Consumer Corner: How to have a successful Black Friday

Of course there will be bargains on Black Friday but there will also be retailers looking for ways to package up items as good deals when they are nothing of the sort — here are some ways to make sure you are clever about your spending activity this year

Staff label and package items in the on-site dispatch hall inside one of Britain's largest Amazon warehouses in Dunfermline, Fife, as the online shopping giant gears up for the Christmas rush and the forthcoming Black Friday sales.

To truly prepare for a successful Black Friday it is important to go back to its origins. The term ‘Black Friday’ originated in the US in the 1950s and was no doubt coined by clever marketing folk who saw an opportunity for shops to make money in the pre-Christmas spending panic. Sure there are bargains to be had but ultimately the people who benefit the most from Black Friday are retailers. It is such a massive shopping extravaganza now that you have to protect yourself and your money before diving right into the madness of it all.

There is no doubt there will be bargains on Black Friday. That is what it is all about — and who doesn’t love a bargain? However, there will also be retailers looking for ways to package up items as Black Friday deals when they are not really good deals at all. That is why as a consumer you have to be clever about your spending activity on Black Friday.