Why Friday the 13th creates peculiar bargains - and how to take advantage

26 October, 2017 13:21

Millions of consumers alter their usual buying behaviour this Friday, merely because it is the 13th.

For those who don't buy into superstition, this presents some unusual opportunities to pick up a bargain.

There are two Friday 13ths this year, which tends to be standard.

In 2015 there were three - a particularly unlucky year.

Statistically there seems to be less likelihood of accidents or other unfortunate events on Friday 13ths, according to insurance data, because drivers and homeowners are extra cautious.

Adam Powell, head of operations at broker Policy Expert, said: “These figures suggest the UK remains superstitious as ever and that historically we take extra care around that unlucky date."

But for those who aren't hiding under the covers all day, there are some strange savings to be made.

Book a bargain flight (although check when the 13th falls)

Flyers not prone to superstition should check prices on Friday 13th.

Last year, on Friday 13 May 2016, prices for flights to the UK’s ten most popular destinations were on average 14pc cheaper than those departing on any other day in the month.

Kayak, a flight booking website, found that travellers could save a huge 44pc on a flight to Gran Canaria who flew on Friday 13 January.

This is even more marked when it is considered that Fridays are usually one of the most popular and expensive days of the week to travel.

In 2015, the cheapest day to fly was June 13th with flight prices 22pc less than usual. That month, the average price of a domestic return was £233 which fell to £181 on Friday 13th.

However, this year the trend has reversed and prices have actually gone up.

Compared with any other day in October, flights on October 13th are 9pc more expensive. Flights to Berlin are up to 41pc more expensive, going up to £112 although flights to Faro are 18pc cheaper, going down to £100 from £122.

Kayak also found that flight search on this Friday 13th had gone up by 82pc on average.

However it suggested that demand and costs had increased this Friday 13th because the day falls within half term.

Loella Pehrsson, regional director at Kayak, said: “Flight prices are, of course, based on demand, which regardless of superstition, is up considerably this October.

"Most airlines even facilitate any superstitious fliers by not having an aisle 13 on their aircrafts.”

Meanwhile, Nordic airline Finnair has flown brave passengers from Copenhagen, Denmark, to Helsinki, Finland, on Friday the 13th since 2006.

However, today will be the last time Flight 666 flies to Hel, as the airline has decided to retire the flight number.

Buying a home

If you can brave living in a number 13 house or flat, you could save yourself a pretty penny.

Property bargains are more likely to relate to houses or flats numbered 13. Number 13 houses are not that common – property website Zoopla, the property site, found only 28pc of streets have one.

Earlier this year Zoopla found that these apparently unlucky homes are 3pc cheaper. Buyers could save £8,974 buying a property numbered 13, based on the current average UK property currently valued at £300,012.

Zoopla suggested properties at number one tend to be the most expensive, valued at an average of £319,318, while number 13 homes come in at 58th place at £291,038.

Almost a third of British buyers said they would avoid buying a number 13 home, according to Zoopla.

A number 13 door — Number 13 houses are rare but cheaper than other numbers CREDIT: ALAMY

This appears to be a historical trend with the number of property transactions declining on Friday 13th.

Research by FindaProperty.com found that between 2005 and 2012, there were 43pc less transactions on Friday 13th compared to other Fridays in the month.

The worst day was May 13 2011, when there were 51pc less transactions.

Ironically, these transactions are likely to run more smoothly given that the staff handling them, in solicitors firms and banks, will have more time on their hands.

Borrowers may also be cautious about Friday 13th. Last year as the Yorkshire Building Society saw a 40pc drop in the average number of customers completing their mortgage on the Friday 13th in May.

Weddings

It's a bit late to book this year but doing so on Friday 13th this year or next could clip significant amounts off your wedding, which Brides, the the UK's number one bridal magazine, puts at £30,111.

According to data compiled by TheKnot.com, a wedding concierge service, 1,345 fewer couples got married on Friday, 13 July 2012 compared with the following Friday.

According to the site, just 2,845 husbands and wives to be were "unfazed by the superstition".

For those not concerned about chandeliers crashing down or the chance of being jilted, wedding venue House For an Art Lover offers couples a 13pc discount if they get married on Friday 13th.

The venue has been offering the marked-down marriages since 2013 and is currently taking bookings for Friday 13th in September and December 2019.

Lynn Stevenson, of House for an Art Lover, said some couples like to make it a feature of the day.

She said: "If you make a feature of it rather than avoiding the elephant in the room I believe it makes it a much more appealing option for people, particularly when most are budget led - it offers them a weekend date with a discount that wouldn’t normally be available."

Even if your wedding venue isn't advertising a Friday 13th discount, with bookings at a low, they may be more open to negotiation.

Investments

The stock market is rife with superstition and some investors still swear by the old saying “sell in May and go away” reflecting the age old assumption that stocks underperform between May and the end of October.

Adrian Ash, of gold and silver exchange BullionVault, said many traders still refuse to place new trades on Friday 13th. In 2015, he said there was a 45pc drop in trade on the last four "unlucky" Fridays compared to a week either side.

Jason Hollands, managing director of Tilney BestInvest, says there is no evidence that Friday 13th is bad for the market.