How to spot a genuine Black Friday deal: the three questions I ask before buying anything

A good Black Friday deal should save you money on something you actually wanted to buy, not tempt you into spending more than you planned. With discounts appearing everywhere in the run-up to Christmas, it can be hard to tell a genuine bargain from a price that only looks impressive.

According to a recent report there are growing questions about how genuine some of those offers really are. TikTok, Amazon and John Lewis have declined to appear before the Business, Innovation and Science and Trade Committee for a hearing on the mis-selling of consumer items ahead of Black Friday (November 27).

MPs are looking at concerns including inflated previous prices, misleading discounts and online shopping scams. During the hearing, Which? said that in its monitoring of 175 deals across eight retailers, 83% of products had been available for the same price or cheaper at other times of the year.

So how do you make sure you're getting a real bargain? My advice is to keep things simple and ask yourself three questions before you click buy.

What do you actually want to buy?

This is the question I would ask before looking at a single Black Friday offer. Are you saving up for a new television, need a winter coat, or have your eye on a particular beauty gadget? Make a note of the item, the price you'd be happy to pay and the features you really need. Don't let the fear of missing out persuade you to spend money on something you don't really want.

Where are you shopping?

This is particularly important in the run-up to Christmas, when scam websites and fake shopping adverts can become more convincing. Before entering your card details, make sure you're buying from a reputable retailer and that the website address is the official one. Be wary of prices that look too good to be true. If you're unsure, it's better to leave the page and shop elsewhere.

When is the best time to buy?

Just because a retailer has labelled something a Black Friday deal doesn't mean it's at its cheapest price. Check how much the item has cost over the past few months and whether it has been reduced before. Amazon offers a price history feature on eligible product pages, allowing shoppers to look back over one month, three months or the past year.

Set yourself a budget, make a shopping list and stick to it. A genuine bargain is something you wanted, bought from a trustworthy retailer, at a price that really is lower than usual. If an offer doesn't tick those boxes, it's probably not worth the rush.

Natalie Dixon is our Lifestyle reporter, if you liked this article and want to read more about lifestyle you can follow Natalie Dixon on X here.