The Black Friday Phenomenon & How to Navigate it.

Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving in the US. We have family and friends in the US, and I always enjoy seeing their thanksgiving photos. It’s a big celebration, a family time, with amazing food and family traditions.

It wouldn't be Thanksgiving without an appearance from Snoopy, so here you go:

In the US the day after Thanksgiving is considered the start of the Christmas shopping season, and is known as Black Friday. This began back in the 1950's, and has grown bigger since that time.

Amazon introduced the UK to the Black Friday phenomenon back in 2010, and since then it has grown ever more popular.

If you're planning to shop in the Black Friday sales it pays to plan ahead, that way you are less likely to get caught up in the Black Friday hype. There are psychological reasons that people get sucked into the Black Friday hysteria. People love a bargain, particularly if it's a time limited offer, we worry that we are going to miss out on a bargain, and are then often rushed into making a snap decision. We worry that if we look elsewhere the item may have been snapped up by someone else. It appeals to our competitiveness.

Be aware that some retailers keep prices artificially high before Black Friday so they can announce a bigger discount. Plan ahead of the day by doing some research on things you want to buy, that way you will know if something is actually a bargain. Another benefit of preparing before hand is that you will be less likely to be seduced into buying something you don't actually need, or want.

The excitement surrounding getting a bargain in the Black Friday sales, or Cyber Monday sales can become quite addictive, so preparation is key. That being said, you can get some fantastic bargains, just make sure they're things you actually want before snapping them up. Yes, I've been a victim of buyers remorse once or twice in the past.

Amazon have introduced some early Black Friday Deals with up to 40% off.

Happy Shopping.