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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to think that beauty advent calendars agave become a horrible representation of this who ‘have’ and those who ‘don’t’

137 replies

ThisOrTha · 07/10/2022 12:53

The price of some of these calendars is crazy! I think everyone should have the right to buy what they want, but with the current state of things it feels like a really horrible waste of money. Yet built up to be a ‘must have’ etc etc.

Im probably being a grump and I do love beauty products/fashion, I just think some of these companies could donate some of the cover price to other causes as I’m sure the price markup is substantial.

AIBU to think that beauty advent calendars agave become a horrible representation of this who ‘have’ and those who ‘don’t’
OP posts:
DenholmElliot1 · 07/10/2022 13:22

I do xmas for EVERYONE else.
No one does xmas for me, ever, so I'm having my calendar and I really don't care what other people think.

I was never given an advent calendar as a kid.. Not even a picture one.

When I was married, every year my husband asked me if I wanted an advent calendar. Asked, but didnt actually get me one.

When I got divorced 10 years ago I brought myself the M and S advent calendar and I've brought one ever since. I love it, it's reasonably priced and I love it.

I also buy my adult kids expensive advent calendars, I'm not spending more money because it's just part of their xmas present.

Yesthatismychildsigh · 07/10/2022 13:23

Nobody has built these into a ‘must have’. What a ridiculous thing to write.

Hugasauras · 07/10/2022 13:24

I'd much rather have chocolate than tiny tubs of random products that will sit in my drawer for years and then get chucked (which is what happened to all the stuff I used to get in my Glossybox Blush) so it's not really about have and have not, I think, but more choose and choose not! I don't use or am overly interested in beauty stuff so I wouldn't buy it, but for others it's worth the money to them.

Bestcatmum · 07/10/2022 13:25

I want a diptique calendar for myself. I intend to save up for one next year.

GottaGetOutofDairy · 07/10/2022 13:27

Firstly, you're looking on Selfridge's website (I think). That site is designed to make people feel like shit for not being able to afford hundreds of pounds on fripperies. It's their business model Grin.

Secondly, I might be grump with you as the older I get, the more I appreciate a simple picture-based advent calendar. I'm going backwards in time! This year's is one that shows snowy paintings from the National Gallery being each window.

So much of Christmas is shops trying to tell you you NEED to spend ££££ on stuff you really don't need. If you like and want an expensive beauty calendar then go for it. But never feel like you MUST have one to keep up.

reigatecastle · 07/10/2022 13:31

I can afford one (well, the less ludicrously expensive ones) but they have too much packaging for too little content. And then you get things you don't want among the things you do, so there is more waste. I have bought them in the past, but not since last year.

seems like an odd one to be particularly aggrieved about considering the masses of waste elsewhere that isn't being addressed at all. I suspect as most things in life things involving women are more closely scrutinised and held to a higher standard agree with this, but this is an easy one - you can still buy nice things not in silly packaging.

RewildingAmbridge · 07/10/2022 13:31

I'm actually going to get one this year, the m&s one. I'm holding off buying some new pillows because the calendars are £40 when you spend £30 on something else, although I believe you can still return the other item without returning the calendar. They get good reviews and seem good value at £40, for me it's also a good way to trial different products.

WimbyAce · 07/10/2022 13:33

I got a No7 one once just for the novelty but it was a one off. I like the books ones that they have for kids as its quite nice to get a new story to read every day.

stormelf · 07/10/2022 13:35

I have a body shop one this year, I won it in a raffle. Was £1 well spent. I couldn't believe the cost of it when I saw it online. I'm going to enjoy opening it this year with my little girl who is even more excited, however there is no way I would ever spend the money on it as I do see it as an unnecessary expense

antelopevalley · 07/10/2022 13:38

Capitalism always tries to get people to buy more. These are a waste of money and terrible for the environment with the amount of packaging.

orangeisthenewpuce · 07/10/2022 13:40

They aren't a 'must have' at all. I don't know anyone who buys any of them.

Worthyornot · 07/10/2022 13:40

JackieDaws · 07/10/2022 12:57

Wanting others to donate never comes from a place of altruism, it always comes from a place of bitterness.

So what if people can afford them.

Agree with this. There is an entire market of people who can afford this and buy it. What is your issue with this?

