Martin Lewis issues urgent warning for Black Friday – the rule that everyone needs to follow explained

MARTIN Lewis has given an urgent warning for Black Friday shoppers as the day gets closer.

Black Friday will take place on November 25 this year, followed by Cyber Monday on November 28.

But bargain expert Martin Lewis took to Twitter this week to reveal his most important tip for excited shoppers.

His post read: “If you were going to buy it anyway and it is half price, you’ve saved 50%.

“If you weren’t going to buy it, but do cos it’s half price, you’ve wasted 100%.”

And fans were quick to agree in the comments, with one adding: “The difference is do you need it or want it?”

Another wrote: “Yep, something I need to take note of!”

And one more chimed in: “It’s so easy to get carried away and buy for the sake of buying, not a genuine need.”

Black Friday was originally the annual US-only shopping date that coincided with Thanksgiving celebrations.

Fast-forward to 2022, and it is now a global affair that sees tens of thousands of brands and retailers taking part.

But there are plenty of scams to keep a watchful eye out for.

Also, even if it seems like a huge deal, you should check what the price of the item was a few weeks before to be sure.

During the sales, online shoppers can maximise their savings by signing up to a cashback site.

Sites like TopCashback.co.uk are free to join and offer money back on purchases made at hundreds of retailers, across all categories.

Also knowing exactly what you want to buy and doing a bit of research beforehand can also make all the difference.

Here are some shopping tips to help you nab the biggest discounts come November 25.

• Avoid impulse buys and make a list of what you want and need to buy during Black Friday and stick with it!
• Check the RRP of items you’re interested in a few weeks before the sales start to compare discounts when they launch.
• Compare prices of items between retailers as you may find it cheaper elsewhere and save yourself some extra cash.
• Use websites such as PriceRunner to check the cost of coveted items previously.

There have been a few deals revealed already, including:

• Home and kitchen appliances
• Floorcare deals
• Mattresses
• Beauty
• TV and electrical
• Mobile phone

Black Friday has become synonymous with tech savings, and shoppers can expect deals on popular brands like Apple, Samsung, Fitbit and more during the sale.

If you’re after an Echo Dot, Ring Doorbell or any of Amazon’s cheap-and-cheerful smart devices, they’ll almost definitely be reduced too.

Big-brand appliances that rarely go on sale will get their moment in the limelight too.

Look out for other appliance price drops on Shark vacuums, Ninja air fryers and Hotel Chocolat Velvetisers.

Don’t go thinking it’s just flash, high-spend items that are included in the sale.

During Black Friday, a quick peruse on Amazon will throw up all sorts of discounts on everyday products like dishwasher tablets and boxes of Quality Street.

You can read about deals in more detail in our Black Friday deals round-up here.