Shopping expert reveals top tips for Black Friday

Black Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year and it's very nearly upon us.

The American phenomenon has made its way to British shores over the last few years and it's been growing ever since, even taking over the annual Boxing Day sales.

But, the question remains, are those incredibly low prices really worth fighting through a stampede for?%VIRTUAL-ArticleSidebar-black-friday%

%VIRTUAL-ArticleSidebar-shopping-guide%Shopping expert Brittney Levine spoke to InsideEdition about the discount day: "The biggest Black Friday secret is that I would not believe the hype."

She believes those great Black Friday deals might not be quite as good as you think they are after all.

She said: "A lot of big retailers are taking the manufacturers suggested retail prices and inflating them so that when Black Friday rolls around people think that they're getting a major, deep discount."

The reality is that procrastinators and those who take their time over purchases may actually save the most money.

Brittney recommends holding off until the week before Christmas because a lot of the time, big retailers will heavily discount products at this time to get the product off the shelves.

Another thing worth bearing in mind when braving the sales is whether you're getting value for money, is there a reason why this product has been so dramatically reduced?

If you're planning on battling the crowds tomorrow, Brittney advises that clothes are the most inflated items.

She says: "I would only suggest buying clothes if you see something for about 40% off."

You can also try your hand at a little bargaining on Black Friday. Check out whether the places you plan on shopping in have a price-match guarantee. If they do, make sure you take your smartphone with you and check the prices online before committing to buying anything.

If you can find it cheaper on another site or in a different shop online, show them at the checkout and you might be in line for a further discount.

Want to find out more about the best deals around this Black Friday? Check them all out here on AOL Money!