Black Friday ‘deals’ have been piling into my inbox, but I’m always rather cynical when it comes to all this Black Friday hype.   

Stores may advertise big savings to lure you in, but it’s no guarantee that buying on Black Friday means you’ll bag the best price.

Black Friday falls on 29th November this year, and as in recent years, lots of retailers are starting their sales early, and Amazon’s Black Friday sale has already kicked off.

But when it comes to the price tag, a whopping 95% of Black Friday ‘deals’ are cheaper, or the same price, after the sales, according to research from consumer group Which.  And price comparison site Idealo also found 9 out of 10 items on sale during last year’s Black Friday event were actually cheaper at other times of the year.

So here’s how to stay one step ahead of the hype when checking out those Black Friday ‘bargains’. 

Use Amazon’s price tracker 

Even if you’re not planning to buy on Amazon, worth using its price tracker tool to check the ‘best price’ of anything you’re planning to buy.

This handy tool monitors Amazon prices all year round, so it’s a quick and easy way to see what its ‘cheapest’ price has been over the year and give you an idea whether a Black Friday deal really is a good price. 

Price match

Stores don’t offer discounts to be generous; it’s their chance to shift stuff that’s not selling.   So it can be hard to compare ‘like for like’ if the tech gadgets on sale aren’t the latest models or are less familiar names.   

So worth comparing prices on a couple of price comparison websites.

Shop around now

If there’s something specific you’re after; shop around now to see who’s selling it and the current price.  This way you’ll know if the deal you see on Black Friday really is the best one.

Forget voucher codes

Bad news with Black Friday, (along with any other sales), is that you can’t usually use any discount vouchers to get ‘double discount’. 

So in some cases a Black Friday discount may only bring the price down the same level as you’d pay a week later with a 20% voucher code.   

Check returns policies

Over half of us admit to splurging on ‘impulse buys’ last Black Friday according to Protect Your Bubble, when we dented our bank balance to the tune of £145 a time.

So if you buy something you later regret, worth knowing if you can take it back. 

Stores aren’t obliged to dish out refunds if you change your mind, and this applies at any time of year, not just Black Friday.  But that said, many do have generous ‘returns’ policies so always check before buying so you’re not out of pocket.

Taking a trip to the Red Centre, the red dusty spiritual heart of Australia and home to the mighty Uluru, is beyond amazing. Also known to tourists as Ayers Rock, it got this name when William Gosse, the first non-Aboriginal person to see it back in 1873 ‘named’ it after Sir Henry Ayers, who was Chief Secretary of South Australia at the time.

The climb is closed

As the sun set over Uluru the climb has now closed for the final time. Making the dangerous scramble to the top has sadly become something of a tourist sport over the years, and resulted in 37 deaths.

Climbing has always been a subject of great controversy and debate. And many tourists ignored the signs asking them not to climb and explaining the reasons why. I’ve been lucky enough to go there twice and have never climbed on either of my trips. Personally I’ve always felt it’s disrespectful to the Anangu people, who are the traditional landowners, and for whom Uluru holds great cultural significance.

It’s a truly amazing place to visit and there’s so many better ways to experience the wonder of Uluru so here’s my tips to get the most from your trip.

Plan your trip

If you’re only going to be there once, you don’t want to rock up and miss the sunset or find you’re fighting for camera space.

Lots of tour companies organise both sunset and sunrise trips but do your research before booking to find out where you’ll be dropped as some viewing areas can get crowded. This one’s beyond the National Park, but if you’re staying for a couple of nights, and want another view, it’s worth the short walk to Imalung Lookout for a sunset view and if you’re lucky you could be the only one there.

Tour tips

You can do the whole fancy coach thing, where you pay posh prices to jump aboard a big bus and get a glass of fizz at sunset, before being herded back on the bus the second the sun’s gone down.

Going solo and hiring a car or going on a small group tour is the way to go in my book. We went on a trip with the Rock Tour, and were still in the middle of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park long after sunset when everyone else had gone. Just eight of us, hanging out, cooking dinner from the back of our van and feeling we were the only people on the planet with Uluru for company.

Do the base walk

I don’t think you can take a trip to Uluru without seeing it close up. This is when the sheer size of it really hits you and you can see the caves, paintings and the Mutitjulu waterhole. The ‘base walk’ is ten kilometres all the way round and it’s an amazing experience as after leaving our guide, we didn’t see a soul for most of the walk. Do this in the early morning or early evening due to the heat! And take plenty of water!

The sky’s the limit

You can get a pretty good view of Uluru from the air if you’re taking an internal flight in, or out, of tiny Connellan airport, but for the ultimate experience hop in a helicopter.

Ok so it’s not cheap but I reckon it’s well worth every last Aussie dollar. Ayers Rock Helicopters do several trips from $150 AD.

Beyond Uluru

So many tourists think of Uluru as the one sight to see, but don’t even think about leaving until you’ve taken a trip to Kata Tjuta, (the Olgas), where you can do the short Walpa Gorge walk or the longer more strenuous Valley of the Winds Walk.

