As the autumn leaves begin to fall and the air takes on that crisp, cool edge, there’s one event that retail enthusiasts and bargain hunters alike mark on their calendars – Black Friday. It’s no secret that this day offers some of the best deals of the year, transforming ordinary shoppers into savvy deal-seekers overnight. This year, I decided to dive headfirst into this shopping extravaganza, armed with a steaming cup of tea but sadly lacking the usual Santa long list of wishes. In short, I decided to go with the flow.
Going with the flow for a shopaholic such as myself can be a dangers thing to do, but I am quite happy with how things turned out.
In this article, I’ll be sharing my personal Black Friday journey, from the thrilling early morning start to the triumphant scores, but let me warn you that this Black Friday shopping trip was not quite as you might imagine it.
I’ll be “unveiling” each of my carefully selected treasures, explaining why they caught my eye, and hopefully, inspiring you to consider these items for your own wish list.
Whether you’re still basking in the post-Black Friday glow or preparing your strategy for the next big shopping event – Boxing Day, join me as I recount my retail adventure and share the gems I discovered along the way. Let’s unwrap this story together…
KitchenAid Artisan 5KSM175
The crown jewel of my Black Friday haul was undoubtedly the KitchenAid Artisan 5KSM175. This culinary powerhouse had been on my radar for a while, but its substantial price tag always made me hesitate. Instead, I opted for a more budget-friendly version from Delimano a few years ago. While I had generally positive experiences with Delimano products, this mixer left much to be desired. It struggled with basic tasks like whipping cream and kneading dough, and after a few underwhelming attempts, it gave up completely. An absolute letdown!
Not long ago, Lidl rolled out an enticing promotion for a similar stand mixer. Its price was even more economical than the Delimano mixer, so I thought, why not give it a go? But alas, it was nowhere to be found. Despite its apparently low stock and suspiciously low price compared to similar models on German websites, store employees assured me it was available.
However, despite my best efforts, I never saw one on the shelves or in anyone’s cart. Although I’ve had good luck with Lidl appliances before, this experience left me skeptical and disappointed.
This disappointment, however, turned into a wake-up call. Why keep risking money on potentially subpar products when I could invest in the real deal? So, I decided to take the plunge and purchased the KitchenAid Artisan 5KSM175. It wasn’t the latest model, but I managed to snag it at a whopping 30% discount—a significant saving considering its original price.
Having tested it with a few recipes, I can confidently say that it outperforms its predecessors by leaps and bounds. Its whisk attachment reaches every corner of the bowl, ensuring thorough mixing. The mixer’s weight is a testament to its robust construction, explaining the special cabinets with lifting mechanisms I’ve seen on HGTV. For now, it has a permanent spot on my kitchen counter, saving me the trouble of moving it around.
I’m optimistic that this KitchenAid mixer will live up to its reputation as a lifetime investment. It certainly feels sturdy and well-built. The only minor drawback is the guard—the plastic cover designed to prevent spills doesn’t fit perfectly and can shift if not held in place. But that’s a small price to pay for what has otherwise been an extremely satisfying purchase.
You can find it here: LakeLand, Amazon UK, Myer Pty or Walmart
Insta360 GO3
Once upon a time, in a world filled with digital noise and fleeting moments, my heart was captivated by the smallest action camera on the market, the Insta360 GO3. It was love at first sight. The size, the convenience, the sheer simplicity of it all was so appealing. I imagined it as my faithful sidekick on my adventures, capturing the beauty of the world around me and the joy of life’s little moments with an ease that no other device could match.
I was enchanted by its versatility. The Insta360 GO3 isn’t just a camera; it is a chameleon. With its array of accessories, it can adapt to any situation, whether hanging from a tree branch or sitting snugly on my countertop. This tiny contraption is supposed to make capturing great images and videos feel like child’s play. It is lighter than a feather, cuter than a button, and it promises a world of creative opportunities.
When Black Friday rolled around, the excitement was palpable. I unboxed the camera along with my other goodies, but for some inexplicable reason, I didn’t use it right away. Perhaps I was overwhelmed by the thrill of it all. Looking back, I can’t help but chuckle at my missed opportunity.
In the past, I’ve fallen into the trap of buying gadgets for blogging that ended up gathering dust. I’ve learned my lesson and now advise budding bloggers not to splurge on equipment until they are certain about their commitment to this path. But this time, it felt different. The Insta360 GO3 is not just another shiny toy; it is a tool that promises to make my work easier and more enjoyable.
With its compact design and the action pod to control it that is reminiscent of the digital cameras from a decade ago, and a mobile app that puts control right at your fingertips, this camera feels both nostalgic and futuristic. It’s simpler than a DSLR, yet offers the potential for stunning videos that require no professional training.
