Black Friday is now just over a month away, and lots of brands will be launching their Black Friday sales even sooner than that. It’s important to be prepared if you do plan to shop these sales as a student, so you can avoid being ripped off and actually make decent savings!
Plan what you want to buy
Try not to go in blind and shop for the sake of it – if you do that, you’re not really saving money, as you weren’t planning to spend it in the first place. Sit down, take stock of what you own and what you need, and write a list of what you might want to pick up during the Black Friday sales.
Some ideas of what you might want to shop for at this time include:
- Christmas gifts for family and friends
- A new laptop or tablet
- Noise cancelling headphones
- New bedding for your student accommodation
- Accessories for your regular hobbies e.g new running shoes
- Winter essentials like a nice warm coat or new boots
Set a budget – and stick to it
Shopping the Black Friday sales can feel exciting, and it’s easy to get carried away! But as a student, with loans to manage and your own bills to pay, it’s important that you don’t overspend. By allocating a set amount of cash for your Black Friday shopping and not spending more than this, you can shop without feeling guilty or worrying about how you’ll afford it.
Compare prices everywhere
It’s helpful to start online browsing before the Black Friday sales start, so you can get an idea of how much things cost at full price – that way, when the deals and offers start rolling in, you can be absolutely certain you’re making a saving. And if a product is available from multiple retailers, don’t forget to check if it’s even cheaper somewhere else! You want to be making the most of these sales and getting as much as you can for your money.
Check your student discounts and cashback sites
Many retailers already offer student discounts, and a lot of the time you may be able to stack this discount code on top of the already reduced pricing during Black Friday. This will save you even more money, which is a result. And don’t forget about cashback sites and offers, which will help you recoup a small percentage of what you spend. Every little helps!
Black Friday can be overwhelming, especially for students shopping on a budget, but it’s a great chance to get ahead with Christmas shopping, upgrade your student sleep set-up, or treat yourself to a cosy new coat for the incoming cold weather.
