Even though Black Friday started as an American retail tradition, it’s also gained traction in the UK in recent years. In fact, 2018 saw a record level increase in Amazon orders among UK shoppers on the weekend of Black Friday. CNBC reported that the British are “some of the most avid Black Friday” participants.
2019 forecasts reveal a slight downturn in momentum from last year. Still, projections say the average consumer will spend £220 between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which is more than £7 billion in total, according to Finder.com.
Just because you’re a student on a budget doesn’t mean you have to miss out on all the retail action. Here are five Black Friday Amazon deals—from tech devices to dorm essentials—to take advantage of as November 29 draws closer.
Fitbit Activity Tracker
- Black Friday Price: £98.99
- Compare at RRP: £129.99
Whether you’re a student-athlete, or you want to add in more exercise between classes, this wearable tracker fitness records all your workouts, then automatically stores and uploads the data to a synced Fitbit app. It also calculates information such as calorie burn, sleep quality, and other health goals and trends. This model is GPS-enabled and water-resistant, so you can monitor all activities, from running to swimming to biking.
Amazon Echo Dot
- Black Friday Price: £54.99
- Compare at RRP: £109.98
Virtual assistants are some of the most popular holiday gifts on the market, and this discount bundle features an Echo Dot speaker and four Tile Stickers. Tiles are a must for the busy student. These Bluetooth devices track your misplaced items such as a phone, backpack, wallet or keys. In addition, the Echo Dot comes with Alexa technology to stream music, find the answer to a question, set alarms, check the weather and turn on Netflix with basic voice commands.
Nescafé Coffee Maker
- Black Friday Price: £29.99
- Compare at RRP: £37.55
For those mornings after an all-nighter or if you just stared at your laptop screen for hours writing an essay, a caffeine boost is essential. The Nescafé Dolce Gusto coffee maker has your needs covered. The built-in 15-bar pump pressure allows you to craft various hot and cold drinks, from mochas to cortados to iced lattes, and the single-serve coffee pods can be found in both supermarket chains and online. (Unlike some other swankier and more expensive options—not naming names!)
Wireless Earbuds
Use this link on Black Friday!
- Black Friday Price: £17.99
- Compare at RRP: £69.99
Gone are the treks to campus when you’re listening to music or streaming a podcast, then suddenly have to stop and untangle your headphone wires. These echo- and noise-cancelling Bluetooth earbuds feature a 35-hour battery life with a portable case that charges them on-the-go and stereo quality bass speakers. The earbuds are also compatible with most Apple, Microsoft, and Android smart devices, so crank up that playlist—tangle-free.
THE COMFY Blanket
- Black Friday Price: £36.00
- Compare at RRP: £49.99
There are times when you’re camped at the library, times when you’re out with mates, and times when you just want to sprawl on the couch and binge episodes of Love Island. The COMFY blanket is for those lazy afternoons, and to sweeten the deal, even more, it’s part fleece blanket and part oversized sweatshirt. As the weather cools down this holiday season, pull on the sherpa hood and cosy in for hot cocoa and a TV marathon.
Black Friday Amazon Deals + Bonus Local Finds!
In addition to Black Friday, there’s also Small Business Saturday which takes place this year on December 7 around the UK. You can use the small business finder to search for the participating stores in your area. This is an ideal way to show appreciation to the local business owners who support your university.
But whether you choose to snag those Black Friday Amazon deals or wait another few weeks for Small Business Saturday, ‘tis the season to be shopping!