As I look forward to exploring the capabilities of the Insta360 GO3, I can’t help but feel a sense of anticipation. This isn’t just a camera; it’s an opportunity to capture life in all its vibrancy and complexity and of course some more content for my failed attempts at TikToking. I’m excited to see where this journey takes me.
In the grand pursuit of the Insta360 GO3, I found myself torn between ordering it from the official website or exploring other avenues. My heart was set on the creators’ kit available on the official site, but my practical side urged me to consider the financial implications. In the end, practicality won out.
As Black Friday deals swept across the market, I discovered an offer on a local marketplace similar to Amazon. The deal was slightly more economical than the official website and offered a payment plan that allowed me to spread the cost over four months at a negligible extra fee of approximately 0.1 GBP.
Now, I’m aware there’s a school of thought that frowns upon such payment schemes, and I completely understand why. However, I’d like to clarify that I never venture into these plans without having the full amount on hand. It’s a rule I live by: never spend money you don’t have, and I urge you to do the same.
So why did I choose this route? Well, it’s all about opportunity cost. By opting for the installment plan, I’m able to invest the remaining money elsewhere and withdraw the funds gradually to pay off each installment. In an ideal scenario, I make a small yet noticeable profit during this period. Of course, it doesn’t always pan out this way – sometimes I have to cut my losses and pull out my investment early. But on occasion, the market favours me, and my return on investment has been enough to cover the final installment.
It’s a risky strategy, and I wouldn’t advise anyone to follow it blindly without consulting a financial advisor. After all, I’m not a professional, just a regular person sharing my personal experience. So please don’t take this as financial advice. Always ensure you’re making informed decisions when it comes to your hard-earned money. Financial prudence is key!
Anyways, I can pick up the missing accessories should I consider that I need them any time from the official website but for now I am happy with the pack the camera came with. The bundle includes a magnetic pendant, sticky base and pivot stand, which are all I need to start capturing memories or unboxing videos haha. There is also a clip on that can be placed on a hat or whatever if I do walking video or such. I am not into extreme sports or sports in general any longer so my content will be milder but it is a nice to have accessory.
So here’s to new adventures with my tiny, yet mighty Insta360 GO3 – the perfect companion for my blogging journey. Cheers!
Available at: Best Buy US or the official Insta360 website
Bath and Body Works Haul
Were you worried? Of course there are some beauty hauls involved as well. I decided to tackle the larger purchases first, but rest assured, there are beauty hauls in the mix too.
Now, I’ll admit, the term ‘larger purchases’ may be slightly misleading considering the small fortune I’ve spent at Bath and Body Works recently. The specifics will be revealed in my end-of-the-month beauty spend report, so I’ll spare you the details for now. But let’s just say, three separate orders were placed, and the total was rather sizeable.
A considerable portion of my shopping cart was filled with their luxurious soaps, which have, unfortunately, seen a significant uptick in price lately. Additionally, I stocked up on numerous refills for the electric scent diffuser.
You see, my mother has a knack for decorating our home according to seasons and significant occasions. Inspired by her, I aspire to become one of those Pinterest/Instagram ladies with a dedicated Bath and Body Works box for every season and occasion. The idea is to pull out the appropriate scents from storage as the seasons change. It might sound like I’m joking, but there’s a hint of truth there. Here’s to making our homes smell as good as they look!
This was truly not a planned haul, not even the first one was planned, but the deals were indeed good – best I will ever get and for once the scents available were mostly the right ones for the season – winter and Christmas scents – scents I did not have in my cupboard.
Perhaps I went a tad overboard with my orders from Bath and Body Works, but that’s hardly an invitation for another round of heated repartee with a retailer representative. Yes, you heard me right. It happened again!
A few months ago, I found myself in an absurd situation where a retailer tried to convince me to pay extra for shipping (above the fee I had already paid). Despite their attempts, I stuck to my guns because I had followed all the rules. The fault lay in their system, not my actions.
This time around, they wanted to cancel my entire order due to the unavailability of a single product. I proposed a simple solution – replace the out-of-stock item. But apparently, that was asking for too much. Really? Their insistence on cancelling my entire order over one missing item left me exasperated. I made it clear that I wanted to keep the rest of my order and receive a refund for the unavailable item.
But no, they wanted me to place a fresh order, conveniently forgetting that the offer I had initially availed was no longer available. Nice try, but I wasn’t born yesterday! I’m no fool to fall for that old trick. I you don’t want people to take advantage of your offers, why make them available in the first place?
Anyways, it was quite an unexpected situation and the person who called me was quite aggressive, so much so that my entire family wondered who the heck had called since they heard the rough and powerful voice of the male shop rep from the other side of the house. They thought it was a client at first as he dared to use that tone, but no – int his situation I am the client/paying customer. Really odd, but it worked out so I guess I can forget all about this, but probably won’t happen anytime soon. I am known to hold grudges when it comes to such situations :D.
