Get your HUKD on for Black Friday

While I’m not a firm favourite of the idea of yet another day dedicated to spending money, we’ve got to admit that HotUKDeals (HUKD) has continually saved us some dosh on the things we were already going to have to splash out cash on more than one occasion.

So when HUKD approached us to drop some hints and tips on how to save even more with them, we thought it was worth passing on that info.

Now some of them are just smart and common-sense ways of shopping, such as ‘do your research’: how on earth are you going to know if this is a good deal or if the item really is what you want if you don’t put a little time in beforehand? Others, are just as helpful. ‘Check for hidden costs’. How many times have you been bitten by a decent price on an item and then you find out that the initial cost didn’t include tax of some sort, and a hike on shipping and handling?

Some advice can be a little confusing if you don’t put it in context… There’s ‘be quick’ and ‘be patient’. I know, right? But it does make sense.

Last of all, and they haven’t mentioned it, but it seems like a simple no-brainer. Download the app! It’s available on the Google Play Store, on iOS, and on the Microsoft Store. How good is it?

Well, according to HUKD,

The new HotUKDeals app has been completely re-written to be more responsive, better looking with a new modern design and include more features, including enabling members to send and receive private messages and optionally get notified when a message has been received. The new app also allows members to browse content that they’ve loaded before, even when they’re offline, so they can easily access the deals they’re interested in.

They also put in work to make use of the extra real-estate in the Iphone6 and iPhone 6+:

Optimized for iPhone 6/6+ the new app also includes better activity updates on deals and merchants, so users never miss the content that matters to them.

All in all, I’d say it was worthwhile having the HUKD app installed, even if to do a quick comparison check before splurging the cash in store, or hitting up something like Amazon by default.

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HotUKDeals (HUKD) Black Friday tips

Do your research – During Black Friday it is tempting to buy items because of the exaggerated savings being advertised but sometimes these items can be of poor quality with merchants putting them on sale to clear stock. This isn’t always the case, so always check reviews before purchasing, especially for electrical items such as televisions and washing machines, to ensure the deal is worthwhile.

Don’t wait until Friday – Black Friday deals can start any time during the week before the event so keep an eye out for details of when and where the discounts will be.

Plan ahead – Think about what items you want to buy and find out if and where you can get them. To make sure you don’t miss the items you’re looking for you can set keyword alerts on the HotUKDeals app so you get the deals straight to your smartphone wherever you are.

Keep an eye out for hidden costs – Elevated savings are common during Black Friday but always check for hidden costs, such as shipping, which can reduce the discount.

Be quick – Some online deals will sell out in seconds, so be prepared and be quick!

Check delivery times – When purchasing Christmas presents online during Black Friday always check estimated delivery times so you know they will arrive in time.

Be patient – Everyone gets excited to receive items when they order a great deal online but after Black Friday some parcels may take a little bit longer to arrive than usual due to the huge number of people purchasing items. If you’re shopping in-store during the sales event be patient with staff who will be dealing with an increased number of shoppers.

Find extra savings (voucher stacking) – As well as offering a Black Friday discount retailers may have a code for free shipping or an extra 10% off. Search for these codes on deal sharing websites and forums to see if you can use them in conjunction with the original Black Friday discount to save even more money.

Pay securely – If you’re shopping online use a credit card or use PayPal.

Question the discount – Retailers sometimes increase the price of an item before a sales event to make the sale look better. Check deal threads on sites like HotUKDeals where deal savvy members will share their knowledge of sale prices and RRP’s to ensure you’re getting a good deal.

Check the retailer – Some savings will be for lesser-known retailers who may not be Google approved, so always check that you’re purchasing from a safe site. Check forums where people discuss retailers and customer experiences to ensure you don’t get caught out.