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Black Friday, have you been shopping?

(46 Posts)
PamelaJ1 Fri 28-Nov-25 13:38:46

I’ve just watched the news and apparently we, as a population, will be spending over £3.6bn today.
I’m not spending anything. Am I odd? I can’t think of anything that I need and I can’t be bothered to trawl through the ‘bargains’ to find the best value.
I’m also a dreadful cynic and am suspicious that it’s all a big con.
Have any of you saved a fortune today? Should I change my attitude?

MartavTaurus Mon 01-Dec-25 07:20:20

Damn, Dash, Drat, Darn it!
I've bought the wrong size of an item. (DH insisted his calculations were right!), but looking at DGS' torso yesterday, it'll be way too small. 👕
So the savings I made on 2 or 3 other items are now going towards ordering a replacement. Grrr. 🤬

MollyNew Sun 30-Nov-25 22:37:28

I've bought some LED candles for Christmas with 30% off which I thought was a good deal.

Enjoy your washing up bowl Dylis ! grin

Mollygo Sun 30-Nov-25 22:29:14

Best BF deal for me was a reduction in my subscription to the Telegraph. “Would I like it for £1 for a year?”
Of course I would!

Astitchintime Sun 30-Nov-25 09:44:06

Yes, why not. I’ve managed to get a few really good bargains as Christmas gifts for the GC plus some new art supplies for myself. These are things I would have bought anyway, so it’s not such a “con” or a “loads of rubbish” is it?
However, I can see that some might just go crazy and buy stuff for the sake of it……now that’s just silly!

Dylis Sun 30-Nov-25 09:30:35

Just bought a Joseph Joseph washing up bowl I have had my eye on for a while. It was half price and Im delighted.
I definitely need to get out more!

PaynesGray Sat 29-Nov-25 23:20:47

I don't buy much and am happy to wait until Black Friday to get a bargain.

I had ignored the airfryer trend for a couple of years thinking it would be an underused gadget. However, people kept telling me how good they were so I bided my time until last year’s Black Friday and bought a Ninja for half price at £100 v RRP £200. It’s been a revelation. I have barely used my oven since. Cooking in the airfryer saves me around £15- £20 a month in electricity so it has paid for itself.

I am having my landing and stairs redecorated. It’s a big job being done over non-consecutive weeks. The prep and paintwork is done. Now just the wallpapering to do after Christmas. I needed 10 rolls of paper. The one I wanted was £10 a roll off in the BF sale, again saving me £100. Very pleased.

NotAGran55 Sat 29-Nov-25 18:57:30

PamelaJ1

NotAGran55

Purplepixie

No! It’s a con.

Can you please explain why you think it is a con?

There is a rumour that stores put prices up for a while so they can slash them.

Definitely not the case with the 2 items I have bought for half price from John Lewis and Amazon.
Martin Lewis rounds up some of the best Black Friday deals, and I’m sure he would ‘out’ this practice if that was the case.

sunnygirl Sat 29-Nov-25 15:00:52

I saved 30% on restaurant gift vouchers and 40% on rings from Pandora also 25% on Pyjamas, very happy!

foxie48 Sat 29-Nov-25 14:36:12

I've just bought a mattress topper which I was considering buying. Saved £78!

TerriBull Sat 29-Nov-25 13:38:52

The coffee pods we use are reduced on Amazon as a special BF offer so I bought some of those, plus some Christmas bits and pieces. Boots seem to have pretty good offers these days I have splurged there lately.

PamelaJ1 Sat 29-Nov-25 13:27:39

NotAGran55

Purplepixie

No! It’s a con.

Can you please explain why you think it is a con?

There is a rumour that stores put prices up for a while so they can slash them.

Chocolatelovinggran Sat 29-Nov-25 07:35:23

It seems a good day for me to buy a new vacuum cleaner .. my life is just full of excitement, as you can see.

MartavTaurus Sat 29-Nov-25 07:27:43

Yes, a suitcase full.
I've filled out my tax-refund forms and am now off to get them processed, so I win twice-over on my purchases yesterday. ✈️ 💶

Erica23 Sat 29-Nov-25 05:41:04

Yes I’ve bought most of my gifts all had 25% off. I do wonder if they’ll still have the same discount next week.

NotAGran55 Sat 29-Nov-25 04:51:15

Purplepixie

No! It’s a con.

Can you please explain why you think it is a con?

J52 Fri 28-Nov-25 21:40:44

I bought expensive face serum that is on DILs Christmas list. 20% off and gift wrapped.

Charleygirl5 Fri 28-Nov-25 21:30:39

I am partially sighted and could no longer read the number on my home phone, so I replaced the answering machine and 3 handsets with a phone I purchased, saving a fair bit of money.

I bought items like toothbrushes, which were heavily reduced. No big value items because I don't need anything.

GrannyIvy Fri 28-Nov-25 21:05:35

I bought a big Lego set for DH and dgs2 to do together it had come down massively in price on a Black Friday deal. Also booked a night away in a hotel in December for half the price I would normally pay so feeling quite happy with my Black Friday savings

lixy Fri 28-Nov-25 20:42:03

Yes, I have bought DD’s birthday present today - not because it was Black Friday but because her birthday is coming up fast! No reduction on this today sadly.

I think businesses are pretty desperate for people to spend, especially in what is left of town centres. I don’t buy what I don’t need but do try to shop locally as much as possible.

M0nica Fri 28-Nov-25 20:38:52

M&S were doing 3 for £10 on their individual meal dishes. I looked. I only wanted 2, so that is all i bought. No point in aviling myself of an offer that costs me money.

LOUISA1523 Fri 28-Nov-25 20:35:40

Purplepixie

No! It’s a con.

Why is it a con? I've bought a John Lewis dressing gown with a 20% discount...and my GCs jewellery from Pandora with a 25 % discount...all Xmas pressies ...whats the con?

Mollygo Fri 28-Nov-25 20:35:00

grandMattie

Nah! Yet another American customer imported here.

I’d agree, grandMattie except I’ve saved over £200 on this BF.

grandMattie Fri 28-Nov-25 20:32:12

Nah! Yet another American customer imported here.

foxie48 Fri 28-Nov-25 20:24:12

Yes, I've bought two pairs of lightweight sketcher trainers from Pavers £25.00 a pair reduced from £75.00. Paid for a return label £1.99 for each pair just in case they don't fit but if they do they will be a great bargain. I also bought some Sweaty Betty leggings at a 30% reduction which I know will fit me.

Mollygo Fri 28-Nov-25 19:54:55

Yes. I got 25% discount 3 months supply on my dog’s food. So that’s a sizeable reduction, even on my discounted subscription order.
20% discount on our travel insurance. I had checked the renewal cost before the offer came out, because I’m also a bit cynical about these offers.
Ooh the excitement!