whether it’s money, goods or time. If you want to donate pounds, consider these tips:1.Donate as you shop!
Turn deals into donations, at no extra cost. Use a deal or voucher code from Savoo, - it gives up to half of its commission to your chosen charity. In the lead up to Christmas 10 per cent of the company’s revenue will be given to a different charity each week.
2. Make donations tax friendly - use Gift Aid
Using Gift Aid when you give money to good causes means you end up donating more. Charities can claim back tax relief on donations if you complete a Gift Aid declaration form. It’s quick and costs you nothing, but earns the charity an extra 25p per £1 donated.Follow these tips and tricks and you'll be primed and ready to shop smart this Black Friday. Cross every item off your gifting list for less, while also giving back during Giving Tuesday, all while sticking to your Christmas budget. Discover more ways to save money during the cost of living crisis by checking out our Cost of Living guide , and more articles by saving experts.