AD | Black Friday Family Buys: What I’ll actually be looking out for this year

A sponsored post 

Black Friday sales can be a bit of a minefield, can’t they? Everywhere you look there are flashing banners, countdowns and supposedly amazing offers. Before you know it, you’ve convinced yourself that you absolutely need a new air fryer, television and a new coffee machine. For me, Black Friday is less about buying things for the sake of it and more about getting a head start on Christmas, replacing things we genuinely need and hopefully saving a few pounds along the way. With two boys who seem to grow at an alarming rate, there are a few things that I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for this year.

Football kits for growing children

If you have a football-mad child, you’ll know exactly what I mean. Football kits are one of those purchases that can feel expensive when you know your child might grow out of them before you’ve even had time to wash them properly. One minute the shirt fits perfectly. The next, the sleeves are halfway up their arms and you’re wondering whether they’ve grown overnight.

My youngest son has always loved football, so kids football kits, training tops and football clothing are things I’m very happy to buy when I can find a decent saving. Black Friday can also be a good opportunity to look at previous-season kits. If your child isn’t bothered about having the newest shirt as soon as it launches, you can sometimes find official shirts at a much better price. And let’s be honest, most children aren’t worried about whether their shirt is from this season or last season. They just want to wear their favourite team and player.

I’d be looking for:

• Children’s football shirts and kits
• Training tops and tracksuits
• Football boots
• Football socks
• Winter training layers

Just remember to check the sizing and returns policy before clicking that checkout button. I’ve learnt that lesson the hard way!

Trainers and sports kit

Children’s feet seem to have their own growth schedule. You buy new trainers and somehow, two months later, they’re complaining that they’re too small. If your children are active, Black Friday is worth keeping in mind for trainers, football boots and sports clothing. I’d also look at gym shoes, swimming kit and outdoor clothing that they’ll get plenty of use from. For me, the best bargains are things we would have bought anyway. If something is going to be worn several times a week, I’d much rather get it at a reduced price than pay full price because I left it until we desperately needed it.

Winter coats and outdoor clothing

British weather means a decent coat is basically a parenting essential. One minute you’re leaving the house in sunshine and by lunchtime it’s raining sideways.

Black Friday is a good time to look for winter coats, waterproof jackets, fleece layers and walking boots, particularly if your children spend lots of time outdoors. I’d also keep an eye out for hats, gloves, thermal layers and waterproof trousers. These might not be the most exciting Christmas presents, but they are definitely the things that get used.

Tech and gaming accessories

As the boys have got older, technology has become increasingly difficult to avoid. There are headphones, gaming accessories, chargers, speakers, tablets and all sorts of gadgets that apparently we now need. I’m not saying you should buy every bit of tech that has a discount attached to it. Quite the opposite. I’d decide what you actually need first and then watch the prices. If headphones or gaming accessories are already on the Christmas list, Black Friday could be a good opportunity to pick them up for less. My golden rule is simple:

A discount isn’t a saving if you didn’t need the item in the first place.

LEGO, games and family entertainment

I love a Christmas present that doesn’t immediately involve another screen. LEGO, board games, card games and puzzles can make great presents, particularly when you’ve got children of different ages. They’re also useful during the Christmas holidays when everyone has eaten too much, it’s raining outside and someone announces they’re bored approximately ten minutes after breakfast. LEGO is another one I’d keep an eye on during Black Friday, especially larger sets that might otherwise be quite expensive.

Experiences rather than more stuff

This is probably one of my favourite ideas. We have reached the stage where the boys have plenty of stuff. Their bedrooms are full, the cupboards are full and I’m pretty sure there are footballs hiding in places I haven’t discovered yet. Sometimes the best present isn’t another thing.

It could be cinema tickets, a family day out, a football or cricket experience, race track membership or tickets to something they’re really interested in. The boys are getting older and I’m becoming increasingly aware that the memories we make together matter far more than another toy that gets forgotten about by mid-January.

Family essentials

And then there are the boring things. School bags. Lunch boxes. Water bottles. Bedding. Pyjamas. Storage. Kitchen gadgets. Not exactly the most exciting Christmas presents, but if something needs replacing anyway, Black Friday can be a good time to do it. I’ll always prioritise something we’re genuinely going to use over a random bargain that happens to look tempting.

My Black Friday rule

I’ve become much more sensible about sales as I’ve got older. Before buying anything, I ask myself three questions:

• Did I already need it?
• Will we actually use it?
• Is the price genuinely good compared with what it normally costs?

I’ll also compare prices rather than assuming the first “Black Friday deal” I see is automatically the best one. For children’s clothes and football kits, I’ll check the sizing carefully too. There is nothing worse than finding what looks like an amazing bargain only to discover you’ve bought something two sizes too small.

Black Friday without the madness

For me, Black Friday works best when it’s planned. I’ll make a list of the things we genuinely need, keep an eye on prices and then decide whether the deal is actually worth taking. With two rapidly growing boys, football kits, trainers and sports clothing will definitely be somewhere near the top of my list this year. If I can save a few pounds on something they’re going to wear constantly anyway, I’ll happily take the win.

And if I can tick a few Christmas presents off the list at the same time? Even better. Now, where did I put that Christmas list?