Mark your calendars: Black Friday will be hitting us this year on Friday 24th November.

The shopping extravaganza that started in the US has made its way across the pond to the UK since 2013. Black Friday has attracted very polarising opinions – some see it as a great opportunity to snap up some bargains for Christmas, and others see it as a mad rush of crazed shoppers.

Due to health and safety concerns and bad press, the major retailers are now much more likely to offer the best deals online. Some have stopped Black Friday entirely in their physical stores. Black Friday has now evolved to become more of an internet sensation, allowing you to shop from the comfort of your own home!

There will certainly be some amazing deals available this year, but it’s always worth planning things out to ensure that you’re always getting the best value for money and that you’re spending responsibly.

Here’s some useful tips:

• Set a budget, and stick to it. It’s very easy to become overwhelmed by the deals you find on Black Friday, but you should only spend what you’re comfortable with. With Christmas on its way and winter causing your heating bills to skyrocket, you can always find the same bargains in another sale.
• Check social media. Many retailers post their upcoming deals in advance of Black Friday, as well as discount codes on social media. This will allow you to better plan your spending for the day.
• Do your research online. If you’re buying from an online retailer, you should always check that the amazing bargain you’re about to grab up is actually a bargain. If you’re buying from Amazon, website camelcamelcamel provides a full price history of over 18 million products and website PriceSpy allows you to compare prices across over 3,000 shops.
• Avoid buying clothes. The steepest markdowns in price for clothing are usually in August, September and January so it might be worth avoiding buying clothes on Black Friday. If you see a clothing retailer offering Black Friday discounts, it’s definitely worth using a price comparison site to confirm that you’re getting a good deal.
• Don’t forget the small businesses. It’s not just the larger retailers that have Black Friday deals! Due to its explosion in popularity, small businesses are often offering deep discounts on Black Friday – check out their websites or social media pages for deals.