Fri. Nov 22nd, 2024
Occasional Digest - a story for you

BLACK Friday weekend is underway and there are still plenty of savings to take advantage of.

Many deals are set to continue through to Cyber Monday, however it is worth snapping up the best offers and bargains available now before it is too late.

Black Friday is when you'll find some of the best bargains of the year - we'll have the best deals listed on this page13

Black Friday is when you’ll find some of the best bargains of the year – we’ll have the best deals listed on this page
  • Shop John Lewis Black Friday here
  • Shop Amazon Black Friday here
  • Shop Simba Black Friday here

Both Black Friday and Cyber Monday are prime times to buy cheaper Christmas gifts, with savings on beauty sets, game consoles and a wide range of toys.

It’s also a great time to replace white goods and tech, with big name brands like Apple, Shark, Ninja and Samsung all included in price cuts.

There is also lots of save money on beauty products from a huge selection of brands.

While fashion fans can score savings on clothing, designer bags and popular footwear brands like UGG and Dr Martens.

So, read on for our guide to bagging the best Black Friday deals – it’ll be here in three weeks, but you don’t need to wait that long.

Best deals now live:

Coach Crosstown Turnlock Leather Cross Body Bag, now £156 (was £195) – John Lewis

If you are looking for some new arm candy in the sale, this must-have Coach crossbody bag is available with a 20% discount.

It comes in two colours; chalk and black, (however the black is now sold out) and the sophisticated design boasts stylish gold finishes and detailing. Grab it while it is still in stock!

  • Coach Crosstown Turnlock Leather Cross Body Bag, now £156 (was £195) – buy from John Lewis

Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser Hot Chocolate Machine, £49.99 (was £99.99) – eBay

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With winter on its way and the cold weather in full swing, keeping warm with a nice cup of hot chocolate is a heavenly treat, and while instant powders can be a great treat, you just can’t beat barista-grade hot chocolate on a cold day.

Fortunately, with the wave of Black Friday deals, you can grab a Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser for just £59, saving you a tidy sum of £40.99.

It is worth noting that the item is a refurb, however, so you can expect it to come with a little wear and tear, but professionals have inspected, tested and cleaned it to ensure you’re still receiving a quality item that also comes with a year’s warranty.

  • Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser Hot Chocolate Machine, £49.99 (was £99.99) – buy from eBay

UGG Women’s Essential Mini Boot, £127.99 (was £160) – UGG

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UGG are rolling up savings across its popular range of footwear and slippers, including on this classic mini boot style.

With the resurgence of the classic noughties footwear, this is the ideal time to give them a go for the first time, or revisit your youth and pick up an old favourite.

Several colours are available on offer, including black, chestnut and olive – but sizes are selling out fast.

  • UGG Women’s Essential Mini Boot, £127.99 (was £160) -buy from UGG

Echo Dot 5th Gen, £21.99 (was £54.99) – Amazon

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Echo Dots make great Christmas gifts (for your family, or yourself) and the good news is that, until Cyber Monday, the 5th Gen model is at its lowest-ever price at £21.99.

That’s a bargain price to make your house a smart home and the perfect pairing for any other Amazon devices you already have in your home.

  • Echo Dot 5th Gen, £21.99 (was £54.99) – buy here

Grey Oodie, £35.60 (was £89) – Oodie

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An Oodie is a cross between some of your favourite ways to keep warm: a hoodie and a blanket, with multiple reviews praising it for being ‘so comfy and warm’ as well as others comparing it to a ‘bear hug’.

You also have the option of purchasing an Oodie with as much personality as you. They come in a wide selection, like the Harry Potter Gryffindor and penguin Oodies, which are also just £35.60 for the Black Friday shopping event.

There are plenty of other Oodies worth taking a look at, so check out the Oodie Black Friday deals for more info.

Shark Delux Black Anti Wrap Upright Vacuum Cleaner £169.99 (was £269.99) – Shark

This upright vac from Shark is now £100 from the brand itself for Black Friday13

This upright vac from Shark is now £100 from the brand itself for Black Friday

A whopping saving of £100 is definitely a huge draw for an already popular hoover for anyone who has a furry friend at home.

The anti-wrap feature makes for an easier, more streamlined cleaning experience if you have any four-legged pals roaming the home.

It’s kind to anyone with allergies since its anti-allergen seal traps those nasty particles within the Hoover, meaning no more sneezing fits during the spring clean.

