Following the shopping frenzy of Black Friday, the discounts continue on Cyber Monday with retailers reducing prices on everything from headphones to gaming consoles.
What originally began in 2005 as a marketing tactic in the US has quickly become an international phenomenon, with consumers rushing to their computers and smartphones so that they can sweep up the best online deals.
The discounts won't last for very long, so make sure that you keep an eye on your favourite online retailers so that you don't miss out on any exciting offers.
Follow all the latest news on deals and bargains with our live blog below.
The countdown begins
With less than 24 hours to go, anticipations are running high for Black Friday, the UK's biggest shopping day of the year.
Many leading retailers, including Amazon, John Lewis and AO, have already started cutting their prices in a bid to appeal those who prefer to plan their purchases ahead of time.
The most sought-after Black Friday deals are usually those on technological devices, such as laptops, consoles, and TVs.
Household appliances are a popular one too, given that items like dishwashers, fridges and espresso machines typically come with hefty price tags - but on Black Friday, they're much more affordable.
Click here for our full Black Friday deals guide, where we've hand-selected the best bargains and listed which retailers are doing what.
You'll also find plenty of advice on how to make the most of the day, from when to make your purchases to which deals offer cashback.
Happy shopping.
One for the fashion fans
ASOS is offering 20 per cent off its entire site with the code: HELLO20 as of right now.
Shoppers can get their hands on a whole host of discounted fashion items from the online retailer, from winter coats and cosy jumpers to jeans and dresses.
All Saints are going one step further, offering 30 per cent off its entire collection, meaning fans can get their hands on the label's signature leather jackets
Other fashion brands getting involved in the Black Friday fun include Boohoo, H&M and Urban Outfitters, who are offering 50 per cent off on selected lines in store and online.
Click here to see all the best fashion deals happening on Black Friday.
Looking for something from Apple?
Apple products are renowned for their high price tags, making the tech retailer one of the most sought-after on Black Friday.
But in previous years, the company has only offered gift cards alongside its most popular products, which still have to be spent in store.
This year, Apple will be running sales over the entire weekend, but fans will have to wait until tomorrow to find out exactly which products will be discounted.
The company has revealed almost nothing so far, announcing its Black Friday participation with a mysterious set of phrases, reading only: "Four days. Special offers",
For those who want to get ahead, there are a number of deals on Apple products (MacBooks, iPhones and iPads) already available at other retailers, such as Argos, John Lewis and Currys.
Click here for our hand-picked selection of all the best Apple deals.
Get your hands on a new TV from just £189.99
Having a high-quality TV can make all the difference in your home, and there are numerous Black Friday discounts on various models already on offer.
For those looking to keep costs low, you can purchase this 32-inch Smart TV from Argos, or you might want to check out this JVC 32-inch Smart TV from Amazon, which has gone from £449 to £229.99.
But the deals don't stop there.
From full HD to 4K Ultra HD, LCD and OLED models, we've done all the bargain hunting so you can get your new telly just in time for Christmas. Click here for all the best TV deals happening this Black Friday.
Amazon is marking Black Friday with a huge ten day sale
The online giant is one of the biggest Black Friday supporters and is celebrating this year's proceedings with a mammoth ten day sale, which started on Thursday 16 November.
Offering discounts on all of its own products, shoppers can pick up a range of goods at slashed prices, from the Echo Dot speaker to the Fire TV stick.
Amazon's Black Friday sales will run until 25 November, giving everyone a chance to make the most of the major discounts on offer, which apply to everything from electronics and games to fashion and beauty products.
Throughout the period, you can expect to find "Deals of the Day" which are featured for just 24 hours, "Lightning Deals" that are featured for several hours and "Best Deals" which can run for up to two weeks.
This year, the retailer is going above and beyond to create a real-life Black Friday experience for its shoppers by hosting a "Home of Black Friday" popup in Shoreditch, which opens from 12.30pm today.
At the popup, shoppers will be able to take part in a whole host of innovative experiences, from prize giveaways and product sampling to workshops and "VIP experiences".
