With the clock ticking down on Cyber Monday, the final opportunities to snap up Black Friday bargains are rapidly disappearing. To provide some last-minute retail inspiration, a team of seasoned shopping writers has revealed their most successful and transformative sale purchases from this year and seasons past.
Tech and Reading Revolution
Phoebe's standout purchase was an Amazon Kindle, which she bought during the 2024 Black Friday sale for £79.99. This year, the same device has hit its lowest-ever price point at just £69.99, down from its regular £94.99. Since acquiring the e-reader, Phoebe has doubled her reading output, progressing from 1-2 books monthly to 2-4 novels.
The Kindle's slim, matcha-coloured design makes it exceptionally portable, while features like chapter time estimates help maintain reading goals. Though the display is black and white and doesn't include a plug, the impressive three-week battery life, dark mode for nighttime reading, and household book sharing capabilities make it an invaluable gadget for any book lover.
Beauty and Fashion Investments
Lucy uses Black Friday to stock up on premium Charlotte Tilbury products, with more than half her makeup bag dedicated to the brand. During the sale, she purchased the Pillow Talk Luxury Eyeshadow Palette (£34.50 down from £46), Beautiful Skin Foundation (£29.25 from £39), Pillow Talk Lipstick (£21.75 from £29), and Magic Cream (£59.25 from £79).
These strategic purchases saved her over £40, essentially making one product free. The formulas have consistently earned her compliments, particularly the foundation and magic cream for creating a radiant complexion. The eyeshadow palette's wearable brown-pink shades transition seamlessly from daytime matte to evening shimmer.
Meanwhile, Lauren secured Topshop's funnel bomber jacket through ASOS's up to 70% off sale. Originally £70, the jacket was reduced to £45, with an additional 20% discount code bringing the final price to £40.50. The oversized style features an adjustable waist belt and high collar, aligning perfectly with current trends spotted on celebrities like Hailey Bieber.
Kitchen and Home Transformations
Eve's surprisingly life-changing purchase was an Amazon vegetable chopper, now available as the Fullstar Vegetable Chopper with 43% off at £19.99 instead of £34.99. This gadget has halved her meal preparation time and reduced washing up by eliminating the need for chopping boards and knives.
The BPA-free chopper includes four different fittings - fine dicer, medium dicer, ribbon blade, and spiral blade - all housed in a non-skid base and dishwasher-safe construction. Despite minor issues with skins occasionally clogging the cutter, the device has proven invaluable for daily cooking needs from soups to salads.
Narina found the perfect solution for family photo sharing with Frameo digital frames, having purchased five already with plans for a sixth. Initially buying three frames two Black Fridays ago for around £100 each, she's since found better deals with current prices being the most affordable she's seen.
The frames allow direct photo sharing via the Frameo app, replacing squinted-at WhatsApp images with clear displays that also function as clocks. Her own frame now holds approximately 1,500 photos with plenty of storage remaining, becoming a conversation piece that has convinced visitors to purchase their own.
Footwear and Home Styling
Eve also invested in Dr Martens Gryphon Sandals, taking advantage of up to 40% off across the brand's stock. The Tumbled Nubuck Gryphon sandals in Desert Sand were reduced to £91 from £130, featuring the brand's signature yellow stitching and chunky sole.
The unusually soft leather requires minimal breaking in compared to traditional Dr Martens, making them immediately comfortable. The tan shade offers versatile styling options, and purchasing off-season provides ample time to prepare them for summer wear.
Nisha focused on affordable home styling with discounted coffee table books, purchasing Call It Home: The Details That Matter at £18.19 (originally £32) and Heritage Style: A Fresh New Take on Traditional Design at £19.73 (originally £25). Both books provide interior inspiration with an emphasis on texture layering, serving both decorative and practical purposes for home improvement ideas.
Amazon reviews praise both books for their beautiful styling and inspirational content, though one customer noted delivery damage concerns. For Nisha, they represent the perfect balance of aesthetic appeal and practical home decor guidance without the premium price tag typically associated with coffee table books.
