Bloody advent calendars

[Silverswirl]

When I was little we had card advent calendars that had a picture from the nativity under each door or maybe angels, Holly, a bell, xmas tree etc.
Then when my kids first got advent calendars it was the chocolate ones where a small piece of chocolate was moulded into something. Fine. Cost around £1 Its something they really enjoy each morning and builds the excitement to Christmas Day.
For the last few years it’s been the hero / celebration ones as they saw them in the shop and really wanted one. Ok.. I was a bit 🤨 as they cost £5 each and I have 3 kids but knowing how much they enjoy them we’ve had those for the past few years.
I usually ask the kids if they have a preference on which one they like (ie heroes/ Reece’s / Malteasers etc) or if they want a surprise.
This year I asked my DD age 12. She said that 2 of her friends (I know one is wealthy) are getting the body shop one for £50! WTH? I said no, it’s a chocolate one as usual and does she have a preference and she said Heroes then but sounded disappointed.
So now the large chocolate ones are not good enough?
Why must things just get bigger and bigger all the time? I mean come on, who needs 24 tubes of plastic filled with a tiny bit of cream or similar. Really? Do we need to be having 24 samples of stuff?l and spending £50+ on an advent calendar?
Consumerism is on a runaway train and I just don’t think anything will stop it ever?

for several years I got the M&S beauty one - finally realised that althought the products would be worth more than the cost, do I actually want/need/use them.
Similalry cat ones - as a kitten, she got excited about opening the window in the morning, but didn't like the cruddy green catnip "treats" inside, usually sucking them a bit and hiding under my duvet.

I might just stick at a Divine dark chocolate one this year, and treat the cat to a Dreamies biscuit when I open my window.

Couldn’t agree more

Every single occasion and tradition has been turned into an opportunity to spend more money, acquire more stuff and (for some) show off on social media.

Nothing can be simple cheap and private any more.

It’s grim, especially in the midst of an environmental crisis point.

My DC are now all over 20 but we have always had the card ones. Some are lovely and looking behind the doors is still fun .

I save all year so that Christmas and the lead up is amazing for my kids. I don't feel guilty for buying them nice advent calanders 🤷🏻‍♀️ my kids ask for literally nothing and never complain so if I choose to give them a treat then I will.

I remember being genuinely excited about the picture ones as a kid. Finding out what it would be, and the magic of the advent picture in number 24. I got my kids a picture one plus one of the £1 chocolate ones. Dh thought I was extravagant as he had the same picture one reused each year and took it in turns between the 3 kids to open it. I did fancy the thorntons continental one for myself this year but they ran out by the time I decided to get one and I didn't fancy paying more than double for one sold by a tout seller on Amazon

for kids - no way, one to share between two of them is normal here. I got an M&S one (£2) this year which is traditional nativity pics with a nice mini choc in each way.

for ME though.... I bought myself the liberty one a few years ago and LOVED it. It was like someone had curated the most well thought our gifts ever, made me feel really special every day in December and I used absolutely everything. This year I asked for the SpaceNK one for my birthday (start Dec - good timing) and am so excited. The products you get a worth far more than you pay, I think it was close to £1k of products for £199.

to reiterate - for kids , no WAY. they can wait until they are earning enough to buy their own.

Hold fast, I know it must be a bit wrenching to see nee disappointed but she’ll be better for it in the future. A heroes one is awesome. Tell her it’s that or an imagination one (the crappy no-treat one you had as a kid, which I’m sure was far from crappy compared to having none at all).

Why must things just get bigger and bigger all the time?

Because people keep buying into it. Kind of like you did with the upgraded chocolate ones

I do think it can become a lovely tradition to open them each days with kids that are super excited. But so difficult to find a decent way to do this. I don’t really want the kids having chocolate every day (mine are still young).

One year I did small Christmas tree decorations, we’d finally moved and could fit a bigger tree in so needed more ornaments! DC1 loved opening it every morning (we have a refillable one) and hanging the decoration. But can’t exactly do that every year!

