Consumer expert Martin Lewis has reeled off an abundance of important advice to shoppers who are looking to steal a deal this Black Friday.
While millions of pounds is expected to be exchanged for seemingly cut-priced goods and services, research has recently outlined that some deals offered on the day are cheaper during other periods.
Always wanting to dish out advice to save people money during the ongoing cost of living crisis, Martin took to his BBC Sounds-based Martin Lewis Podcast this week to have his say.
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And the first thing that Martin wanted to address as Black Friday lands is impulse buying and the effect it can have on your bank account. Upon being asked: "What I want to know, and what we've already had quite a few questions on is, is it worth it, can I get a good deal, or is Black Friday a bit of a rip off?" Martin sternly replied: "Yes.
"Look the first thing is, as I've said before - My big Black Friday memo. If you were going to buy it anyway, and it's half price, great you've saved 50%. If you weren't going to buy it, but do it only because it's half price, boo, you've wasted 100% per cent.
"So, what we want to do within Black Friday is ensure that we are buying things that we want and the prices are cheaper. We have done some research on this - my team and I - but there is also some other research out there."
Martin also found that a fifth of goods are actually cheaper in the run-up to Black Friday than the day the worldwide event actually takes place. He continued: "In 2021, price comparison website Price Buy found that 22 per cent of the goods it checked were cheaper in the run up to Black Friday than on Black Friday itself. So clearly, what you do have to do is monitor your prices in advance, and that will help you tell the duds from the deals."
Martin finalised the segment with a key piece of advise on impulse buying, noting that the biggest way to save money this Black Friday is by controlling your impulses.
He signed off: "The most important thing that you can do this weekend is be controlled in your own spending. Make a list of the things that you need, and try not to be drawn to buy on impulse when you see something that's discounted and you think it's a good deal, if you wouldn't have bought it anyway.
"And that fits very well into today's 'Tell Us' - you know, things that people regret are often things that were bought on impulse."
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