FamilyTreeBuilder · 07/10/2022 13:41

They are all poor value for money, over packaged, plastic fantastic consumer tat.

saltinesandcoffeecups · 07/10/2022 13:42

I quite like the whisky 🥃 ones, and have bought one each for myself and DH for the past 3 or 4 years. For us we get to sit down together during December in front of the fire and have drink together. It’s our way of building up to the holidays and enjoying our time together.

Yes you are being a grump
Yes, I think some of them are overpriced and silly
No, I’m not going to judge how someone else chooses to spend their money
No, I’m not going begrudge anyone for finding a little fun in their life

CaptainThe95thRifles · 07/10/2022 13:42

If folk want to presume I'm on the breadline because I don't buy overpriced, gimmicky make up advent calendars, it's only their own ignorance they're showing 😂

Surely these things are just a representation of those who don't give a toss about this shit, and those who do (or, conceivably, actually want something that's only available in these things - who knows?!).

Alltheshoes74 · 07/10/2022 13:44

i’ve bought one this year for the first time in ages - I’m running low on a few bits and they have things I’d like to try. Usually I steer clear to avoid getting bits I don’t need but not this year that said I usually pass the things I don't want to my friends to avoid waste/clutter

Noviembre · 07/10/2022 13:45

Cheap samples for idiots. Why even give this any thought?

RealBecca · 07/10/2022 13:45

Ffs they are a luxury product business not a charity. There are plenty of charitable things out there to support if you choose to. The problem is that you are put to g pressurenon yourself to buy into the crap that xmas is a time for making dreams come true with loads of materialistic crap.

When did one present and a £1 advent calendar for fun turn into the fiasco of beauty calendars, December boxes, personalised xmas eve pjs and xmas eve boxes and piles and pike of presents become the norm? Who really benefits?

Young kids dont care and teenagers love the environment. Dont attach thought and love with materialistic crap.

MangoBiscuit · 07/10/2022 13:46

Some years I get the M&S one just as a treat for myself, but only with the offer, when I'm buying Christmas presents for family, so spending enough anway. A couple of times I've sold a few of the bits I won't use, on ebay. So all in, it doesn't actually cost me much. Like others have said, I do a lot for Christmas for others, so this bit is for me.

Nidan2Sandan · 07/10/2022 13:47

I've always wanted one, just for the novelty but refuse to pay that kind of money (even the £50 ones) just for the novelty factor.

Kids have always just had chocolate ones, one year I paid extra for the haribo ones but that isnt the norm.

I do think the expense of some of the calendars are bonkers.

AgentJohnson · 07/10/2022 13:50

If people in your friendship group are wanting them, that says a lot about them and why you consider them friends. May I suggest you do a SM detox and the best it is it won’t cost you.

PrincessButtercupToo · 07/10/2022 13:51

AgentJohnson · 07/10/2022 13:50

If people in your friendship group are wanting them, that says a lot about them and why you consider them friends. May I suggest you do a SM detox and the best it is it won’t cost you.

What does it say about them?

JenniferBarkley · 07/10/2022 13:53

I bought one the year I was on maternity leave and due to go back to work in Jan. I was feeling very flat and had lost a bit of myself and thought it would be nice to have a little lift. It was, it was nice to get a wee moment just for me each day and there's a couple of products I still buy. I haven't bought one since as they're not great value for money and quite wasteful - but that year it was a nice pick me up.

I've also bought one for a friend from her favourite brand as a birthday present which went down well.

I don't think anyone views them as a must have. There's loads of things that are expensive, that most of us couldn't afford or wouldn't think are good enough value to shell out on. It's just another one for the list.

Not a big deal.

SummerInSun · 07/10/2022 13:54

Wouldn't everyone rather just have one with a nice bit of chocolate every day?!?

clopper · 07/10/2022 13:57

I always get one and enjoy trying out new things. Sometimes I have gone on to buy larger bottles of certain creams and lotions if I like the sample. However, I have an old banger of a car and never have foreign holidays, so it’s my little treat to myself. People can spend their money on what they’d like, be it wine, BT sports channels, holidays and cars. I’m not interested in any of those things but I don’t begrudge others spending their money how they choose. I always buy the cheap ones but would love one of those expensive ones to try.

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