One reviewer who has ‘two moulting labradors’ and the Shark Vacuum is the one that could do [the] job’ left a perfect rating of five stars, praising its ‘detachable main unit’ that  ‘makes cleaning the stairs easy.’

It’s also worth looking at other options on our Shark Black Friday deals page.

  • Shark Deluxe Black Anti Wrap Upright Vacuum Cleaner £169.99 (was £269.99) – buy from Shark

Apple iPhone 14, £649 (was £699) – Amazon

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The iPhone 14 was recently knocked down a peg as the flagship Apple device by the 15. However, it’s still a great piece of tech and for £50 less, it’s a great time to purchase the device outright.

While Black Friday is nearing, you may be questioning if there will be better deals come the big day. It’s quite unlikely, as Apple reductions are a fairly rare occurrence.

A £50 discount is substantial enough we recommend grabbing the phone if you want a new one.

Ultimately you’re grabbing yourself a piece of tech that’s full of great features, an extraordinary camera and a high-resolution screen large enough to stream your favourite shows and scroll needlessly on.

  • Apple iPhone 14, £649 (was £699) – buy from Amazon

Oral-B iO4 Black Electric Toothbrush £89 (was £240) – Boots

Now is the perfect time to upgrade your toothbrush thanks to this Boots Black Friday deal13

Now is the perfect time to upgrade your toothbrush thanks to this Boots Black Friday deal

Toothbrushes should be changed around every 3 months, so if you’ve not got an electric toothbrush or it is nearing that 3-month period, saving £165 on a top-end electric toothbrush sounds like an excellent option.

The iO4 claims to be Oral-B’s best-ever clean, so you can keep those pure whites pristine and plaque and stains at bay.

Brushing your teeth used to be a simple task, but who wouldn’t want four extra brushing modes that focus more on daily cleaning, whitening, and sensitive and super sensitive teeth for the best possible results?

If you’ve got a history of being a bit heavy-handed when it comes to teeth brushing, you’ll benefit greatly from the smart pressure sensor that signals red when you’re being a bit too rough with your precious chompers.

  • Oral-B iO4 Black Electric Toothbrush £89 (was £240) – Boots

Simba Hybrid Sleep Bundle, from £996 (was £1,716) – Simba

Black Friday is a great opportunity to pick up a premium mattress for less than usual13

Black Friday is a great opportunity to pick up a premium mattress for less than usual

Black Friday is the absolute prime opportunity to pick up a mattress for a lot less than usual, especially from one of the ‘bed-in-a-box’ brands that have come to dominate the market in the last decade.

Simba is currently offering an impressive 42% off this Hybrid Sleep Bundle, including the Hybrid mattress, Hybrid duvet, and two Hybrid pillows. If you’re still weighing up your options, see what else the brand is offering in our Simba Black Friday deals article.

Apple AirPods Pro, £199 (was £249) – Amazon

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We always keep an eye on Apple tech during Black Friday to see if those far-from-cheap prices climb down at all.

The good news, for anybody looking for a new set of earbuds, is that the brand’s 2nd-generation AirPods Pro have dropped to their lowest price ever.

Now the right side of £200, these noise-cancelling beauties are looking a lot more affordable. For a wider list of options, head to our Apple AirPods Black Friday deals page.

  • Apple AirPods Pro, £199 (was £249) – Amazon

L’Or Barista Sublime Bundle, £59 (was £164.68) – L’or Espresso

Coffee lovers can upgrade their coffee game with this L'Or bundle13

Coffee lovers can upgrade their coffee game with this L’Or bundle

If you want to upgrade your coffee game, the L’Or Barista Bundle is the answer and is perfect for couples.

It can brew two coffees at once or one double coffee in a single cup and has up to 19 bars of pressure for perfect espresso.

Best of all, it’s now cheaper than ever at a mere £59, down from almost £165.

Sky Stream, £19p/m (was £26p/m) – Sky

The Sky Stream TV box has reduced to a new low of £19 per month for Black Friday13

The Sky Stream TV box has reduced to a new low of £19 per month for Black FridayCredit: Sky

If you’ve been shopping around for the best deals on streaming services, it’s definitely worth a look at this Sky Stream Black Friday deal.

While a price cut of £7 might not look like a lot at first glance, you’re actually saving a total of £125 over the entire 18-month contract.

£125 towards presents sounds great already, but you’re also getting access to over a staggering 30,000 shows from Sky alone and the added bonus of a Netflix subscription so you can keep up to date with all the exclusive movies and shows that hit the living room screen.