And well worth making time for a detour if you’re heading north, as Kings Canyon is a must especially if you’re planning to head up the Stuart Highway to Alice Springs, which is a five hour road trip away.

Way back at the start of September I decided to challenge myself to save some cash, and the environment, by wearing stuff that was already hanging in my wardrobe or borrowing, or buying, preloved or second hand clothes.

Oxfam had just mounted a big campaign to raise awareness of the huge amount of clothing that ends up in landfill, a massive 11 million items, each week! Now I’m not suggesting you should never buy new stuff, but as as I’ve always been a big fan of charity shops along with ebay, where I regularly pick up great second hand finds I thought I’d see if I could make it through a month without buying ‘new’.

So here’s how I got on……..and as promised I’m being honest!

Week one

Ok now this week I was working from home most days so any temptation in the form of nipping past the shops was pretty much out of the way, though I did pop in to both the Dogs Trust and Scope charity shops while I was passing through my local town. Didn’t buy anything this time round but have picked up some bargains there in the past.

My daily wardrobe this week was mainly jeans coupled with working my way through my existing t-shirt collection. The one above was originally from Gap but I picked it up at the Princess Alice Hospice Shop in Richmond, for £4 not long ago. It’s one of my favourite charity shops and always pop in when I’m in the area as often found some lovely things there.

Must admit that I do love a spot of shopping from Esprit so it was a bit tough not to have a sneaky peek on their website, especially as they’d sent me a £20 voucher against the new season stuff.

Week two

I’m also a big fan of Mary’s Living & Giving Shops. Set up by retail guru Mary Portas, these boutique style shops sell top quality second hand clothing to support Save The Children. I’ve been in several of their shops including Kew, Primrose Hill and Richmond and did pop in for a quick browse while in London.

Had a few meetings in London this week so I wore a mix of second hand including a John Rocha skirt that I picked up on ebay a while back, along with a jacket and t-shirt borrowed from my daughter and a few dresses that I’ve had in my wardrobe for a few years.

Week three

This week I was off on my holidays!

Now while I usually have my holiday togs and beach wear ready packed in my cabin case, I have been known to make a few last minute purchases at the airport, generally boosting the bank balance of Monsoon.

Well this time round, I’ll be honest, I did weaken and wander in and even started to come up with the rather sneaky idea that if I spotted something and persuaded my husband to buy it for me, then would this count as ‘cheating’?

But the Gatwick version was pretty small, so without too much of a tussle I genuinely, (honestly!), came out with a zero spend.

Week four

Only a few days of the month left and time to showcase one of my more recent ebay bargains that I wore for a work meeting. I loved this dress from Hobbs when I first spotted it in a sale in John Lewis earlier in the year. Would have snapped it up on the spot but sadly the only size was a wee bit too tight…..

But not long afterwards I found it on ebay in the right size, only worn once and in excellent condition, and bought it saving around 70% off the original price.

I love going to the theatre but tickets can be pricey so here’s 5 easy ways to save money and enjoy the show.

Tickets for 10p

Yes really! You can bag 10p tickets at the Royal Court Theatre in London. A limited number of these go on sale just one hour before the performance. But at this price, you’ve got to be happy to stand, and may not get the best view in the house! But at 10p for a night out, it’s beyond a bargain!

Save up to 60% on tickets

If you want to book in advance, you can still bag discounts of up to 60% with Theatremonkey.com I’m a big fan of the site and used it several times with great seats, (and savings!), in both the stalls and circle at different theatres.

Wait for the tour

Wait till big name shows go on tour and catch them at your local theatre to save on seat prices. Sign up for advance emails to find out what’s coming your way.

Swap theatres for pub gardens

It’s still summer so enjoy outdoor theatre. Fuller’s pubs are hosting ‘Shakespeare in the Garden’ across 30 pubs with peformances of both the Merry Wives of Windsor and Romeo & Juliet with tickets just over a tenner.

Buy a coffee and watch the show

Pop into the brilliant Theatre Cafe in St. Martin’s Lane in London, buy a coffee and watch the show as the cast of some of the West End shows often pop by for performances.

I’ve just got back from a trip to Vienna which is one super stunning city.

I hopped on an easyJet flight, booked an Airbnb and spent four days checking out the sights, stopping for coffee and strudel and snapping my way around the city.

So here’s my five ways to see the sights and save money.

Tickets to the Opera for 10 Euros

I love this place, not only is it absolutely amazing to look at, both inside and out, but there’s a way in for every pocket and purse.

If you want a proper sit down ticket then a night at the Wiener Staatsoper, (Vienna State Opera House), can mean shelling out from 150 Euros upwards. Tickets get booked up months in advance and some can even top 300 Euros.

