I saved £125.18 in the Black Friday sales and this is how I did it

I try to ask myself if I really need something before I buy it, but I can, on occasion, be impulsive, which is dangerous when you are writing about great Black Friday deals all day. I would say this year I have made some wise purchases that my future self will thank me for, and maybe I have had one impulse buy.

I saved £125.18 with the discounts and deals on offer. I know I am lucky to be able to make some of these purchases and I think most are things I will certainly use and will not go to waste.

With Black Friday not over yet, many of the sales continuing into Cyber Monday on December 2, I may spend on one more item. But here are the products I have bought this year that I think are a real bargain and worth the cash.

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Boots No7 Future Renew Serum - was £42.95, Black Friday sale price£25.77,saving £17.18

The Boots No7 Future Renew Serum has hundreds of five star reviews online and it usually retails for £42.95. When I was buying a replacement one in September I was so happy to get £10 off, but currently, Boots has a massive discount at the lowest price I have ever seen it.

I only apply my serum at night before my moisturiser so one tube lasts me a few months as you only need a small amount. Containing hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and niacinamide, I love how luxurious it feels without being oily, it glides over the skin and instantly my face feels hydrated.

I don't have too many fine lines yet, so I can't be sure if it really reduces the appearance of wrinkles, but maybe it is helping to keep them at bay. I feel that my skin does look brighter after use and I always make sure to stock up before coming to the end of a tube - which I will certainly be doing for £25.77.

If you want to give this a try, now is the time to buy. Read the story here

Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet (newest gen), 8" HD Display - was £99.99, Black Friday sale price £49.99, saving £50

This is my youngest's main present from Santa (don't tell him). I knew I wanted an Amazon Fire tablet of these, so I waited specifically for Black Friday. I hope Martin Lewis is proud of my money-savvy thinking.

After reading the reviews, I thought the Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet (newest gen), 8" HD Display was perfect for what I need and I got the smaller version, with ads and with 32GB for £49.99. I did also buy a New Amazon Kid-Proof Case for Fire HD 8 tablet for £25.99, reduced from £32.99, so saving a further £7.

There are cheaper cases, but I like the stand, design and features on this one. Get the Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet (newest gen), 8" HD Display here.

Charlotte Tilbury's Beautiful Skin Foundation Duo - was £78, Black Friday sale price £39, saving £39

I love the Beautiful Skin Foundation because it is light and cool-toned. It is really easy to put on and blends to look like bare skin. Now, because this is a product that isn't going to go off if you don't open it, I am lucky enough to be able to stock up, so in January, when I need a new one, I will be very grateful I was able to take advantage of this deal.

For two of the 12m tubes, this works out at less than £20 each - a bargain if this is the foundation you wear. You can choose different shades if you want to, so you could, in theory, chip in with a friend who also loves the Beautiful Skin Foundation.

The deal runs while stocks last or until December 4.

COSLUS 300ml water flosser - Was £29.99, Black Friday sale price £17.99, saving £12

I will admit, this was a bit of an impulse buy, but I am hoping it revolutionises my dental routine. Amazon customers have been singing its praises after trying out a dental water flosser. Unlike traditional flossing, a water flosser can effectively clean hard-to-reach areas and is ideal for those with sensitive teeth and gums.

COSLUS offers a variety of water flossers available for purchase on Amazon. Currently, the COSLUS 300ml water flosser is on sale for less than £20 as part of Amazon's Black Friday deals.

The flosser is available in an array of colours, with the black version currently discounted to £18.99 and the mint green variant priced at £17.99, which is the one I opted for. I will let you know how I get on.

Total savings

In total, I saved £125.18 in the Black Friday sales, but that does mean I have spent £158.74. Some of that is a Christmas present however, and the others are so I can put away for when I need the product - or am I just telling myself that and adding it together to make it feel like I have made a saving?

I would have paid £283.92 if I had bought all these items at non-sale prices, so I think I am going to go with I have saved my future self a lot of money and put my bank card away. Although I do have my eye on the Neo Waffle Shaped Heated Throw, available in a stylish mid-grey, which has been reduced from £110 down to £35 at Debenhams.