Our Youth Money Expert Reveals How To Spot A Good Deal This Black Friday

Black Friday 2021 is officially on. Friday 26th November is the perfect time to find a bargain on a student budget.

Honestly, there is nothing like getting the best gadgets and gizmos for less. Plus, as Donna from Parks and Recreations says, there’s always time to, 'Treat Yo Self'!

However, with financial changes being made to student loans and many of the deals taking place online this year, it can be tricky to find the best places to spot a Black Friday bargain.

Our student financial expert, Joey Tamburello, is on hand to help though, with her tips and tricks to help make the process a whole lot easier.

It’s time to get stuck into the best ways you can spot a bargain this Black Friday, without having to worry about living off baked beans for a month!

Make a list of what you want

Before you even begin buying anything, make sure to write a list of what you’re looking for. This will help you to save money when it comes to the actual day, because you won’t be tempted to spend more than you bargained for.

Narrowing down your search, when faced with the big wide world of Black Friday, will help you to save a lot of time.

Places like Price Spy can help you to then find the cheapest deals from your list, breaking down the words and searches you need to make instead of endless scrolling.

Sign up for exclusive discounts

Another top tip to follow prior to Black Friday is to sign up for the brand’s newsletter. Just before or on the day, you should receive an email from them telling you all of their upcoming or available Black Friday deals. They’ll warn you how long the deals will be lasting as well.

You may even get given exclusive discount codes for being new to their subscription 20-30% extra off.

Make sure to complete all of your details before the big day too. Especially your addresses and card details. Saving time and money means more time for bragging to your roommates about how organised you were or more shopping time in the back of the lecture you’re meant to be listening to.

Use your student card

Lots of brands will work on extra special deals for students on Black Friday. Use Student Beans to discover the top 20 deals on offer during the event.

Available every day on the website, these have ranged from 60% off at Boohoo to free food and drinks from the likes of McDonald’s. The deals on Black Friday are going to be even bigger than these, meaning a new look and a bite to eat for hardly anything? Perfection!

You can also use your card to sign up for early deals on essentials. Many brands will have stored your details when you signed up for the card originally and will be sure to send you details of their latest discounts. Use this to build a comparison and find the best money-saving option for you.

Get your mates involved

Make a buddy system with friends and ask them to keep an eye out for deals on items you are looking for.

Much like when they help you avoid that crazy dancer in the club, they could be able to stop you from being scammed or spending too much on something that’s cheaper elsewhere.

Share your student cards if you know of a deal they want but don’t have a discount for. If you won’t use it, but they will, this is a great way to bond. You never know, they might even buy you an extra Christmas present for it.

Wake up early

Once you’re prepared, if you know you have to head out to buy something in-store, or that a deal will be gone quickly, make sure you’re up and ready to go.

You’ll be able to avoid the crowds, save money, and shop around without having to queue for hours. There’s nothing like kicking back later on in the day knowing that you have bought exactly what you needed without any stress.

Set a budget and watch out for dodgy deals

Finally, while Black Friday may seem like the best time of the year to get a deal, know your money limits and check the deals.

Some can be very misleading and prices continuously change throughout the day. Set a budget for the day or each item. Don’t just buy the first deal you see – shop around.

Ensure you really need the item right now and use websites such as CamelCamelCamel to explore what the prices have been previously.

Following these tips will help you to find the best Black Friday deals around in a fun, stress-free manner which you definitely deserve.

Ready to get your wishlist together? Check out our gift guides and get your budget in order with our handy Black Friday tips and tricks.