As Black Friday 2025 approaches on Sunday 30 November, savvy shoppers are looking beyond big-ticket items to stock up on daily essentials and find perfect Christmas gifts without breaking the bank. The Independent's consumer experts have curated a selection of brilliant products all discounted to under £50 and carrying the prestigious IndyBest seal of approval.
Expert-Approved Bargains
Molly Greeves, consumer writer for The Independent, has compiled this carefully selected list, emphasising that every product featured has been rigorously tested by IndyBest's team of specialists. With thousands of products evaluated across categories from technology to skincare, readers can shop with confidence knowing these recommendations come from thorough, hands-on testing.
Greeves advises shoppers to approach Black Friday with a plan: "While it's easy to get carried away by the sheer volume of discounts, I'd recommend drawing up your own shopping list and sticking to it to avoid impulse buys." This thoughtful approach ensures you only purchase items you genuinely need and can afford.
Standout Tech and Gadget Deals
Technology enthusiasts will find several impressive discounts in this under-£50 category. The Soundcore Motion 300 Bluetooth speaker has dropped from £79.99 to just £49.62 on Amazon - a saving of nearly 40%. Tech expert Ian Evenden praised this compact speaker during testing, noting its IPX7 water resistance rating, all-day battery life, and physical controls.
For those prioritising personal care, the Oral-B iO2 electric toothbrush represents exceptional value at just £34.99 from Currys, down from £100. Steve Hogarty, who tested electric toothbrushes for IndyBest, described this model as "the smartest purchase in the entire iO range", highlighting its visible pressure sensor and two-minute timer.
Beauty, Fashion and Home Essentials
The beauty sector offers several cult favourites at reduced prices. This Works deep sleep pillow spray has 40% off, now costing £14.99 instead of £25. Beauty writer Lucy Smith, a long-time user, describes the camomile, lavender and vetivert scented spray as creating a spa-like atmosphere.
Fashion-conscious shoppers can snap up the Whistles tan knotted zip pull purse for £33.75 instead of £45. Reviewer Lois Borny commended its "buttery finish and premium feel", noting the 100% leather construction offers excellent value.
For home essentials, the Beldray heat unit and 3-tier airer cover is half price at Argos, now just £25. During testing, Zoe Griffin found it dried shirts in a couple of hours and jeans in under four hours, making it an ideal budget solution for winter laundry.
Perfect Timing for Christmas Shopping
Many of these discounted products make ideal Christmas gifts, with the timing of Black Friday providing the perfect opportunity to complete festive shopping economically. From the Marc Jacobs Daisy perfume at 50% off (£37.50 instead of £75) to the Elemis pro-collagen cleansing balm reduced from £52 to £39 at John Lewis, there are luxury items accessible at budget-friendly prices.
Even Christmas entertaining is covered, with Janneau VSOP armagnac available for £36.56 instead of £44.99 on Amazon. Jonathan Hatchman described it as providing "an exemplary introduction to the category" with notes of apricot, honey and warm spices.
The Independent will continue updating this guide with new deals and refreshed prices as more Black Friday offers emerge, ensuring readers have access to the best budget-friendly bargains throughout the sales period.
