Black Friday shoppers planning to treat themselves

Black Friday is a great chance to bag some discounts on Christmas presents - but many people are taking the chance to treat themselves too.

According to a poll by Rakuten, more than half of adults (51%) plan to make the most of the Black Friday sales this year.

And of these people, seven in ten (70%) intend to buy items for themselves - spending an average of £240 in the process.

Shoppers feel less guilty when prices are down

Interestingly, nearly a quarter (24%) of people say they’re more likely to treat themselves when there’s a sale on, as the discount makes them feel less guilty about spending money.

And more than one in five (22%) admit they can’t resist picking up something for themselves even if they’re meant to be buying for other people.

Black Friday shoppers have an eye on all sorts of items, in particular:

• clothes - 52%
• tech - 35%
• beauty products - 31%
• deals on experiences - 17%
• homeware - 14%
• discounted white goods - 13%

“Black Friday has evolved from being just about Christmas shopping to becoming a moment where people prioritise themselves too,” said Bola Sol, savings expert at Rakuten.

How are people going to pay for their Black Friday shopping?

Black Friday has become such a fixture of the calendar that many of us have been preparing for it for months.

In fact, the poll found that nearly one in five people (19%) have saved all year for the sales.

And these people have an average of £400 put aside to spend on Black Friday bargains.

Meanwhile, almost four in ten (37%) are setting a budget before going shopping, and 35% will use vouchers they’ve been holding on to.

“Gone are the days of panic splurges or buying for the sake of it,” Sol added.

“People want to feel confident that their money is being well spent.”

Don't blow your budget

With so many discounts around, it’s easy to end up spending more than you can afford and regret it later.

So we’ve put together some tips on how to make the most of Black Friday this year.

With just a little planning and thought, you can shop smart and enjoy all the great deals guilt-free.