Skip Black Friday

Yes, there will be bargains on Black Friday...but also sharp elbows and agony. But you can avoid the chaos on the day itself (this year it’s 24 November) and still get heaps of money-off discounts as stores in NYC offer tempting price cuts well into December. Last year, we bagged 30% off at Levis and 50% off Converse trainers. Bloomingdale’s (there’s a quieter branch on Broadway, near Spring Street) had 20% off too, while Macy’s near Times Square is best for cheaper US make-up brands, such as MAC.