Put aside your excitement about the upcoming Black Friday sales for a second and think about it.

Most people go into their Black Friday shopping with some idea of what they want, but end up on the other side of the chaotic spend-fest with a bunch of stuff that often ends up gathering dust around the house.

To put it differently, once the retail-therapy high wears off, you’ve spent plenty of money and all you have to show for it is a soon-to-be-outdated piece of technology and a year’s supply of unicorn onesies – sound familiar?

The biggest problem? You’re buying stuff you don’t need, which is being flogged from the supplier because the stock has gone stale, in the hope that you’ll be won over by what looks like a whopping discount.

So, to help you on your merry way to making the most out of your shopping experience, here are some tips and tricks from Business Insider.

Stick To Brands That You Know And Trust

Don’t be tempted to buy a knock-off item just because the deal seems better – it’s going to cost you in the long run.

For example, rather buy a certified Apple product from a certified Apple dealer, that comes with all of the quality that you associate with the brand, than lose cash on something that’s going to break in a few months.

Don’t Just Look For The Lowest Prices

Instead of looking for the lowest prices, you should be looking for the greatest value. Retailers will try and distract you with numbers and flashy ads. Don’t get tricked into buying something just because it’s cheap – quality wins every time.

Don’t Buy Outdated Technology

Somewhere in the back of your mind, you know that half the stuff you come across on sale is stock that needs to get shifted because it’s about to become obsolete. Rather pay a bit more for tech that’s still in the game, than fall for a super low price and end up with a very expensive tech paperweight in a few months time.

If it all seems like a lot more work than you bargained for, don’t stress. We wouldn’t just drop the above truth bombs and then leave you to figure it out on your own.

To get you going on some responsible, savvy shopping, here’s a sneak peek at a good deal coming your way on Black Friday.

Digicape, South Africa’s largest independent Apple retailer, only deals in brands that you can trust. Their prices are also more than competitive on the latest, most up-to-date tech.

Here’s a little sneak peek of what’s going to be on sale this Friday:

The above is just a teaser, so make sure that you check in on the Digicape website during the week, and on Friday morning. to see the full range of what’s available.

If the banner below is any indication, there should be discounts on some high-profile tech goodies in your future.

Remember – shop smart, not hard, people. And have a happy Black Friday.

[source:businessinsider]