It doesn’t matter what day it is, really.
All the Days have Sales right now. It’s not just two days. It’s like ten days to two weeks, give or take.
So I’m rounding up some deals and sales on useful, nifty, and excellent things. This edition of the gift guide is about sale spotting and good deals. Some of these seem to extend into December, too!
If you spot a good BF/CM deal, please share it in the comments!
My sister convinced me to try Rakuten, which is a shopping portal that offers cash back on purchases at a LOT a lot of stores. Amazon isn’t part of their program, but just about every store I’ve thought of has been inside the Rakuten database. Even Target!
And a MASSIVE number of stores have increased their cash back percentages for “the time around Black Friday and Cyber Monday but why limit ourselves” sales!
I have a referral link good for a $40 cash back bonus when you spend $40. You’re welcome to use it and get extra cash for yourself!
NB: Some of our links are affiliate coded, which sends a portion of your purchase back to us, and no extra cost to you. Thank you in advance for using our links, and if that’s not your thing, no worries! All opinions expressed in this post are my own.
Ok, here we go!
For those of you who love Paula’s Choice skincare, a bunch of their bestselling products are up to 25% off now until December 2! I have seen so many people recommending Paula’s Choice in skincare forums, especially because the products are fragrance-fee.
The 1% Retinol Treatment has been recommended to me a few times:
Paula’s Choice 1% Retinol Treatment, 24% at $49.40
The other products that are on sale include:
- SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant – 24% off at $26.60
- CLINICAL 20% Niacinamide Treatment – 24% off at $41.80
- RESIST Perfectly Balanced Foaming Cleanser – 20% off at $20.80
- 10% Azelaic Acid Booster – 24% off at $29.64
- C15 Super Booster – 24% off at $41.80
- RESIST Youth-Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 50 – 24% off at $29.64
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I love having a humidifier, and I want a small one for my office, especially when the heat is going all day!
Crane Teardrop Humidifer, 33% off at $40
This one has a small footprint, holds a gallon of water, and can humidify spaces up to 500 square feet for 24 hours. It’s so funny to me that I spend the summer complaining about the humidity, and then in the winter I go and get some on purpose!
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I bought a few of these CosRX Snail Mucin Face Masks ($15) to give to my friends in some care packages, but I have this in my cart and I’m thinking hard about it:
COSRX Snail Mucin 96% Essence, 48% off at $13
Based on the nearly 75,000 reviews giving this a 4.6 star average that talk about how moisturizing it is, and that they don’t feel sticky after using it. I do not like feeling sticky. To quote Isabella from Phineas & Ferb, “Stickiness is the most underrated of all the -nesses.”
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Amanda recommended fluffy giant hoodies in the last gift guide, and this one is (a) A Shark and (2) 25% off, for all your fluffy shark needs.
Shark Blanket Hoodie, 25% at $26
You have fluffy shark needs, right? Doesn’t everyone? Well, if not, there’s also a Turkey one that’s 20% off at $32!
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I’m seriously debating buying myself one of these, and then gifting a few to…maybe people who read my website so I’ll stop talking now:
SereneLife Towel Warmer, 42% off at $75
Someday we’ll renovate our bathroom and I’ll install the wall-mounted towel warmer of my dreams, but until then, WARM TOWELS OH MY GOSH. This holds two large towels, or a robe, or a blanket, or my socks, heck, even my undergarments. There’s an option to add a fragrant disk, if that’s your thing.
I may be talking myself into this.
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I don’t have a hand mixer, and there are enough times when I don’t want to lift the stand mixer that having one in the kitchen would be useful.
KitchenAid 5 Ultra Power Hand Mixer, in red, 25% off at $45
This one is 25% off, is from KitchenAid, and comes in shiny and matte colors like the red above, plus green, light blue, grey, and orange!
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And if you’re looking for a stand mixer…
KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 Quart Stand Mixer, 27% off at $329
They’re 27% off, too – and come in a lot of colors, though not all are discounted. I dig the shiny red!
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Every year I recommend backup batteries or power banks as a terrific gift, and everyone I get them for is very appreciative.
