06 Nov Tips to Be the Black Friday Champ of South Africa
Black Friday is chaos, no matter where you are in the country. The malls are crawling with shoppers like ant mills–with some even camping outside stores to get the best deals. Sold-out signs pop out like jack-in-the-boxes, and some goods are still expensive, despite brands’ efforts to lower prices.
Luckily, there are some strategies you might implement to streamline your efforts, both in maintaining financial wellness and getting the best deals. Watch the video below.
Let’s discuss these strategies in more detail.
Make a List
Before heading to the shops or opening your laptop, have a good idea of what you want. This way, it’s harder to be enticed by other things you don’t need.
For instance, you need a pan, pot, and vacuum. When you start shopping with a clear vision in mind, it’s more difficult to be sidetracked by soft toys or clothes.
Set a Budget
Have a maximum amount you’re willing to spend in total for each item on your list. A good rule of thumb is to make your maximum budget the average price for the item. This way, you can shop for name brands or more luxury brands and pay what you would normally. For example, the average price for a pan is R2000. If Makro offers a pan for R600 and Le Creuset has one you’ve had your eye on for R1500 (usually R3500), buy the Le Creuset pan.
Compare Prices Beforehand
Before Black Friday hits, do your research. Look for price differences between vendors for similar products and make a list. On Black Friday, retailers usually drop their prices by at least 20%. When you have an idea of what vendor prices are, you’re more likely to succeed in getting the lowest price. Also, you might try buying in bulk.
Local Is Lekker
Sometimes, the best details are just around the corner. Instead of shopping internationally brands, head to Pick n Pay, Woolworths, Checkers, Game, Makro, and other South African brands.
Sign Up for Newsletters
Brands send exclusive offers to subscribers, offer via email. Sign up for updates from brands you love. We are 90% sure they will email you about upcoming Black November or Black Friday deals.
To subscribe to brand updates, go to any brand’s website. Usually, you’ll see a pop-up prompting you to enter your email address for something free. Otherwise, look for a heading that reads “join us” or “membership”. These memberships are almost always free.
If you’ve ever given a brand your contact information (particularly your email), check your inbox’s spam or updates folder. You’ll probably have received an email from them.
Use Rewards Cards and Cashback Apps
Rewards cards and cashback apps are a surefire way to collect money. When you shop with rewards cards, brands sometimes give you a percentage back of what you pay for. As these percentages accumulate, you can use them to money off of what you shop for in future.
Consider Pick ‘n Pay’s Smart Shopper card. After some time, you can use your points to get money off of groceries, saving money. Sometimes, having membership cards also saves you money on in-store deals.
Shop Early
On the big day, start shopping early. The cheapest offers sell out fast, so it’s important to be at the front of the queue to avoid losing out on the best deals.
Don’t Use Credit to Shop
In South Africa, many people use lay-by, store cards, and credit cards to afford the best deals–a huge mistake. Don’t use credit to buy consumer goods that will depreciate in value over time. Rather, save for Black Friday over the year to buy what you want when November comes.
Buying goods on credit can lead to over-indebtedness, owing more debt than you can afford (a key sign you need debt review). If you need help overcoming over-indebtedness, contact Debtco Group. We would be delighted to help you reach financial freedom. We help South Africans retain their assets while paying less on their debt legally and with protection from creditors in a process called debt review.