Don’t just shop this year’s Black Friday sales – outsmart them with our expert guide. From exclusive Boundless discounts to the top items to buy, here’s how to bag the ultimate deal.
Black Friday has become one of the UK’s busiest shopping days, with countless brands promising exclusive discounts and deals. Together with Cyber Monday, which falls three days later, it’s among the most tempting retail incentives of the year: 34% of Brits plan to make Black Friday purchases this November according to YouGov. That’s 13% more than those intending to hit the 2025 Boxing Day sales, and 4% more than Amazon Prime Day.
But while there are often genuine bargains to be found, it’s wise to be cautious about who you give your details and hard-earned money to – especially when shopping online. And sometimes, Black Friday ‘deals’ aren’t quite what they seem: research shows that some items could be cheaper at other times of the year, such as just before Christmas (when retailers want to shift their festive stock) or in January (when they're preparing for new lines).
Nevertheless, Black Friday and Cyber Monday always spark a spending flurry. According to research from finder.com, Brits plan to spend an estimated £3.9 billion on the sales this year – that’s an average of £124 per person.
Credit: Getty Images
When will Black Friday fall in 2025?
The date of Black Friday changes every year: in 2025, it will fall on Friday 28 November, though you can expect many sales to last all weekend – if not longer. Cyber Monday always falls straight after Black Friday: this year, it will be on Monday 1 December.
Many retailers start their sales long before Black Friday, however. In recent years, the likes of John Lewis and Currys have begun discounting in early November, lasting all month.
Black Friday originates in the US: it falls on the Friday after Thanksgiving, which marks the start of the Christmas shopping season. The date may have acquired the title ‘Black Friday’ from the gridlock and crowds that often accompany it, while ‘Cyber Monday’ reflects the propensity of online-only deals.
Credit: Getty Images
How to save even more with your Boundless membership
Want to make maximum savings? You could unlock even bigger reductions on Black Friday deals as a Boundless member. Your exclusive shopping discounts include cashback and savings on more than 100 leading brands – many of which offer Black Friday sales too.
Top retailers include Boots, John Lewis, Currys, and Argos – and that’s in addition to any Black Friday perks. So when you layer the discounts this November, you can make some incredible savings.
Simply purchase a prepaid eGift or top-up card via the Boundless Shopping Discounts portal for the amount you want to spend, and you’ll receive either cashback or an instant saving. You can use the e-voucher straight away, to take advantage of those Black Friday deals as soon as you spot them. And of course, there’s no need to wait until November: Boundless shopping discounts are available all year round, 24/7.
Credit: Getty Images
Ready to hit the Black Friday 2025 sales? Ensure you get the best savings – and make every pound count – with our expert tips...
DO write your shopping list
The lure of a good deal can sometimes be too tempting to resist, whether or not you actually need that air fryer or steam mop. Novuna Consumer Finance found that one in three shoppers end up re-gifting items they purchased for themselves in the Black Friday sales, so the key to shopping smartly is to know what you’re looking for and stick to it.
Prior to the big day, note down the items you’re on the hunt for, as well as the retailers you’d like to shop from, and set a spend limit. Make your key purchases before you blow your budget – and as above, don’t forget to check which brands offer Boundless member discounts too.
DO buy big-ticket items
If you need to invest in some expensive items, November is a great time to buy them at a discount. According to YouGov, the most common Black Friday purchase is technology, with 52% of Brits having bought items such as laptops, iPads and mobile phones in previous years, while 29% have splashed out on household appliances.
Look ahead to see if you have any big-ticket purchases on the horizon. If you’re planning on renovating or moving home soon, it might be worth sourcing furniture and white goods now. If you’re expecting a new grandchild, keep an eye out for discounted baby essentials – or if you’re craving a holiday, keep an eye out for deals with tour operators and airlines.
DO sign up to newsletters
Once you’ve made your hit-list of brands, sign up to their newsletters to be the first to know about their Black Friday discounts. Many will send out exclusive access or deals to subscribers first, giving you first dibs on markdowns.
