How I will be doing black friday and cyber monday - Hint they are very similar

​      One of the biggest shopping events of the year is coming up this week, and while its not as big over here in ol’England as America it is still the time to get in the spirit of thanks…. consumerism and capitalism. While the idea of being trampled while trying to snag a deal is nothing but awful this is still an amazing weekend to grab some pre-Christmas goodies with out blowing your pay check, or in my case blowing my pay check but at least getting more for it.  So here are some of the stores that will be participating in Black Friday and Cyber Monday, as well as tips and tricks before the spectacle.

Friday
         I will be working on Friday during the day, god help me, so I won’t be prepared to do some pre 10am shopping before hand. However, if you are one of the strong ones ready to brave the morning then good on you. The best deals will be snatched up in the first few hours of stores opening, so, if you really do want to make the best of this holiday than it will defiantly be worth getting up early.  One of the most important things to do Thursday night is to make a plan -- map it out, prioritize, and grab a buddy. Knowing where you want to go and what you want to get will make the day go much smoother. Of course there is always time to browse and find new things but with the crowds you may not be feeling a leisurely shopping day. The buddy system will also make or break you. Having one person stand in a line while the other looks around and then switching off could literally save you hours in the long haul. Not being next to your friend the whole time while shopping will also makes for some fun fashion shows after the day, with a glass of champagne. Lastly in this day-and-age you can completely skip this hustle and spend the morning in bed online shopping, with a mimosa this time. 

​     I will be sneaking in a bit of shopping down Oxford Street on my lunch break. So here are some of the best deals that London has to offer for the day and where you might find me grabbing for boots.

Top Shop
*insider note* they’re planning for it to be big and there will massive deals. Specially opening at 7am on Friday but sale happening all weekend long. 
 
Apple
If you’ve wanted to get the newest IPhone 6s but haven’t made the move yet here is your chance! Do expect crowds around the apple store, the more exclusive and expensive the item the harder it will be to get.
 
Amazon
Though I was saving online stores till Cyber Monday, Amazon is launching they’re biggest Black Friday event to date, Lightning deals. Starting midnight there will be new deals every ten minutes on the site, mental.
 
 Selfridges
The high-end store will be participating in the event on Friday with some one day only vouchers. Probably don’t expect for there to be 5 quid bins here but it may be the prefect time to get the designer item on your wish list for a bit less.
 
Adidas
It’s time to join the Stan Smith and Superstars ban wagon; there is no excuse at this point.
 
Marks and Spenser’s
Last year marked the first year that the massive store participated in the event, with deals on furniture and food up to 30%, not massive but something. With the day being extremely successful and now only growing bigger there is hope for even better sales at the store.
 
New Look
The fashion brand is advertising for big sales, including ‘cyber week’, which has already started, with 40% off many items. 

Cyber Monday
 
       Cyber Monday is probably my top shopping event of the year; I get to stay in bed, in my sweats, with a cup of tea and save tons by just clicking. Shipping always gets you when you’re online shopping but one of the main things that sites offer this day is free shipping, or free shipping over a certain amount. My main tip is to pick out what you hope to buy well before Monday morning. While there is a chance that items may not be on sale there is a greater chance that they will sell out. Online shopping can also take a lot more time than in real life, you have to think more about how a dress might look when your unable to try it on. On Sunday night my laptop will have a wifi-slowing amount of tabs open with full shopping carts ready to go.  While Cyber Monday won’t quite be Yeezy Season on any site things do sell out, especially sizes, so get your clicking fingers ready. And here are my top sites.

Miss Guided
        I feel very British starting with this site. Miss Guided is already known for having great deals, with so much already less than ten pounds, so be ready for some crazy steals you could pay for in change. The site has a count down page leading up to the event with the video (above) of customers “loosing their shit at sales”. Load your shopping carts up and join this count down for sure.

Nasty Gal
      Nasty Gal is one of my favorite online retailers, just want to be a girl boss, and their cyber sales are always my first stop. If their new Vintage Chanel line goes on sale, while unlikely, it will feel like Christmas morning. 

Aritzia
         The true Vancouver girl in me comes out with this one. I live in Aritzia clothing and their Cyber Monday is as good as the annual warehouse sale without the freezing lines along the sea wall. And they do ship to the UK, as Amanda on the live chat told me,  so I’ve been saving up my wish list for this day. 

American Apparel
        With huge rumors that the store may be coming to a close soon I am calling this Cyber Monday to be huge for them. The brand has always been big on having more online deals than in store and on their website Cyber Monday is being more advertised than black Friday, so Ill be saving American Apparel shopping till Monday.

Urban Outfiters
       Urban Outfiters is one of those store that have a lot of items that are exclusive to their online store, especially home wear; which is so fun but pricy. My specific grab I’m hoping to get from Urban will to be the Impossible Instant Lab Universal Photo Printer. While I don’t know if it will be on sale, I have my hopes up as I’ve had my eyes on it for quite some time, and it is an online product. 

​With that let the Black Friday rampaging and Cyber Monday ‘cyber chasing’ begin. Good luck to everyone and remember to stay in the festive spirit and get some gift shopping done for others.