Available at: Bath and Body Works, Next.co.uk
Ziaja Hand Soaps
For those of you who’ve been tuned into my journey for a while, you might recall my newfound fondness for Ziaja products during the pandemic. One product, in particular, their hand washing gel, became a staple in my routine. After purchasing it over 50 times, it’s become virtually impossible to find.
Sadly, this beloved product has vanished from the shelves. No longer can I find it at the unbeatable prices on platforms like Notion or Parfimo. And even more surprisingly, it’s missing from pharmacies and dm stores, where it was typically listed at a higher price. It’s a true testament to its popularity and effectiveness that it’s sold out everywhere. Or maybe there is a lack of love for this product 🙁
In any case, I stumbled upon Ziaja’s classic hand soaps on Notino and scooped up quite a few. While they may not reach the lofty standards set by their hand washing gel, in my view, they’re decent alternatives. Yes, they are scented, but they’ll suffice for now. After all, there’s no such thing as too much hand soap!
What really drew me to these soaps was not just their skin-friendly formulation, but also their price point. I’m not sure about the situation where you’re located, but around here, soap prices have skyrocketed. The only reasonably priced hand soap still available is from the Balea range at dm. However, those soaps aren’t exactly compatible with my skin type, often leaving it dry, so I tend to steer clear of them. Everything else either has a strange composition or costs double what it did a few years back. I understand inflation plays a part, but we’re talking about an essential product here. It’s a tad frustrating, to say the least. As such, I do not regret stockpiling on these soaps.
Available at: Notino
Kérastase Specifique Sérum Potentialiste
Since I was already browsing through Notino, I decided to add another item to my cart to dodge the shipping charges.
Admittedly, I had to forgo some of the Ziaja hand soaps as I did not want to spend much more than the minimum spend required for the free shipping, but might be better this way!
With no particular product in mind, I was primarily motivated by an itchy scalp and subsequent overproduction of sebum, leading to unusually greasy hair. One product that had previously worked wonders for me was Inkeylist’s Hyaluronic Acid for hair, but unfortunately, it was unavailable on Notino. So, my search led me to Kérastase Specifique Sérum Potentialiste.
This serum claims to address the issues I mentioned earlier. Honestly, I was unsure about what to expect. While I’ve used Kerastase products before, I hadn’t purchased from them recently due to their steep prices. Instead, I’d been opting for the more affordable Elseve/Elvive alternatives, which, though similar, are not quite as potent. However, considering the amount I’d already splurged on this Black Friday, I thought, why not add this one more item to my haul?
As I pen down these words, I’m contemplating another purchase (the price has dipped even further), especially since I’ve taken a liking to this product. I’ve noticed a significant reduction in itchiness over the past 1.5 weeks since I got it (Black Friday promotions started unusually early in my country) and I must say, my hair looks somewhat improved as well. I plan to provide a detailed review in a few weeks or once I’ve finished the first bottle. But, so far, it’s looking promising!
Available at: Notino or LookFantastic,
Vue Swiss
Finally, on a spontaneous note, I succumbed to the enticement and purchased a set of patches from Vue Swiss. Their advertisements have been popping up consistently over the past few months, and with the ongoing Black Friday Sale, it seemed like the perfect chance to give their products a try.
This is a newish bran as far as I can tell but their products have many great review. We shall see. I will keep you posted. Have you tried their patches?
Available at: Vue Swiss Official Website
The sale I was truly eyeing was the one at YesStyle. I’ve never encountered such attractive discounts on Korean Beauty products before. While K-Beauty is generally reasonably priced and YesStyle often runs promotions, this sale was unlike any I’ve seen since I started paying more attention to them in May. That’s when I decided to revisit the retailer after several years of skipping their offerings.
As much as I’m trying to shake off the feeling of a missed opportunity, with several obligations on the horizon, I can’t afford to deal with parcels whose delivery dates are unpredictable. It’s safe to say that my stress levels are already high, so for now, I’ll have to make do with the abundant K-beauty products still untouched in my collection.
I hope you got the chance to enjoy their sale though. If you haven’t already, you still have a few a bit more time to do so. Remember you can get an even better deal if you use my code BLUSHSUEDE24 at checkout.
In conclusion, while I didn’t have a concrete plan going into the sales, I allowed myself to go with the flow and focus on practical purchases. In retrospect, I don’t regret my haul; even though it involved spending a significant amount of money on both beauty and non-beauty items.
The discounts facilitated the acquisition of items that I either genuinely wanted or needed, which would have been harder to justify at their full price. So, despite the unplanned nature of my shopping spree, I managed to secure valuable and purposeful items. The sale served as an opportunity to invest in products that add value to my everyday routine, making the expenditure worthwhile and satisfying.
What have you picked during the Black Friday promotions?
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