Every November, Black Friday arrives with big claims of massive savings and "one-day-only" deals. We are bombarded with offers that seem too good to pass up. But beneath all this lies something far more strategic.

Black Friday is not simply about a day (now more than a fortnight) of discounts. It's also a psychological event, carefully designed to take advantage of how our brains make decisions.

Understanding some of the science behind this process can help us recognise when we are being pushed to spend more than we intended.

Quick, quick, spend up big

When we decide between options, such as whether to buy a new TV, our brains weigh up bits of evidence for and against each choice. We compare prices, features, reviews and what we can afford. Once we feel we have enough information,

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