Citizens Advice is encouraging people in Cornwall to stay within their budgets as the Black Friday sales period approaches.

More than than half of shoppers made impulse purchases during last year’s Black Friday sales - and most people spent more money than they intended to, according to a survey done by gadget insurer Protect Your Bubble.

Tech and electrical goods are the most popular items purchased during the Black Friday / Cyber Monday sale. And the poll of 1000 adults carried out by the insurer showed that the average spend last year was £219.

But Citizens Advice has warned that it is all too easy to spend more than you planned when you’re shopping online.

The organisation has given the following tips for staying within a budget:

-Spend time shopping around, researching what deals are on offer and

getting advice.

- Always look at the total amount you will have to repay when borrowing money. A shorter repayment period may be better than a slightly lower Annual Percentage Rate (APR) amount.

- Take care when looking at buy-now-pay-later deals. It might seem like a good option but you’ll need to make sure you pay on time in future. If you don’t these deals can be very expensive.

- Never borrow money on the spur of the moment. Think about payment options beforehand. Work out your budget and stick to it so that you can afford the repayments.

Gill Pipkin, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice Cornwall, said: ‘At this time of year many people may feel the pressure to part with their money.

‘It is important that anyone thinking about turning to credit or taking out a loan to help pay for purchases understands the full costs involved and if they can actually afford to pay it back.

’If you are struggling with your finances, it is essential to do something about it as soon as possible. You can get free debt and money advice from Citizens Advice to find a way forward and avoid spiralling debts.’