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Black Friday - November 23 - is on hand and experts share some sound advice with consumers gearing up to find a good deal.
Kevin Tucker, CEO of PriceCheck, also encouraged shoppers to act responsibly, but added that "when deals are as good as they are on Black Friday, sometimes you just can't help yourself".
Vera Nagtegaal, executive head of Hippo.co.za, says it’s important to have a plan in place. It helps to get a better idea of how much you can spend. You can also see how much you will need to keep for January.
"The plan must be realistic, otherwise it’s doomed to fail," says Nagtegaal.
In her view, the prudent thing to do would be to prepare for the various sales events already months in advance – especially because many of them have now become a fixture on the South African shopping calendar.
Julie-Anne Walsh, chief marketing officer at Takealot.com says most online sales start as the clock strikes midnight. So, set your alarm for 23:50, make sure you have data and your Wi-Fi isn't past its cap. By the time the rest of the world wakes up, you could have done your shopping already.
She says prices may change on goods for Black Friday, but the goods will already be there. Go online, create your wish list in advance and then, when the sale starts, quickly go to your list, see which items are marked down enough and press "checkout" to beat your shopping competitors to the bargain.
Brett Cameron of Old Mutual Rewards says, while making the most of Black Friday specials can be a savvy way to save money, it is very important to stay focused on buying only what you really need and knowing what counts as a saving.
"Resist being swept along by the marketing frenzy and don't justify a purchase just because it's on sale. Be strategic on Black Friday: go in with a realistic plan and budget, and stick to them," says Cameron.
"Make long-term financial wellbeing part of your everyday thinking and join a rewards programme that helps you resist temptation and rewards you for improving your financial health."
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