Black Friday is just around the corner so it's a great time to start thinking about the creative tools you might want to get a good deal on. The peak trading period often brings heavy discounts on creative goodies, and we are here to make sure you find what you need at the best possible price.

We've got some top tips for grabbing a bargain during this shopper's Shangri-la, but before we get going, you'll want to bookmark our Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2019 page. Over there you'll find all the details of when the event kicks off, plus all the insider info on the expected deals this year.

1. Save the date

Black Friday traditionally falls on Friday directly after Thanksgiving, which means this year it will fall on 29 November, and Cyber Monday on 2 December. That said, recently the entire month of November has been laced with great deals, with retailers starting to drop prices earlier each year. Amazon Black Friday, for example, always seems to kick off early, and for 2019 we expect virtually every day in the month of November to have a Black Friday flavor in the Amazon world.

2. Use Google Alerts

These are particularly useful if you're after a specific item, like a shiny new MacBook Pro (see here for the MacBook Pro deals we expect this Black Friday). Simply head to Google Alerts, enter your alert queries separated by a comma (eg Black Friday, MacBook Pro), click 'show options', choose 'As-it-happens' from the 'How often' drop-down, and click Create alert. Now you'll get an email every time your selected target appears in a new article.

3. Do your research

It's a bad idea to sit back and twiddle your thumbs before pouncing into action on Black Friday. So you've decided you want a new graphics tablet, how will you know whether the one that has 70 percent off in a flash sale is any good? HURRY – LIMITED STOCK LEFT!!

Don't panic – just make sure you've done your research in advance so that you can tell your Ugees from your Huions, and your XP-Pens from your Wacoms. Read reviews from reputable sources, like 3D World and ImagineFX, and ask colleagues and friends for their advice.

4. Don't just stick to Amazon

For many, the eye of the Black Friday storm is Amazon. Some will head to the online shopping behemoth during November and set up camp there, only moving to click refresh. But Amazon is not necessarily the best place to find offers on high-quality, niche items specific to the design discipline of your choice, so try manufacturers' websites like Wacom, Dell and Lenovo, and electronics specialists like Currys, Ebuyer, and Overclockers.

5. Be sure it's a bargain

Though that laptop might seem to be one of the best Black Friday Microsoft deals of 2019, don't just frantically enter your card details and hit BUY because its got a BLACK FRIDAY banner above it. Is it actually a great deal? Is it even reduced? Do a quick price comparison on Google or comparison websites before you buy.

Often, if you add your item to the basket, it'll be reserved for a short time allowing you the chance to verify the price – but ensure that's the case before leaving the checkout procedure.

6. To bundle or not

The way to make the biggest savings on electronics is to buy a bundle – but do you need all those accessories or software? If it's something you'll never use, you may not be getting the bargain you expect.

And don't assume you'll be able to make money back on unwanted accessories by selling them on eBay, either – many other deal-hunters will have that idea too, driving down resale prices or making it impossible to find a buyer.

7. Decide what you want and stick to it

It is all too easy to get distracted when shopping – it's no secret to say that confusion is a deliberate tool utilized to great effect in retail – but the best way to snare a bargain is to decide what you want (or, even better, need) and stay on target until you find that exact item at exactly the price you're willing to pay. Then buy it and shut down your laptop. Easier said than done…

8. Learn to love previous-gen tech

Having the latest gear is very, very cool – but if the previous-generation Wacom Cintiq or Surface Pro is an upgrade from your existing tech, it could be worth foregoing the very newest model in exchange for a recently supplanted version – at a discount.

In the case of upgradeable items such as MacBooks, aim for the fastest processor and biggest SSD and RAM options on the older model and you could end up with a better spec than the new model at a lower price.

9. Think outside the box

Consumer electronics is what made Black Friday a global phenomenon, but you'll find plenty more special offers in other areas too. Keep an eye on creative software companies' websites, such as Adobe deals, Ucraft, Corel, Boris FX, and Reallusion; all of whom have offered Black Friday discounts in recent years. And remember to check third-party sellers, too.