When is Black Friday 2024 and what deals will there be?
The annual shopping extravaganza that is Black Friday is rapidly approaching and here's everything you need to know.
Black Friday is now a firm fixture in the UK, after originally starting as a US shopping event following Thanksgiving. Now, however, retailers both on the high street and online will slash prices, making it an ideal time for Christmas shopping - or just to treat yourself.
There's a lot to think about with the sales spanning a couple of weeks and confusion over whether these are legitimate discounts. Fear not, because here you'll find everything you need to know about Black Friday 2024 so you can make the most of the sales period.
When is Black Friday 2024?
Black Friday 2024 falls on Friday 29 November, so that's the date for your calendar. But it's not as simple as waking up on 29 November and heading to the shops, because the deals will start earlier than that.
In previous years, Amazon has started discounting at least a week early, so I'd expect to see discounts on some great Amazon devices - like Echo smart speakers - from as early as 22 November.
The sales will then run through Black Friday until the following Monday - 2 December - which is known as Cyber Monday. In the past, Cyber Monday was when online retailers joined the fun, but now online sales dominate the whole event with sales spanning these two weeks.
That's the pattern you'll see from most online retailers, with high street stores following that pattern.
What retailers will be running Black Friday deals?
As it's some time until the Black Friday sales begin, many retailers haven't confirmed their plans - but we know that most will join in, giving you loads of shopping options. This where some of the best Black Friday deals will be.
Here are direct links to some of the most popular retailer Black Friday pages:
What will be discounted on Black Friday?
Some of the best deals come on Amazon's own devices. If you've been waiting to buy a Fire TV Stick or an Amazon Echo Dot, then Black Friday will see big discounts. Tech does especially well in the Black Friday sales and it's expected that you'll find discounts on iPad, Apple Watch and AirPods, as well as Sony headphones and Samsung phones.
Kitchen retailers love Black Friday too, so it's a great time to pick up a Ninja air fryer, or to get yourself a discounted Sky deal. There are often discounts on beauty essentials and mattresses, as well as clothes shoes and all manner of gifts.
Will there be a discount on the Dyson Airstrait on Black Friday? Some really desirable products don't get discounts, but GHD is already preparing for Black Friday discounts.
Does Black Friday have legitimate deals?
Black Friday causes such a shopping frenzy, so it's a good question: are Black Friday prices the best prices? It's not a simple answer, but there are some very good discounts available on Black Friday for the savvy shopper.
Prices online can fluctuate and it's often true that just before Black Friday the prices for some items will be at their highest, before getting a big discount for the sales event. The retailer will then claim a big price reduction, even if it's just a little lower than the normal price.
Black Friday also isn't the only time that retailers slash prices, so the deal you're looking at might have been available in summer sales like Prime Day at the same price or for less. It's also important to only buy what you actually need: as Martin Lewis says, if you're going to buy anyway and it's half price then you've made a saving. If you don't need it and you buy because it's discounted then you're wasting your money.