More Amazing Black Friday Deals

When is Black Friday 2023?

Black Friday falls on November 24 this year, the day directly after the American Thanksgiving holiday.

Not that we’ll be carving any turkey here in the UK until Christmas.

Black Friday is simply a shopping tradition that started in the U.S. back in the 1960s before migrating over to the UK around a decade ago.

Each year Black Friday only grows bigger, and it is now considered a global sale event, with thousands of participating brands and retailers.

It’s a clear rival to the popular (but arguably dwindling) UK Boxing Day sales period after Christmas and dwarfs Amazon’s annual Prime Day sale.

When is Cyber Monday 2023?

Cyber Monday always falls on the Monday directly after Black Friday. So in 2023, that date is Monday, November 27.

It has the (slightly antiquated) name, as traditionally it was a day of online-only deals, with nearly all Black Friday offers available exclusively in-store.

However, it’s now rare that you’ll find any deals only available in shops.

So in reality, Cyber Monday is an excuse for retailers to roll out a final wave of deals, or to drop prices further on remaining stock.

What’s the difference between Black Friday and Cyber Monday?

Historically, Black Friday and Cyber Monday were two very distinct, very separate sales.

On Black Friday itself, the vast majority of deals were in-store – you know, in those old days before computers and smartphones.

Then, with the advent of internet shopping, Cyber Monday emerged as a day of online-only deals.

However, these days there’s no real difference between Black Friday and Cyber Monday as very few deals are either exclusively in-store or online (unless of course, it’s an online-only seller).

More Black Friday Lifestyle Deals

Will the big retailers be taking part in Black Friday this year?

Absolutely. We’re expecting to see huge discounts on Black Friday 2023 across product lines in multiple sectors – from tech and beauty to homeware, toys and much more.

Based on previous sales, you can expect sales from every major online seller. Indeed, it’s only the beginning of November but we have seen high-street stalwarts like John Lewis, Argos and Boots already roll out the Black Friday messaging.

On top of that, countless brands will also launch site sales.

Keep checking back: we’ll bring you all the latest deals here as soon as we have them.

What to expect from the Black Friday sale 2023

Black Friday has become synonymous with tech savings, and shoppers can expect deals on popular brands like Apple, Samsung, Fitbit and more during the sale.

You can also expect incredible savings on other categories such as baby, beauty and fashion.

Based on last year’s highlights, our guess is that mattresses will make a major appearance on Black Friday, with discounts running at anywhere between 30% and 60%.

If you’re after an Echo Dot, Ring Doorbell or any of Amazon’s cheap-and-cheerful smart devices, they’ll almost definitely be absurdly cheap too.

Big-brand appliances that rarely go on sale will get their moment in the limelight too.

Don’t go thinking it’s just flash, high-spend items that are included in the sale.

During Black Friday, a quick peruse on Amazon will throw up all sorts of discounts on everyday products like dishwasher tablets and boxes of Quality Street.

What was in the Black Friday sale last year?

The incredible deals in 2022 included:

Best home appliance deals

  • Tefal ActiFry Genius XL AH960840 Air Fryer from Currys, £149 (save £100) – buy here
  • Nespresso Magimix Vertuo Plus 11389 Pod Coffee Machine, £59 (save £120) from Currys – buy here
  • Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1 ClearCook 5.7L Air Fryer, £80 (save £40) from Argos – buy here
  • Tower T17088 9L Dual Basket Vortx Air Fryer, £120 (save £30) from Argos – buy here
  • Ninja 3-in-1 Food Processor and Blender with Auto-iQ BN800UK, £125 (save £74) – buy now from Very
  • Lakeland slow cooker 6L, £29.99 (save £30) – buy from Lakeland

Best mattress deals

Best vacuum cleaner deals

Best beauty deals

  • 50% off at Boots – shop here
  • 50% off at Lookfantastic + extra 5% using code: EXTRA5shop here
  • 50% off at Beauty Bay + extra 12% off using code: EXTRA12shop here
  • 25% off at Cult Beauty – shop here
  • 25% off at Space NK – shop here

Best beauty electrical deals

  • ghd Platinum+ White Straighteners from Lookfantastic, £164.25 (save £54.75) – buy here
  • Beauty Works Molly Mae Styler Bundle, £104.95 (save £45) – buy from Beauty Bay
  • Oral-B iO8™ Electric Toothbrush with Limited Edition Travel Case, £170 (save £280) – buy from Boots
  • Babyliss Pearl Shimmer Straightener, £34 (save £50) – buy from Boots
  • Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumiser, £30 (save £33) – buy from Argos

