How you could stack your savings this Black Friday and Cyber Monday

You know the scenario all too well - you open your browser, find the page you bookmarked a week earlier and head to it. The item you’d earmarked is available for purchase… and at a handy discount too. Plus, there’s time left on the sale, so you add it to your cart and purchase the deal.

Yes!

You’re now feeling the satisfaction of completing a purchase on a much-needed item at a great price.

So it goes for many of us when the annual tradition rolls around once again: Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It’s one of the biggest Aussie sales, along with Boxing Day and EOFY (End of Financial Year). And with more retailers than ever offering a range of great deals, it’s shaping up for another huge year.

Here’s how to best prepare yourself so you can stack your savings with us this Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Like a bunch of modern traditions, Black Friday originated in the United States. Always the first Friday after Thanksgiving (the fourth Thursday each November), it’s been a major shopping event for decades. Though in-person Black Friday sales are famous for sometimes getting out of hand, the custom has still managed to spread right around the globe.

And that’s no different for us in Australia. Shoppers are expected to spend an average of $324 during Black Friday and Cyber Monday – a 43% increase from last year. 

 If previous years are any guide, we could see discounts from most popular brands, usually ranging from 20% to 50% off.   Major retailers that have offered Black Friday deals in past years include Harvey Norman, JB-Hi-Fi, Kmart and Big W. 

Get ready for this year's edition

With the big shopping days fast approaching, being prepared is the name of the game. In 2025, Black Friday falls on 28 November and Cyber Monday on 1 December, with most retailers running their sales events over that four-day window. However, many stores run deals well in advance of these dates. 

If you’re taking more than just a quick glance at what’s on offer this year, it’s a good idea to note down a budget… and try to stick to it. Though it can be tempting to get taken away by a ripper of a deal, a budget can help keep you from going off the deep end.

Combine that with a proper shopping list and you’ll be in business. Only write down the things you’re keenest on, or the things you really need. And it always pays to remember that a deal is only good if it’s useful to you.

We've probably all fallen victim to it: we see something that's heavily discounted and swept up in the moment, we purchase it. But it wasn't something we actually wanted (or needed). And suddenly we have a magazine subscription we never use, a book we'll never read or a jumper we never wear. Having a list will help keep you on track and on budget, and focused on the items most important to you.

Don't forget other upcoming shopping events like Christmas, either. More and more these days, people are taking care of their Christmas shopping during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, using the heavy discounts to save where they can. You could do the same – buy your gifts early, get ahead of the curve and you could save a pretty penny in the meantime.

Last step is to get your research in, bookmark some websites and set yourself reminders for the big days so you don’t forget.

Smartrewards - you could stack your savings

Our Smartrewards program offers discounts at more than a hundred different retailers. 

You could take advantage by purchasing discounted eGift cards from a variety of stores (including JB Hi-Fi, Myer and Amazon). You could then use those gift cards to pay for items during Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. 

And there you have it. You could potentially stack your savings through discounted Smartrewards eGift cards and a few savvy Black Friday purchases. 

Discover the benefits available to you – log into your online salary packaging account here.