Copyright dailyrecord
A mum-of-two has revealed how she manages to keep her children's Christmas magical, as well as her purse intact, by using a clever money-saving strategy in the run-up to the festive season. Madison Perkins from Cwmbran in Wales says she starts planning Christmas months in advanced and explained that one of her favourite ways to bag big-ticket items is by entering Black Friday competitions and giveaways. "We have a three-year-old and a seven-year-old, and the best thing I have learnt is to enter as many competitions around Black Friday as you can. Giveaways are a great way to surprise your children with bigger gifts," the 27-year-old mum said. She recalls a particularly memorable win, revealing: "Last year my seven-year-old had her heart set on a Barbie Dream house, it was £300, I had to tell her it wasn’t possible. Then I saw a black Friday give away and managed to win it for her. She was over the moon, and the girls still use it today." Over the years, Madison says she's been able to save loads by entering various Black Friday giveaway competitions, Wales Online reports. She has managed to win a Barbie Dream House worth £300, as well as a Jellycat teabag plushie worth £25, £50 worth of Nintendo Switch games and even a £900 iCandy travel system all for free. The young mum said she enters over 50 Black Friday competitions each year, in hopes to secure a win with one or more of them. Many retailers now run Black Friday giveaways as part of their social media campaigns, using them to engage followers, boost brand visibility and create excitement around their products. They post the giveaways on Instagram and TikTok official accounts. Many of the products as part of these giveaways range in various sizes and price depending on the brand. Similar to the previous giveaways Madison has entered the products can be small gadgets and beauty products to high-value items like toys, electronics and home goods. Madison says she learned to use these saving hacks quickly after giving birth to her first daughter Willow-Rose, now seven, when she was just 19. "My partner and I were just starting out with no money, and so I learnt to live saving as much money as I could," she says. "I am a lot more stable now, but I share my tips online and carry them on for others. "It is hard to survive in the modern world. Everything is so expensive, so I like to try to help people with their saving." Her giveaway strategy has become second nature, with her social media algorithms on TikTok and Instagram now showing competitions automatically. However, she suggests simply searching online for "Black Friday giveaway" to discover competitions to enter. Madison encourages others to try the same approach, entering as many as possible to increase their chances of winning something in return. Most brands make it easy to take part, typically asking people to like the post, leave a comment, and share it on their story to be entered into the draw.
