Could this Black Friday weekend be the perfect time to stock up on some new Christmas decorations?

We say Black Friday, but really, we’re talking about a whole weekend of knock-down prices aren’t we? That means you can make savings on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, maybe even Thursday or earlier this week, so you don’t have to get involved in any type of violence on Friday just to get a bargain. Please don’t consider bashing someone with your handbag just for the sake of a few quid – there’s plenty of ways (and time) to save.

Jokes aside, we seem to have developed a new tradition of getting ready for Christmas at the end of November with a weekend of bargain hunting. It’s in every retailer’s interest to be involved and although I begrudge Christmas starting before my birthday (which is the 1st December, in case you’re interested), you can’t get away from it.

In addition to looking for bargains, this weekend (in my house) we will be digging out the Christmas decorations from the loft. I will have to take deep breaths whilst I watch the children put them all out and up without any supervision or guidance from me (it’s a tradition in our house that I’m not allowed to get involved – or rearrange them when the kids go to bed!). Such was my delight, therefore, when I received a set of beautiful candles to add to my Christmas decorations and I have managed to put them out already… where I want them to go… and where I think they’ll look good.

And these candles do look good, beautiful in fact, made even more special by the fact that they are incredibly realistic flameless ones, remote controlled no less. I love candles and I would have them decorating the whole house, but the chances of them ever being lit are minimal to none. That’s because although I love them to look at, they are a fire hazard and there is no way I would ever light one and not be in the room all evening to keep an eye on it.

These flameless candles from Luminara are totally safe and you can even set them on a timer. When I spoke to the owner of the company, we discussed, amongst other things, that one customer had made a comment about what a great burglar deterrent they make. Leaving a lamp on is one thing, but who would leave candles burning and not be in the house? Anyone looking through your window and seeing these candles would instantly jump to the conclusion that you were somewhere in the house.

These larger candles are made using real wax, which adds to the look and feel, but of course they never burn down. All you have to do is replace the batteries, which have a life of around 100 hours (using 2 AA batteries). The ‘flame’ dances about in such a realistic way as to offer the same hypnotic effect of a real flame. They only thing they don’t offer is a scent, but as far as usage is concerned, I know I will get much more use out of these than I would an identical real set.

From today and throughout the weekend, Luminara are offering 20% off their range of remote controlled candles and up to 50% off non-remote controlled ones. They would make a great Christmas present, that is if you can bear to give them away.

Disclaimer: I was given these candles in exchange for an honest review – all opinions are my own.