Payday looms and festive wishlists grow as retailers quietly drop sharp pre-Black Friday prices on gifts, tech and cosy basics.
From M&S gift sets promising hefty savings to £10 loungewear at Next, a £2.99 mega tub at B&M and travel tech steals, early-bird offers are landing fast. Here’s what matters today, how much you can actually save, and clever ways to stack discounts without blowing the budget.
Early-bird wins: Black Friday-style prices without the rush
Retailers are rolling out pre-Black Friday prices, with everyday buys and early gifts seeing the biggest cuts. Beauty bundles at M&S lead the way, Next’s multipack lounge sets work out at a tenner a set, and B&M’s big sweet tubs dip under £3. Furniture deals and travel gadgets round out a strong mid-week slate.
Top picks today: M&S gift bags up to 60% off, Next loungewear £10 per set, B&M 600g sweet tub for £2.99.
Beauty and grooming: three M&S bags maxing out value
M&S has launched three ready-made gift bags that bundle bestsellers at wallet-friendly prices. The Bath and Body Gift Bag is £25 with a claimed saving of 32% versus buying items individually. Two more bags — Skincare and Haircare — are each £30, aiming squarely at early gifting without flash-sale panic.
One extra trick for M&S loyalists: selected outerwear buys can unlock the retailer’s beauty advent calendar at a huge discount. Shoppers picking up a Thermowarmth-style duvet jacket at around £60 have recently been able to purchase the beauty calendar for £60 instead of £330 — a potential £270 saving tied to a qualifying spend.
Bag the bundle now, bank the bigger calendar saving later — a two-step route to trimming a substantial chunk off gift budgets.
Loungewear under a tenner: Next’s triple pack trick
Next’s Three Pack Long Sleeve Long Leg Jersey Pyjamas cost £30, effectively pricing each lounge set at £10. The bundle includes three full-length bottoms and three tops across berry, pink and navy polka dot. They’re 100% cotton and machine-washable, so they’ll work for weekday evenings, lazy weekends and last-minute overnight stays.
Sweet stash for less: B&M’s 600g tub for £2.99
B&M has cut the price of a 600g Swizzels Sweet Treats tub to £2.99, a handy price for stocking fillers and movie nights. Expect a classic mix: Refreshers, Love Hearts, Parma Violets and Drumsticks. If you plan party bags for December, buy early and store cool and dry to avoid sticky surprises.
Home comforts and furniture deals
Extra seating and a fresh accent piece can transform small gatherings without splashing out. Dunelm’s buyers are serving big markdowns on dining and occasional chairs, useful ahead of packed festive tables.
- Dunelm Siena Dining Chairs, set of 2: now £37, saving over £67, minimalist metal frame, grey finish.
- Dunelm Nylah Curved Accent Chair: now £79.50, down from £159; curved silhouette, wooden legs, compact footprint.
- Dusk Jade Dining Chairs, set of 2: £186, cut from £219; a plusher alternative for neutral schemes.
- Hawthyhome Dining Chairs, set of 2: limited-time price of £97; check padding depth if you sit long hours.
If you’re midway through a room refresh, La Redoute’s home and garden lines show as much as 50% off across selected ranges, and Oliver Bonas has reduced dozens of accessories, from doormats to candle holders, to finish the look cheaply.
Tech that actually saves you stress
Apple AirTags 20–25% off
Misplaced keys, lost luggage and borrowed kit all become less stressful with trackers. Apple’s AirTags are currently down to £28 for one (20% off) or £89 for four (25% off). Setup takes moments in the Find My app and precision finding cuts airport anxiety. They weigh 11g and slip easily into a wallet or bag tag.
Noise-cancelling headphones at a floor price
Soundcore by Anker’s Q20i over-ears have dropped to £31.97 from £49.99. They offer hybrid active noise cancellation, a transparency mode for station announcements, and Bluetooth multipoint so you can switch between phone and laptop. With thousands of positive buyer ratings, they’re a budget-friendly step up from tinny earbuds.
