Is it just us, or did winter *really* sneak up on us this year?

It feels like, only a few seconds ago, we were taking pictures in pumpkin patches and lining up our favourite spooky movies for a Halloween marathon (all while cramming for midterms, mind you.) And now, all of a sudden, we’re scraping ice off our windshields in the morning?

Turn back the clock; this is a bad deal.

Speaking of deals, though—the cold season does bring one of the most anticipated shopping days of the year: Black Friday.

Now, OK, look: we know better than to mindlessly promote Black Friday sales because to be honest, Black Friday has a lot of issues. Compulsively stockpiling luxury goods you don’t need (or, sometimes, even want) just because “they’re on a great sale” has very real environmental and labour rights consequences—so much so that “Buy Nothing Day” has emerged as a concurrent counter-holiday.

At the same time, though, for a lot of students it’s the one period where buying essentials doesn’t break the bank.

Ultimately, whether you decide to participate in Black Friday is up to you. But if you do choose to fill up a shopping cart, do so mindfully, such as for student necessities.

So here’s our list of where you can score some discounts on some student essentials:

For tech

With many Humber and UofGH classes still online, having reliable equipment is more important than ever. Here’s where you can save on useful gadgets:

• Apple’s M1 MacBook Air is over $160 off with $40 off Apple Care
• Lenovo’s ThinkPad T490 laptop is nearly $1,000 off
• Acer’s Chromebook is 30 per cent off
• HP’s 15-dw3007ca Touch Screen Notebook is $130 off
• Kindles with a built-in front light are 42 per cent off
• Walmart Canada will have deals on select electronics and small appliances starting Thursday, Nov. 25.
• Staples Canada is offering half off wireless keyboards.

For clothes

At some point in the not-so-distant past, the world seemingly decided it was OK to charge $30 for a T-shirt (and clearly consulted zero students before making that decision.) Here’s where you can find affordable apparel this year:

• Girlfriend Collective is offering 30 per cent off site-wide from Monday, Nov. 22 – Monday, Nov. 29.
• Old Navy has styles from $10, including 30 per cent off matching holiday pyjama sets.
• DUER is offering 20 to 40 per cent off seasonal products and 10 to 15 per cent off bestsellers starting Monday, Nov. 22.
• Aéropostale is offering 40 to 50 per cent off select styles.
• Lululemon’s “We Made Too Much” section offers steep discounts on all the best athleisure.
• Aldo is offering up to half off on out-of-season footwear and accessories.
• H&M will offer half off of select pieces; and Student Price Card members get an additional 10 per cent off when they shop online!

For home goods

Home is where the heart is; and your heart deserves to be comfortable no matter your income. Here’s where you can find necessities for your nest:

• Canadian Tire is offering up to 70 per cent off of kitchen appliances.
• Canadian Tire is also offering up to 50 per cent off of vacuums and floor care items.
• Indigo is offering deals on books, toys, electronics and fashion starting Friday, Nov. 26.
• IKEA Canada’s Green Friday campaign is offering increased sell-back value when you trade in gently used furniture from Monday, Nov. 1 to Sunday, Nov. 14 and and additional 25 per cent off used items for IKEA Family members from Thursday, Nov. 26 to Monday, Nov. 29.
• Michael’s is offering 30 per cent off any regular price item and will continue to announce deals via their weekly advertisement.
• Nintendo is offering a Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Switch bundle, which includes a Nintendo Switch and a copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for $379 altogether. You can also get a selection of popular video games for $25 off. (We know whether video games belong under “home goods” is debatable; but you keep them in your home and they’re definitely good. So what do you want from us?)

For study snacks

Snacking while studying helps us learn better. It’s, like, science. Probably. Here’s where to save on your favourite nibbles:

• Evive will give you 30 per cent off your first box when you use the promo code NOVEMBER30.
• Costco has savings on all your favourite bulk snacks throughout November.
• Walmart is offering deals on all the gadgets to make your meals, like:
  • an air fryer for $60
  • a $25 personal blender
  • a milk frother for under $10 (hello, TikTok coffee)
  • a $33 single-serve coffee brewer
• Genuine Tea is offering 55 per cent off all matcha and green tea.

However you choose to acknowledge this Black Friday, IGNITE wishes you a great one.

Black Friday deals aside, here’s how you can make a gourmet meal on a student budget.

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