The festive season is almost upon us, and with it comes Christmas specials and the ever-anticipated Black Friday!
Around the world, many savvy shoppers are on the edge of their seats awaiting this year’s sale. Especially when it comes to combining two of life’s greatest joys: discount shopping and travel! With Expat Explore, you can look forward to browsing amazing Black Friday travel deals. It’s a great time to do some early Christmas shopping, or grab items and experiences that you otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford.
It’s also a fantastic opportunity to plan your next adventure!
Here’s a quick rundown covering this important date on the retail calendar. We will take you through the history of Black Friday, and give you tips on how you can shop safely and smartly. First, let’s start with answering some of the obvious FAQs:
Black Friday falls on the last Friday in November, following Thanksgiving in America.
This year (2021), Black Friday falls on November 26th.
Black Friday history is quite interesting. There are lots of myths about where the term originated. Some are quite dark, and others are more confusing.
Fortunately, myth-debunking site, Snopes has found the origin:
It turns out the term was coined by the old Philadelphia Police Department’s traffic squad. The officers never looked forward to the traffic jam on the Friday after Thanksgiving. This is when everyone would hit the stores to stock up for Christmas.
Holidaymakers would also arrive from out of town on the day. Imagine the chaos on the roads with grid-lock traffic everywhere! That is why the cops started referring to it as Black Friday. The retail sector picked up on it and ran with it.
Every year, retailers run exclusive offers on their products and services. This time of year is seen as the beginning of the festive season rush.
It’s a win-win for stores and shoppers. Shoppers save some money and businesses get feet through the door. What’s on offer will differ from one store to the next.
In some American states, it has been named a national holiday. This includes Arkansas, Florida, Texas, and Wisconsin. However, many American citizens take a day off work to make a long weekend of Thanksgiving and to shop for Black Friday holiday deals.
For the rest of the world, you’ll likely need to take a day’s leave if you want to do some Black Friday shopping. Now that’s commitment!
The actual time of a Black Friday sale is usually no more than 24 hours, or while stocks last. So, if you’re shopping for new luggage, clothing, or tech accessories, best you get to them before someone else does. That’s what causes the notorious Black Friday mad rush in stores.
However, if you bag Black Friday specials online such as a travel deal or a service voucher, for example; a massage or even holiday accommodation, these usually last much longer than a day. Generally, you’ll pay for the deal on the day, and then have a specific time in which to use it.
Here are a few things to add to your Black Friday travel shopping list that will help curb your wanderlust:
If you’ve heard of Cyber Monday, you may be wondering what this has to do with Black Friday.
Cyber Monday follows after Black Friday. In 2021, it will fall on 29 November.
This is the day when sales are launched exclusively on eCommerce stores. It gives online retailers a chance to offer deals. In doing so, it also allows customers the opportunity to purchase without waiting in long queues or fighting off other shoppers.
Cyber Monday has become increasingly popular as the online shopping space has grown. Shopping for specials on this day means you can grab all your deals during your lunch break at work, all from the comfort of your home or office.
Cyber Monday travel deals are looking particularly exciting at the moment. Now’s the time to score an affordable holiday to one of your bucket-list destinations.
So, how can you make sure that the Black Friday 2021 travel deal frenzy doesn’t pass you by? Here are a few ways you can keep up-to-date on the situation, and make sure your Black Friday strategy is foolproof.
Many retailers are aware of how eagerly their deals are anticipated. So, they start newsletter sign-ups in advance. This means you’ll be notified once the sales go live and are able to add your favourites to your wishlist. Some will even offer early access or discounts to anyone who has signed up.
While you want to make the most out of cheap deals and never-again specials, you also don’t want to over-do it. It’s a good idea to have a list of things that you need or want before Black Friday begins. That way, you won’t be tempted into buying a horse and carriage simply because it’s 50% off!
Make sure that what you think is a deal, is a good deal. Just because it’s Black Friday, doesn’t necessarily mean that everything on offer is priced lower than usual. This is where doing your research beforehand and knowing what you want to buy will come in handy. Check the usual price beforehand and be sure that you’re getting a good deal.
While it is an exciting event, full of price drops and huge savings, there are unfortunately some opportunistic people who try to take advantage of shoppers.
Here are a few tips to keep your hard-earned cash safe when shopping this festive season:
These are just a few of the ways to stay safe during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The most important thing is to listen to your gut and keep your head on your shoulders.
Whichever specials may be on your wishlist, we suggest you mark your calendar for this year’s Black Friday! We have a feeling it’s going to be a big one, full of exciting sales. Just make sure you have a budget planned, and that you enjoy your shopping spree wisely. Done right, Black Friday can be the start to a joyous festive season. Good luck!
Related: We have our very own Black Friday campaign! This is exciting news for globe-trotters on a budget. Cash in on Expat Explore travel deals like never before.
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