@shouldistop

Why must things just get bigger and bigger all the time?

Because people keep buying into it. Kind of like you did with the upgraded chocolate ones

Thing is though, it’s very difficult to find the paper ones any more, so OP may not have had much choice about upgrading to a chocolate one

Maybe in 5 years we won’t be able to buy the chocolate ones, only £20+ toy/gift ones

cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0193/3758/products/ChatsworthAdventCalendarwithribbon_14f8c0d9-3fb6-4907-b5cd-74b0803e079d.jpg?v=1635319631
What about this one then?!

Oops, sorry , I'll try again !
whamond.com/products/c-w-sellors-chatsworth-beeley-luxury-jewellery-gift-advent-calendar-s221?variant=40985284313245&currency=GBP&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google+shopping&gclid=CjwKCAiAvriMBhAuEiwA8Cs5lbVVXgYHnqlVw40XZhnDOjb0HzDn2InNcENWnRBnpNA1IOqY8doAmRoCAaIQAvD_BwE

I just had a quick look on Amazon and yes you can get picture ones.

DH and I were having this conversation last week. It's the packaging and the waste that bothers me - all of those miniature tubes, tubs and bottles.

Under normal circumstances I'd be surprised that the Body Shop thinks that endorsing this kind of disposable consumerism is in line with their brand ethos. However the Body Shop doesn't seem to have many of their original principles left these days.

We had a small Christmas tree that sat on a base which had boxes with all the advent numbers on. We would take it in turns opening it and hanging whatever ornament was inside on the tree - think nutcracker, toy doll, Santa, rocking horse etc. By the 24th the tree was fully decorated. It sat in the middle of the kitchen table. We also shared one of those cheap chocolate ones.

In my house we have an Advent candle, the children took it in turn to light it as we sat done to dinner every night. Be brave and stop buying into the tat.

I agree that your 12yo doesn't NEED one and that they're expensive but I think they're good and it's nice there's lots of different types. You can get ones with cheeses or gins and stuff. We get the lindor ones, they're expensive but we enjoy it.

Agree this year my kids are having basic chocolate ones they have had ones with characters or toys in them before or match attax cards but this year I’m just not doing it

I've realised I'm obviously really mean thrifty. I read OP's letter and thought "Oh yes, one 24 door special chocolate advent calendar, shared between 3 children = 8 chocolates each!"
I have 3 children and they've always shared.

I always used to have a chocolate one as a kid (and I think usually a paper one as well) but DH is a vicar and looked a bit askance when I brought Advent calendars up after we married. He didn’t object when I made one and put chocolates for each of us plus a bible verse into each day, though 😂

YANBU, OP.

I find all the rampant consumerism around Christmas rather abhorrent, to be honest. I wish we could return to the way we used to celebrate Christmas when I was a child.

My husband has bought me the benefit one, it will do me really well because the make up in it will last me the year. It was on sale at John Lewis and we got the free winter beauty box with it which always has loads of great stuff in it. Last year it had some good sized Dior minis in, this year there is Laura Mercier, Bobbi Brown, Neom etc…

My husband has a coffee one with a different flavour everyday. It’s just a bit of fun, I don’t know how anybody can get so worked up about something so minor!

I bought my sister a beautiful wooden advent calendar when she became a Mum and put some little notes in it, e.g. Decorate the Christmas tree, watch a Christmas film, sing a Christmas carol, see the Christmas lights, write Christmas cards. She prefers the cheap chocolate ones that she then chucks in landfill!

Oxfam still sells the traditional, open the door and see a picture advent calendars. (I volunteer in one of their shops). They are very popular, and not just with the older generations. We also stock advent candles which are popular.

My kids have the basic chocolate ones - the £1.50 / £2 ones not the expensive ones.

@80sMum I quite agree. I detest Christmas and other occasions because of consumerism.