Travel hair dryer deal flies at 80% off
A foldable Floravento dryer has plunged from £148.99 to £29.99, boasting a 2000W motor, two speeds and three heat settings in a compact form. Short hair can be dried in minutes; longer or curly styles take longer but benefit from directional airflow. Alternatives worth a look: Bellissima’s foldable model at £49.99 with a beauty bag, and ghd’s Flight travel dryer at £79, which promises strong performance in a smaller shell.
Travel-smart tech now means fewer compromises: packable dryers, compact trackers and cheap ANC cans for quieter commutes.
Fashion and seasonal picks
Boden cuts for autumn layers and party season
Boden’s reductions span staples and showstoppers. A Trim Detail Jersey Shirt sits at £39.50, down from £79, with a soft handfeel and neat piping that pairs with denim or tailored trousers. For knitwear, the Edie Fair Isle Cardigan is now £71.40 from £119; go true-to-size for layering over tees and thin roll-necks.
Heading into parties, the Lucille Tulle Midi Dress has an active 15% reduction via code WXVK, bringing it to £126.65 from £149. It’s a dress that carries metallic heels and a cropped blazer, then softens with Mary Janes and a chunky knit for a more relaxed look.
Halloween quick wins without the scramble
Need last-minute costumes? A skeleton onesie around £21 covers school runs and sofa time; a Highwayman get-up sits near £21.99 for themed parties; and the red triangle-guard outfit inspired by a certain hit series sits around £48.99 and runs up to XXL. Check masks for visibility, and layer thermals under thin fabrics for chilly nights.
Deal board: prices, savings and quick notes
| Retailer | Item | Price now | Was | Saving | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M&S | Bath & Body Gift Bag | £25 | Varies | c.32% | Great all-rounder stocking gift |
| M&S | Beauty advent calendar (with qualifying spend) | £60 | £330 | £270 | Unlock via selected outerwear purchase |
| Next | 3-pack long sleeve pyjamas | £30 | — | £10 per set | Cotton, mix-and-match colours |
| B&M | Swizzels Sweet Treats tub 600g | £2.99 | — | — | Refreshers, Love Hearts, Drumsticks |
| Dunelm | Siena Dining Chairs, set of 2 | £37 | £104+ | £67+ | Minimalist metal frame |
| Dunelm | Nylah Curved Accent Chair | £79.50 | £159 | £79.50 | Compact occasional chair |
| Apple | AirTags (1 / 4 pack) | £28 / £89 | £35 / £119 | 20–25% | Great for luggage and keys |
| Soundcore | Q20i ANC headphones | £31.97 | £49.99 | 36% | ANC, transparency, multipoint |
| Floravento | Foldable hair dryer | £29.99 | £148.99 | 80% | 2000W, compact travel design |
| Boden | Edie Fair Isle Cardigan | £71.40 | £119 | £47.60 | Sizes XS–XL |
How to stack and budget: turning sale prices into real savings
New-user cashback bonuses can meaningfully shift totals. A £15 welcome credit on a cashback platform can effectively wipe out smaller basket items, such as a £15 seed advent calendar from a DIY chain, or shave a fifth off a £75 order. Always check the retailer list and the payout terms before buying.
Stacking works best when you combine three layers: the retailer discount, a card reward or points offer, and a cashback rate or sign-up boost. Add a promotion code if allowed. Keep screenshots of the tracked rate and your final basket in case the claim needs a nudge later.
Worried about buying too early? Compare against price history where possible, look for free returns, and prioritise lines at risk of selling out — sizes in loungewear, popular chair colours, and limited gift bags tend to disappear first. For sweets and food, check best-before dates and store properly to avoid waste.
If you’re splitting costs across paydays, set a hard list: gifts to secure now (calendar, lounge sets, AirTags), household upgrades to grab if the price is right (chairs, headphones), and nice-to-haves to revisit on Black Friday itself. A simple rule helps: only buy if you can name the recipient, the use, and where it will live.
Those M&S gift bags up to 60% off sound unreal—anyone tried the skincare one yet? Are the savings real or just RRP smoke and mirrors?