Anker MagGo UltraFast 10,000mAh Battery Pack for iPhone 13-16, 40% off at $54
That one is for iPhones, and the one below holds more and is usable on more devices:
Anker 20,000mAh powerbank with USB-C fast charging, 20% off at $32
I never travel without one, and they’ve saved my bum a zillion times.
They’re going to use that as marketing copy, right? “Saved my bum a zillion times!”
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Good grief, even chocolate is on sale!?
Ghirardelli Peppermint Bark Collection, 60pcs, 20% off at $28
I am completely charmed by there being chocolate in the BF/CM sales, but also, I’m so mad I didn’t think of this: one of the reviewers says they drop one in their morning coffee during the holidays.
THAT is SMART.
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I purchased one of these for my spouse, and then he purchased one for his mom, because they both like hot coffee but are slow drinkers.
Ember Temperature Control Mug, 14oz, 36% off at $96
Is it a tiny wee bit silly to spend some dollars on a mug that keeps your hot beverage hot while you drink it? Yes. Is it extremely awesome to use? According to my spouse, Absolutely yes. He loves his.
And if you get it for someone who (a) likes hot beverages, (2) drinks them slowly and (3) would never buy this for themselves, it’s outstanding as a gift. Indulge yourself and the people you love and keep your piping hot beverages piping and hot.
Also why are hot things described as “piping?”
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Of course, Kindles are on sale. For example, the Paperwhite is 19% off at $130.
Kindle 2024 Model, 23% off at $85
I am losing track of what all the Kindles are called, but the newer model is 23% off! And there are frequently trade-in offers if you’ve already got one.
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If you’ve been looking at the Kobo readers, the Kobo Libra Colour is $20 off for Black Friday:
Kobo Libra Colour, $199.99 ($20 off)
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Some perennial items I look for on BF/CM sales: Instant Pots.
Instant Pot Pro 10-in-1, 6 QT, 41% off at $99.99!
I have bought a lot of Instant Pots for different people, and almost always on sale.
And if you’d like my favorite Instant Pot cookbook, it’s this one from ATK!
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If you’re shopping for an air fryer, Instant Pot makes two, and they’re discounted, too!
Instant Pot Vortex, 4 qt, 54% off at $60
That one is over half off, but if you’re thinking you need a larger one, the 6qt version is 33% off at $80!
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I took a peek at some of my favorite Etsy stores, and I need to hold myself back from ordering too many quilt patterns.
I also found lovely items on sale!
Corduroy Lane mini candle, 25% at $10.50
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Silver Rain Jewelry is one of my favorite Etsy shops, and I get almost all my hoop earrings there. I’ve also gifted them to people who have LOVED them. The shop has a LOT of sales right now, mostly 15% off.
I am kinda loving these threaded earrings with a bezel set green stone:
Green bezel-set CZ earrings in silver or gold, 15% off at $9.21
Please be aware, though, that while this shop does shipping very quickly, they are in the UK so you may need some extra time for delivery if you’re in the US!
I also love these paper crane earrings!
Japanese Paper Crane Earrings with resin-sealed washi paper cranes
15% off at $11.12
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Library Card Pillow, 20% off at $20.45
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And one more: Libro.fm is having a Shop Small Sale through December 2!
Customers can shop for audiobooks priced at $5 or less. Nice. The sale collection is VERY robust, including Thank you for Listening by Julia Whelan, Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan, and Don’t Want You Like a Best Friend by Emma R. Alban. There’s so many pages of on-sale audiobooks!
Plus, with Libro.fm, you can select an independent bookstore to support with your shopping, and they’ll get a portion of your purchase!
You can find out all the details at Libro.fm.
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Obviously many stores are having sales right now, so if you spot a great deal, please share it with us!
What Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals have you spotted? What are you shopping for?
That ember mug seemed like the perfect gift for my mom’s husband, who always complains his beverage isn’t hot enough, and believes that microwaving anything will ruin the flavor. Alas, he hates it, because he hates everything, I mean because “it’s a just another gadget” which… I really… I have to believe that most people would prefer to have their problems solved, right? My teeth think my liquids should be tepid, but I am now emotionally invested in believing that mug IS a good and thoughtful gift.