Best home deals

Best toy deals

Best gaming deals

  • Xbox Series X, £189 (save £60.99) – buy from Currys or BT Shop
  • Nintendo Switch Neon + Mario Kart, £259.99 (was £311.97) – buy from GAME
  • Nintendo Switch Console, Mario Kart 8 + 3 Month Subscription, £259.99 – buy from Argos
  • Razer Kraken Gaming Headset, £49.99 (save 38%) – buy from Amazon
  • Meta Quest 2 128GB – Resident Evil 4 Bundle, £349 (save 50.99) – buy from Amazon

(AD) Best DB luggage deals

  • The Strøm 20L Backpack Raspberry, £119 (was: £170) – buy here
  • The Ramverk 21L Backpack Sunbleached Red, £133 (was: £190) – buy here
  • The Strøm 30L Backpack Midnight Sun, £140 (was: £210) – buy here
  • The Æra 16L Backpack Gneiss, £84 (was: £140) – buy here

Best large appliance deals

  • Samsung Series 6 SpaceMax RB34T632ESA/EU 70/30 Fridge Freezer, £449 (save £280) – buy now from Currys
  • Hoover H-Wash 300 H3W49TGGE NFC 9 kg 1400 Spin Washing Machine, £269 (save £100) – buy now from Currys
  • Candy Smart CSE C10LF 10kg Condenser Tumble Dryer, £249 (save £30) – buy now from Very

Best Oodie deals

  • Oodie Mega Pack (6 Oodies), £252 (saving £282) – buy here
  • Oodie Family Pack (4 Oodies), £202 (saving £154) – buy here
  • Green Tie-Dye Oodie, £54 (saving £35) – buy here
  • Avocado Oodie, £54 (saving £35) – buy here
  • Grey Oodie, £59 (saving £30) – buy here
  • Pink Kids Oodie, £42 (saving £35) – buy here

Best TV deals

Best tech deals

Best phone and SIM deals

Best car deals

  • Save 25% on Carly this Black Friday –  prices start from £74.80  shop here
  • Amazon Echo Auto (Alexa for your car), £23.99 (was £49.99) – buy from Amazon

Best broadband deals

  • Hyperoptic, 50 mbps average, £17.99pm – buy here
  • Now, 63 mbps average, £20 a month – buy here
  • Sky, 36 mbps average, £23 a month – buy here
  • Virgin Media, 362mbps average, £27 a month – buy her

What extra discounts are available during Black Friday 2023?

Shoppers can maximise savings during Black Friday by using the Sun Vouchers website to check for extra discounts at top retailers.

It’s also worth checking cashback sites like TopCashback, which offer money back on any purchases you make at thousands of retailers when you use their site.

Some retailers also offer discounts for NHS workers, students or those who work in the military, so it’s worth checking if you’re eligible for any of those.

More Black Friday Tech Deals

When do Black Friday 2023 deals start?

Not on Black Friday itself, that’s for sure.

Traditionally Black Friday sales began at midnight, but over the last few years, many retailers have chosen to begin their sales even earlier.

In fact, it’s likely we’ll see some noteworthy offers start to appear as early as the beginning of November (indeed, some phone retailers roll out ‘Why Wait?’-themed sales in October).

However, the best is generally saved for last, with the finest offers usually not being launched until the week of Black Friday itself – so keep your eyes peeled from about Monday, November 21 onwards.

How long does Black Friday last?

Don’t think for a second that Black Friday is a day-long sale, or indeed even a days-long sale.

In reality, Black Friday 2023 will likely span the entire month of November, so don’t put off your deal-hunting until the big day itself.

This is a hugely competitive time for retailers, so each year they kick off their sales earlier and earlier in an effort to outdo each other.

In previous years Boots, Amazon and John Lewis, along with a number of other major retailers, launched their deals a fortnight earlier than the official date.

Whether you plan to head to your favourite shops or sit on your sofa and browse online, it’s best to stay up to date with all the latest deals from key retailers by following this guide.

You can also sign up for retailer newsletters and follow key stores on social media to get important announcements and sale previews.

When do Black Friday sales end?

Most Black Friday sales will come to an end on Cyber Monday, which in 2023 falls on November 27.

Cyber Monday is traditionally an online-only sale for retailers to slash prices ahead of the festive season.

Originally just a marketing ploy, the event has now become a final opportunity to pick up savings on coveted items without the Black Friday chaos previously witnessed in stores during Black Fridays of yesteryear.

