Black Friday and Cyber Monday: 13.8 million Aussies prepared to shop

• • • • $3.9 billion will be spent this November
      • Aussies to fork out the most on travel deals
      • How to make the most of Black Friday and Cyber Monday

26 November 2019, Sydney, Australia – Millions of Aussies are ready to pounce on markdowns for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, according to Finder, Australia's most visited comparison site.

A Finder survey of 1,003 respondents shows 71% of Australians – equivalent to 13.8 million people – plan on shopping this Black Friday (29 November) and Cyber Monday (2 December).

The research shows Aussies will spend a combined total of $3.9 billion this November on everything from clothing and cosmetics to gadgets and travel.

Aussies will be spending the most on travel, forking out $130 on average. Surprisingly, this is followed by food and alcohol, where Aussies are set to spend $127.

Clothes and shoes round out the top three deals and discounts Aussies intend to make the most of, spending on average $93.

Kate Browne, personal finance expert at Finder, says Black Friday is a great way to get your Christmas shopping done for a steal.

"Black Friday has been known to crash websites so it's best to know what you want and to get in early. There's nothing worse than adding an item to your cart only to realise they no longer have it in your size.

"Some brands have already started their Black Friday sale, so sign up to your favourite stores' newsletter to be the first in the know."

Finder analysis of ABS data also shows that there has been a dramatic increase in retail spend during November over the last 10 years – a jump of 42%.

Gen X are the most responsible consumers, spending less than other generations across all product areas.

In comparison, Gen Z are spending the most across every category, splurging on travel, clothes, shoes and food and alcohol.

"Don't forget to shop around. There's often some serious competition in the fashion and electronics space so you might find a better deal on the same product by comparing different retailers.

"Just be sure to factor in the total cost including shipping. Some retailers will include or throw in shipping for free, while others might add it when you're checking out," Browne said.

Finder will be rounding up the best Black Friday deals at https://www.findershopping.com.au/black-friday-deals

How to make the most of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals

• Keep an eye out. Many retailers will launch their deals before Black Friday, so be prepared to start shopping earlier
• Check the shipping. A lot of retailers from the USA who are offering deals might not ship to Australia directly. You can use Australia Post's ShopMate service, which provides you with a US postal address to get items shipped to, before delivering them to Australia.
• Stop and compare. It's tempting to buy the first discounted item you see, but it might be cheaper elsewhere. It pays to quickly check and see if another retailer is offering the same product for a lower price.