My big BF sale indulgence is a shoe company called Alterre that I really can’t recommend enough. They’re significantly more expensive than they used to be so I only get things on extreme sale now but the modular design is genius especially for travel, they’re so comfortable, and it’s created/designed/run by these two women of color who met at FIT and are just genuinely delightful.
I might get fancy fresh milled flour from Ground Up (15% off with code MILLME). I bake, but so many people I know have gluten problems although they don’t have gluten allergies and a nutritionist recently told me “oh, that’s because of all the round up in wheat” and what? Yeah. Yikes.
@kkw: A mug is a VERY good and thoughtful gift, especially one that keeps your beverage at the temperature you want! Bummer that your creative thoughtfulness wasn’t appreciated.
Thank you for the recommendation of Alterre! I’d never seen them before and now I am also shopping their sale!
I have that Kitchen Aid hand mixer (in what I’ve just learned is the Aqua Sky shade — it’s retro and lovely) and can confirm that it is a good, sturdy little mixer. And the beaters are much easier to clean than those of my previous mixer, which were flat-ish with a sort of groove down the middle that just collected goop.
Also interested in quilt pattern sales! Any good patterns you’re tempted by?
I’ve had my kitchen aid hand mixer for years in a shade called cranberry (a hot pink). I admit I bought it for the color, but it still works really well after all these years.
I put the wire whisk attachment and a small stainless bowl in the freezer before I whip cream which is ready in a couple minutes and impresses guests. You don’t get the fun of squirting the cream directly to your mouth from the can, but it tastes so much better.
I assumed “piping hot” had something to do with a whistling teakettle *shrug*
If that pillow were a proper rectangular shape…
No sale, but a small business favorite that I purchase every year: Art for Everyday desk or poster size calendars. Dogs, Flowers, or artist Kate Libby design. https://www.artforeverydayonline.com
I’ve had an Ember mug since 2020, and I love it. You can set your preferred temperature through an app on your phone. The liquid stays warm for an hour or so. Drinking the last drop of tea or coffee that is still warm is a delight. Costco has the stainless steel version for sale for $79.99.
Kelly D
I tried the Ember mug at a hotel breakfast once, and (while I appreciate the concept) I didn’t like it reheating whenever I moved the mug. I tend to burn my throat easily, and spend my time mixing my coffee and cream to get it a certain temp (shades of that scene in the movie Coffee and Cigarettes). I really love the Miir Camp mugs instead, which stay hot, survive falls with no visible dings, don’t change the taste of your coffee, and have a lid that (while not totally spillproof in say, a bag) does a good job of staying put while you’re carrying it around. They design for a lot of coffeehouses, so if you check the merch section of your fave’s website, you’ll probably find at least one design. (I love Andytown’s plover and skateboarding raccoon design from a few years ago.) Miir has some sort of donation on Black Friday and Cyber Monday instead of a sale (each cup apparently supports a charitable initiative, but I admit I’ve never scanned the code on the bottom of mine to look), but their 12 Days of Drops exclusive line had a gorgeous Japanese-inspired mug from Verve and a subtle 12 Days of Christmas design from Miir itself that I couldn’t resist. (They’re still up on the site, but you’ll need to look for the banner at the top of the page and click it. The non-branded cups are a bit plain for my taste, but that’s just me.) The 12 ounce mugs are about $33 iirc, but your favorite coffeehouse will likely have deals this weekend on their site. I also see myself keeping far too many chocolate bars from Deux Cranes (oh, that hojicha caramel!!) for myself after promising them to others…
I just received the EMBER from my kids for my birthday. I just wish the mug was bigger.
Chirp is also having a ton of spectacular sales on Audiobooks! They have a lot of series bundles, in particular, right now.
Re: ‘piping hot’, here’s what I think. I remember when smoking was more common in the US. Including indooors:
When food is served while it’s very hot, there is rising steam. It can look like smoke curling up from a lit tobacco-pipe.