What’s the history of Black Friday?

The term Black Friday, regrettably, has some pretty unsavoury origins.

The term “Black Friday” was first used by Philadelphia police in America, back in the 1950s, to describe heavy traffic on the day after Thanksgiving as people began their Christmas shopping.

The name caught on and sparked a tradition in retail.

It became a big deal in the UK when Amazon introduced Black Friday as a sales day in 2010. Other retailers, like Asda, soon got in on the action.

And, as online shopping became increasingly popular, Black Friday was joined by Cyber Monday, extending the sales period and introducing great digital-only savings for shoppers.

Is Black Friday the best time to buy?

Black Friday is a great time to purchase a wide range of items, across all categories.

But to really understand whether you are getting a good deal we advise shoppers to check price comparison sites to find the lowest price a product has been recently marked down to.

If you see a deal during Black Friday that’s cheaper than the guide price listed on the comparison website, you can be fairly confident you’re getting a good saving.

Read our guide to find out the key differences between Black Friday and Cyber Monday and which day is best for discounts.

Is Black Friday cheaper than Amazon Prime Day?

Prime Day is limited to the online retailer, while Black Friday offers competitive deals from numerous shops and sites. The former is strictly limited to Prime customers.

However, there are big savings to be had on Prime Day, particularly on the company’s own lines of products – such as Echo Dot, Kindle and Fire Stick. Prime Day generally edges out Black Friday on tech deals overall.

But Black Friday is generally top for a range of other items, including homeware. It’s also better positioned for you to take advantage of big savings when it comes to Christmas shopping.

More Beauty Black Friday Deals

Can I get cashback on Black Friday?

Absolutely – in fact, our advice is to sign up now for TopCashback if you haven’t already.

The savings site is a very simple, very convenient way of saving cash on online purchases from a huge array of retailers.

In general, you can claim back anywhere between 2% and 10% on your spending – and trust us, those amounts add up in the longer term.

Better still, TopCashback is offering new members a bonus £10 payout on their first £10+ spend – in these financially stressful times, who can argue with that?

Are Black Friday deals real?

Absolutely! Black Friday is now a well-established annual tradition, with all the leading retailers and brands taking part.

However, you should still exercise caution. Always remember that if a deal looks too good to be true, and you’re not sure about the source, you should think twice before handing over your money.

We’ll recommend all the best bargains on our Black Friday pages, so do have a read for inspiration.

Will Disney+ be on sale for Black Friday?

We’re not sure yet if the streaming service will offer any deals, unfortunately.

But you can almost certainly find great free trials and bundle deals on the Disney+ website – so if you’ve been thinking about subscribing, Black Friday is definitely a good time to do it

How to get a good deal on Black Friday

Here are some of our top shopping tips for getting the best deals in this year’s biggest sales events:

  • Do your homework Don’t just rush into a purchase on Black Friday itself. Plan ahead of time what you want to buy and how it’s currently priced, so that you know where the big savings are.
  • Shop around The joy of Black Friday is that all the retailers are competing to offer you the best deal. Make sure you take advantage of that: compare and contrast different items or packages, and find the one that suits you.
  • Start early Keep your eyes peeled for bargains in the run-up to Black Friday – the early bird catches the deal. And if you’re waiting for the day itself, set your alarm and start shopping first thing so that you beat the competition.
  • Don’t forget the last-minute deals Alternatively, if you can hold your nerve, you’ll find massive savings at the end of Cyber Monday, as retailers offer their final deals. You might find they’ve saved the best for last.
  • Take advice That’s what we’re here for! If in doubt, follow our guidance for the greatest deals and how best to shop on Black Friday and Cyber Monday – and beyond!

Does Black Friday have price match guarantees?

There are a number of UK stores that promise to price-match and you can be sure they’ll all be saying as much when the Black Friday event comes around.

Retailers including Currys, Boots, AO, Halfords, Wickes and Tesco all promise to refund the difference in a product if you find it cheaper elsewhere.

Notice one name conspicuous by its absence in the list above?

In a controversial move, high-street stalwart John Lewis ditched its price match policy in February 2022.

That’s something to keep in mind if you find yourself shopping in the John Lewis Black Friday sale.

More Black Friday Fashion Deals


Sun Vouchers is your one-stop shop for every deal and discount code currently available from your favourite online retailers. Don’t click ‘buy’ until you’ve checked Sun Vouchers for a discount code to apply to your basket.

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