But standby, (quite literally!), for a big moneysaving secret, as you can get tickets for just 10 Euros a time. A limited number of standing tickets are released 80 minutes before each performance so you’ll need to get there early and it’s strictly one ticket per person.

Doing a backstage tour is a great way to see behind the scenes of this amazing building. We did this, it costs 9 Euros and lasts around 40 minutes and you’ll get to go up the Grand Staircase, see the Marble Hall and get a view from the best seats in the house. And even found a mini model of one of my other favourite Opera Houses in the gift shop too!

Free day out at Schonbrunn Palace

This has got to be one of the cherries on the cake, and when it comes to Viennese cakes, we’re talking Sachertorte and Strudel.

Schonbrunn was a summer holiday home for the Habsburg dynasty and is now a Unesco World Heritage Site.

There’s plenty of ticket options from 16 Euros upwards if you want to go into the Palace. And worth booking in advance. You don’t save money this way but you can save 3- 4 hours in queue time!

But my top tip is to head for the park and gardens first. They’re open from 6.30am during the summer and totally free and we’re not talking a small back yard here.

The park and gardens make for a great day out even if you don’t go into the Palace with fountains, statues, manicured lawns and shaded walkways and worth a trip to the Gloriette for great views over Vienna.

Explore Danube Island

Donauinsel, also known as Danube Island is an oasis of calm and a great way to see another side of Vienna. It’s just a few stops on the U-bahn from the centre of the Old Town. Take the U1 line and hop off at Donauinsel station to enjoy beaches, footpaths, cycle trails and some great views of the Danube.

You can stop at one of the many bars or cafes or pack a picnic. As I mentioned in my quick vlog you can pick up fresh food from the food stalls in the Naschmarkt first. My personal favourite is ‘Kaseland’ – aka ‘Cheese Country’ for the ultimate cheeseboard.

Ways to get around

Many of the major sights are around the Ringstrasse which is the main boulevard that circles the old town. It’s around 3 miles so you can walk or hop on a tram.

We used the underground, or U-bahn to get across the city as it’s quick and easy to use. I reckon it’s worth investing in a 24 hour transport pass which covers the bus, train, tram and U-bahn. Costs 8 Euros and as a single ticket costs 2 Euros 40 cents, you only need to make 4 trips to save money. Or you can also buy a 48 or 72 hour version.

Save on the sights

Unless you’re planning to stay forever, you’ll need to pick and choose your sights as you’ll have a hard job to see the lot in a few days.

One of my favourites is the State Hall in the Austrian National Library.

It houses over 200,000 books and the most beautifully decorated domed ceiling I’ve ever seen. Costs 8 Euros to get in, but I think it’s worth every cent.

The Palace of Justice is another impressive building just a short walk from Volkstheater underground stop.

It’s totally free to get in here, but it’s a place of work and not a ‘tourist attraction’, so you’ll need to go through security if you want a look inside. But do check the opening times as it’s not open at weekends.

The pound is going down faster against the Dollar and Euro than your first holiday beer so here’s five ways to boost the power of your holiday pound.

Pre-order currency

Planning pays off. Go online and pre-order your currency to bag better rates. I regularly use TravelMoneyMax.com from MoneySavingExpert.com to find the the best deals and then collect your cash or get it delivered to your door.

Ordering currency in advance usually always means a better deal than bowling up at a high street bank or travel agent to change your money. And leaving it last minute until the airport can mean some of the worst rates so why waste your holiday cash?

Have a whip round

The more money you exchange, the better the rate is the general rule.

Rates typically go up once you hit the £500 mark. So if you’re not planning to take this much yourself, pool your holiday cash with a friend, partner, neighbour, or whoever you’re going on holiday with, as this way you can all bag a better rate.

Pack the right plastic

There’s no ‘one size fits all’ with debit and credit cards. So that very same card you use on the high street may charge sky high rates if you produce it abroad.

Check charges with your bank or card company. Do this several weeks before you go so you’ve still got time to apply for a better value card.

The Santander Zero, Halifax Clarity and Tandem credit cards are among those that don’t add on fees for using cash machines abroad or charge more for spending. Plus there’s a bit of a bonus with the Tandem card as it pays 0.5% cashback on every £1 spent, both in the UK and abroad.

Go local

Always pay in the local currency. Lots of shops and restaurants will offer to switch the bill back to Sterling if you’re paying by card.

Can seem the easy option, but you’ll pay more this way as it’s the shop or restaurant that sets the rate, not your bank or card company.

Known as ‘Dynamic Currency Conversion’ this can bump up your bill by around 5% every time, so just say no.

Switch it back

Bringing home spare cash? Check if the place you bought it from offers a ‘buy back’ deal. This means you can swap your money back at the same rate.

Or trade with friends or family if they’re heading off to the same place.

Most places won’t take coins. Donate them to charity on board the flight home as most airlines have collections, or with some currencies you can change them in Coinstar machines in supermarkets. Not the best deal on the planet as you’ll lose 11.9% in commission but better than nothing.