It’s also worth checking the newsletters for any further reductions or new deals. For example, Boots and Amazon usually release limited-time discounts on certain items or categories throughout November, while other brands may add new stock to their offering.
DO pre-plan Christmas presents
If you already know what you want to buy for friends and family this Christmas, then use Black Friday to your advantage. In fact, gifts are the second most common Black Friday purchase, with 47% of Brits stocking up on presents according to YouGov.
So ask your loved ones for their Christmas wish-lists in advance. Whether they’re hankering for hair-styling gadgets from Argos, DIY tools from Screwfix, trainers from Sports Direct or a cosy jumper from ASOS – you could make serious savings on their dream present this year.
Other Black Friday pages to monitor include:
- John Lewis Black Friday – for fashion, homeware, beauty and technology
- Currys Black Friday – for kitchen appliances, TVs, mobiles and laptops
- Halfords Black Friday – for bikes, motoring essentials and leisure equipment
- Boots Black Friday – for beauty, cosmetics, baby gifts and healthcare
- Hobbycraft Black Friday – for crafts, art supplies, baking and gifts
All of the above brands – plus over 100 more – offer exclusive Boundless shopping discounts too, so don’t forget to check if you can scoop extra savings.
DO shop around
It’s wise to visit different stores to compare prices for the items you have your eye on, as some might have a better sale than others.
If you’re shopping online, you can install a browser plug-in such as Karma that'll scour the internet for you, automatically applying the best discount codes or letting you know if an item drops in price.
DON'T forget to check past prices
Just because an item features in a Black Friday sale, that doesn’t mean it’s the best time to buy. A 2024 Which? study of 227 ‘deals’ revealed that all were at least the same price in the six months before or after Black Friday – and 40% were actually cheaper at other times of the year.
So do your price research. For example, if you’re shopping on Amazon, price-tracking sites such as keepa.com and camelcamelcamel.com will give you a detailed price history of your item, so you’ll know whether to hold out for a bigger bargain.
DON'T fall victim to a scam
Black Friday is a scammers’ playground, so stay vigilant when shopping online and only give your details to verified websites. If a deal seems too good to be true, it may well be a fake.
Remember that bona fide brands will never ask for sensitive information – such as your card details – over a text, phone call or email. Check any messages for bad spelling and grammar (a sure sign of a scam), and make sure there's a legitimate email address or website link – genuine brands always own their domain, so ‘johnlewis79@hotmail.com’ isn’t likely to be reputable. Always check for a padlock symbol on the left of your browser bar when paying too; this indicates a secure site.
DON'T underestimate credit cards
As with all purchases, it’s wise to pay with a credit card. Unlike debit card payments, credit transactions are protected by Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, where your credit provider will take liability for any goods or services between £100 and £30,000. PayPal will also allow you to dispute charges for certain items if you make a claim within 180 days of purchase, so it pays to know your rights.
DO save more with Boundless
If you’re a Boundless member, now’s the perfect time to use your exclusive savings at over 100 top brands – and unlock further bargains by layering your discounts and cashback with Black Friday deals. Find out more about the great savings you can make on big-name favourites, including John Lewis, M&S, and Currys, all year-round.
Do more with Boundless
These savings are one example of the deals and discounts available from Boundless. If you're working in or retired from the public sector or civil service, Boundless has two great membership options to choose from: Boundless and Boundless Plus.
With Boundless, you get unlimited access or discounted entry to many of the UK’s top attractions including Kew Gardens and Wakehurst and WWT centres across the UK, as well as year-round deals on restaurants, holidays, shopping and much more. With Boundless Plus, you can enjoy additional benefits including unlimited access to Historic Royal Palaces sites, National Trust for Scotland places, access to the Ramblers' extensive group walks and routes, and peace of mind with roadside assistance and local recovery from Britannia Rescue.
Tips