Click here for everything you need to know about what's on offer at Amazon this Black Friday.
If you're looking to buy a console, now is the time
Whether you're looking for a PlayStation 4, an Xbox One, or a Nintendo Switch, there's no better moment to make your games console purchase than the present.
This year there are already plenty of offers available, with Argos selling the PS4 Slim 500GB Console for just £249.99 and Game selling the Playstation 4 Pro 1TB Console for a special price of £349.99. Or, if it's an Xbox you're after, Game is offering the Xbox One S 1TB at a discounted price of £204.80.
Unsure of which model to go for?
The Independent's technology editor Andrew Griffin, and avid gamer, has weighed in to explain the major differences, and help you choose the most suitable console for you.
Click here to swot up on his words of wisdom and find one to suit your tastes and, more importantly, your budget.
Black Friday gets a sustainability makeover with Sky Ocean Rescue
Shopping isn't always necessarily the most eco-friendly of activities, what with the amount of plastic that often goes into the packaging of products.
This year, Sky Ocean Rescue are offering Black Friday shoppers a single-use plastic amnesty, helping them dispose of excess plastic packaging from their hauls.
All people need to do in order to take part is bring their plastic packaging to the company's popup store on 20 Beak Street in central London for recycling.
The first 400 shoppers to bring their packaging to the popup store tomorrow will be given a free set of sustainable bees wax wraps, printed with designs by Kate Moss, Sienna Miller or Fearne Cotton.
Commenting on the initiative, Fi Ball, group head of inspirational business at Sky said, "It’s the plastic cable ties and bubble wrap around your new TV or other purchases that can generate harm to our ocean life.
"At Sky Ocean Rescue, we have been working hard to eradicate these items from Sky’s packaging and we will be plastic free by 2020.
"Our #PassOnPlastic range packaging is completely single-use free and if we can inspire shoppers and other retailers to think twice about its use we could make every day more blue, not just Friday."
It's laptops galore this Black Friday, with high-end models as low as £445
Laptops are an investment, so it's no surprise these expensive pieces of equipment are often on the top of people's Christmas wish lists.
Black Friday, which starts officially tomorrow, is one of the best times of year to purchase a laptop, with many of the UK's leading retailers slashing their prices for the special shopping day.
In fact, plenty of companies have already started offering discounts, with Currys selling the HP Pavilion 14” Intel Pentium Gold 2-in-1, 1TB for £449, down from £549.99.
For those looking for a Google Pixelbook, one of the most sought-after computers on the market, you can head to John Lewis, where you can pick up the 12.3-inch model for £899 as opposed to the usual £1,119.
If you’re unsure of what type of laptop to invest in, The Independent’s Dave Phelan has weighed in to explain the major differences, and help you choose the most suitable one for you.
Click here to see his tips and browse our roundup of the best deals on laptop this Black Friday.
Argos go the extra mile to accommodate Black Friday shoppers
To allow Black Friday shoppers to find deals and shower at the same time - (because who wouldn't want to browse for broadband deals while scrubbing themselves?) - Argos are giving away 100 free shower curtains with built-in pockets for tablets and mobile phones.
The finer details of Argos' major discounts are still under wraps but expect big savings on everything from toys to homewares and electrical items.
Last year they sold 15,394 TVs as a result of Black Friday promotions. You can find the latest Argos deals here, with more set to be unveiled at 9pm this evening.
Lululemon's site crashes as Black Friday shoppers try to cash in early on the best deals
Shoppers were complaining this morning on Twitter that Lululemon, the plush American athleisure label known for its luxurious products and high price tags, was experiencing a surge in demand that led its website to crash.
The website went down shortly after the brand published a Facebook post announcing it would be taking part in Black Friday.
It seems that the website is still not functioning properly, with customers lamenting on Twitter that they have been unable to make their Black Friday purchases.
The brand has responded to some of the complaints explaining that their web team are working hard to rectify the situation.
Which broadband deal should you go for?
