With less than 24 hours until the shopping event of the year, Black Friday 2025 is almost upon us. Shoppers across the UK are preparing their wallets for an online spree or planning trips to major retail hubs like the Bullring, Touchwood, or Merry Hill.
While many have a wish list ready, distinguishing a true bargain from a cleverly marketed price hike can be challenging. To help consumers navigate the sea of advertisements, Martin Lewis' MoneySavingExpert website has issued a vital guide packed with practical advice.
Master Your Black Friday Shopping with These Four Strategies
The financial specialists at MSE have distilled their wisdom into four key actions that can save you significant money and prevent costly impulse buys.
1. Compare Prices Across Retailers
The first rule of smart shopping is to never assume one retailer has the best price. The experts strongly advise using comparison websites like Google Shopping or PriceRunner. A quick check across multiple stores ensures you are genuinely getting your money's worth and not missing out on a better offer elsewhere.
2. Investigate the Price History
This step is arguably the most important for determining if a Black Friday 'deal' is actually a deal. Retailers sometimes advertise discounts against an inflated or outdated Recommended Retail Price (RRP).
To see the real story, use tracking tools such as CamelCamelCamel for Amazon prices and PriceSpy for multiple retailers. These services show the item's price fluctuations throughout the year, revealing whether the Black Friday price is the genuine lowest point.
3. Avoid Impulse Buys on One-Off Items
The excitement of Black Friday can lead to rash decisions. The MSE specialists urge caution, warning shoppers to be wary of impulse buying, especially on single, heavily promoted items.
Instead, they recommend focusing on across-store discounts that cover a wide range of products. These broader sales are more likely to include items you already intended to purchase, ensuring your spending is planned and effective.
4. Don't Overlook Department Stores
Remember that the Black Friday action isn't limited to individual brand websites. Major department stores are key players and often run extensive sales that include popular brands.
For instance, Frasers is already advertising numerous deals. If a specific brand isn't offering the discount you hoped for, the experts suggest checking stores like La Redoute or Sainsbury's Tu, as their store-wide sales frequently encompass the labels you're after.
By following this expert advice from Martin Lewis' team, you can cut through the Black Friday noise on November 28 and secure deals that represent authentic savings.
