Have your say! Do you save your Christmas shopping until Black Friday?

Black Friday is just around the corner, and with retailers slashing prices left, right and centre, Christmas shopping season is in full swing. A mere twenty years ago, the American shopping extravaganza was virtually unheard of on this side of the pond, but it has since become a festive fixture.

Have your say! Are you looking forward to browsing on Black Friday? Have you already picked something up from a sales event? Has it been a good addition to the festive calendar? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.

The advent of Black Friday in the UK has transformed it into one of the busiest shopping days of the year. In the 2010s, it was synonymous with chaotic supermarket stampedes and trolleys overflowing with half-price televisions.

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These days, however, it's predominantly an online event, with many retailers extending their deals over a week or even longer. The traditional Boxing Day sales are increasingly being eclipsed by this relatively recent American import.

While it's easy to get swept up in the thrill of limited-time offers, it's crucial to take a step back and do your homework before entering your card details. Consumer watchdog Which? has cautioned that many so-called "big deals" may not offer as much value for money as they appear to.

Which? conducted research into the Black Friday deals offered by eight major retailers last year and discovered that 9 out of 10 were either priced the same or even cheaper at other times throughout the year. On occasion, these retailers were marking products with "original" prices that surpassed any previous listing on their website, simply to exaggerate the impression of the discount being offered.

Moreover, there appeared to be a deceleration in the growth of Black Friday last year, as household spending pressures mount amidst mounting living costs and inflation across the UK. The consumer champion Martin Lewis and his MoneySavingExpert team annually remind shoppers not to get swept away by the "hype", stressing the importance of considering both the need and affordability of their potential purchases.

Nonetheless, having several sales events running at the same time can be beneficial, and with a bit of effort, you could grab a bargain that's right for your budget.

Have your say! Are you looking forward to browsing on Black Friday? Have you already picked something up from a sales event? Has it been a good addition to the festive calendar? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.