Before you invest in a new TV package or broadband deal during the Black Friday period, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
Luckily, The Independent's technology critic David Phelan has given us a heads up on what to look out for, and what type of deal will suit you best, offering up his insight on products from Sky, Now TV, Virgin Media, Amazon Prime Video and more.
Click here to see his hand-picked selection of the most impressive deals so far, from cinema packages to superfast broadband.
GCHQ warns of cyber-crime on Black Friday
Black Friday has finally arrived, but GCHQ's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has warned that the annual shopping day, which sees retailers offering major discounts, offers criminals "prime pickings" for cyber-crime.
The organisation has published a detailed blog post offering shoppers seven tips so as to stay safe this weekend so as to avoid falling for scams and having personal information stolen when making purchases online.
"Cyber criminals have a field day at this time of year because they know your guard is a little lower as you rush to bag the bargains," the post reads.
"Your inbox is probably full of promotional emails promising the most incredible deals. And when this is the norm, it becomes hard to differentiate real bargains from the dodgy ones."
The organisation advises shoppers to be vigilant when it comes to spotting fake websites and "phoney" branding.
"We need to help each other to beat the scammers," the blog continues.
"Having a cyber chat today could protect you and your family online."
NCSC are responding to questions and addressing security concerns all day on Twitter .
Latest deals released on smart speakers, TVs and smartphones
With Black Friday now in full swing, there's a whole host of deals to get your hands on, with retailers slashing their prices on all sorts of desirable products, many of which fall under the tech category.
For those looking to buy a new smartphone, you can pick up a Samsung Galaxy S9 and save £200 by paying £26.99 a month with no upfront cost - this is available at Carphone Warehouse.
If an iPhone is what you're after, check out this deal fromSky, where you can buy an iPhone SE 32GB at no upfront cost, paying £10 a month.
Smart speakers are also available at much lower prices than normal, with Argos selling the Google Home Mini for just £29.
As for TVs, you can pick up a shiny new box for as low as £189 from Amazon.
Stay up to date with all the latest Black Friday deals with our handy guide, which is being constantly updated throughout the day to ensure you get the best offers around.
International Buy Nothing Day: the anti-Black Friday
Black Friday is all about finding the best deals and acquiring more products, so it's no surprise that the annual bargain hunting day is not favoured by anti-consumerist protestors, who have been taking part in International Buy Nothing Day since 1992.
Held as an anti-Black Friday protest on the same day, the campaign aims to pick apart the materialism that defines the Christmas shopping season by encouraging people to buy nothing for an entire day.
It was invented by a Canadian artist named Ted Dave and was soon picked up by a left-wing Vancouver-based magazine, Adbusters, before becoming popular in North America and the rest of the world as “a day for society to examine the issue of overconsumption” and the problems associated with consumer choices, not least the environmental impact of manufacturing.
But the day has garnered criticism, with people arguing that it ultimately achieves nothing and is somewhat futile.
Campaigns like Shift Your Shopping have been proposed as more practical alternatives, guiding consumers towards more ethical choices on the high street.
Shoppers scramble to get the best deals as websites crash and queues get out of hand
Black Friday is no stranger to chaos, with people lining up outside shops as early as 5am in order to ensure they get the best deals.
But some people have been disappointed to find that by the time they get into stores, the deals they wanted had already sold out.
On Thursday evening, there was already a long queue forming outside Amazon UK's popup Black Friday store, where the online retailer is offering major discounts across its product ranges .
You might think skipping the queues and choosing to make your purchases online is a better alternative, but websites have been crashing too, with GAME's site going down at 6pm on Thursday as more than 200,000 people tried to get their hands on the tech retailer's latest deals.
See our handy guide to all the best Black Friday deals here, where we'll be posting regular updates detailing which retailers are offering what on everything from furniture and laptops to smartphones and consoles.
See the latest deals from Apple
Apple products are some of the most popular on Black Friday, with shoppers keen to take advantage of special deals and discounts on items such as iPhones, Macs and Apples watches, all of which are normally very expensive.
But despite rumours that the tech retailer would be offering major deals on its products for the first time, it transpires that the "four day shopping event" it had advertised follows the usual format of what it has done in the past, which is to offer customers gift cards when they buy selected items.
If you buy an iPhone 8, for example, you will receive a £40 gift card to spend on other Apple products, likewise for purchases made on Macs, iPads and Apple Watches.
However, for those looking for more tantalising deals, there are plenty of discounts available on Apple products at other retailers, with John Lewis, Currys, Argos and Very all offering the company's most-coveted items at bargain prices.
Click here to see our guide to all the best Apple deals this Black Friday, which will be regularly updated throughout the day.
John Lewis & Partners reveal their best-selling items of Black Friday so far
Black Friday is the busiest day of the year for British retailers, and John Lewis was one of the many companies to get ahead of the game by starting its sales on Monday.
Now, it has published a list of statistics revealing how well its bargains have gone down thus far.
It seems that Apple are set for a big Black Friday, with the Apple Airpods (now £269, saving £100) and the Apple Watch series three (now £29, saving £60) named the two most searched-for products on John Lewis' website today.
(Pictured: John Lewis' distribution centre in Milton Keynes preparing for Black Friday.)
Other popular deals on the site include one of the Mulberry Bayswater bag, which is priced at £877.50 today, saving shoppers 35 per cent.
But it seems that John Lewis is struggling to keep up with its customer's demands, as the website appears to be down.
Naturally, shoppers are voicing their frustrations on Twitter.
Flying Christmas egg selfie drones and a twerking robot among the most bizarre Black Friday deals
Black Friday is well and truly underway, and while the majority of offers are on conventional products - dishwashers, laptops, mattresses etc. - there are some weird and wonderful items on offer this year.
For those looking for something extra quirky, why not pick up a drone? And not just any drone: a flying Christmas egg selfie drone. Yes, it turns out that such a thing exists - and it's been heavily discounted for Black Friday, now costing just $47.99, down from $70.
"The built-in LED lights enable to egg drone to glow like shiny stars at night," the item's product page states, while also boasting of a "headless mode".
If that doesn't quite tickle your pickle, you could invest in a twerking robot. Again, yes, that really is a thing.
"Some robots have very specific purposes," the product's description reads.
"Maybe they are made to help with surgery. Maybe they are made to play chess against grandmasters. Or maybe they are made to twerk. You may be asking yourself if science has gone too far with this one. We assure you that your mind will be at ease once you see it in action."
The Twerkbot9000, as it's named, has been reduced from $24.99 to $14.99, offering shoppers all the kooky fun of a twerking robot for a fraction of the price - what a bargain.
Click here to see our roundup for all the best deals (on slightly less niche products) happening this Black Friday, featuring hand-picked bargains and advice on how to get the most out of the UK's biggest shopping day.
Black Friday chaos: shoppers scramble over one another during sale in Sao Paulo, Brazil
People go to great lengths to get their hands on a bargain.
This is most evident on Black Friday, the global shopping day that sees retailers slashing prices by substantial amounts in the run-up to Christmas on a whole host of goods, from electronics to home furnishings.
But the excitement was all too much for some people in Sao Paulo, Brazil, with one woman taking a hit in the face from a large TV as she fought her way through the crowds.
Thankfully the crowds have been a little less manic across the pond in the UK, where the majority of people are making their purchases online, leaving high streets, such as the below one in Glasgow, which looks rather desolate.
See our roundup of the best deals this Black Friday here.
Shoppers stress over John Lewis website crash
It appears that the John Lewis website has gone down, with customers complaining on Twitter that they've been unable to access the retailer's Black Friday deals, which include a variety of offers on everything from TVs to smartphones.
"Sorry about the wait, please try again soon," a message on the site reads.
"It's our Black Friday event so we're busier than usual," an explanation continues. It gives people an easy way to refresh the page and reminds them that John Lewis's offers are available in its shops, too.
But shoppers aren't having any of it, expressing outrage at the retailer's technical glitch.
