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

[ThisOrTha]

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.

I get a 'high end' advent calendar as a birthday gift most years. Not Selfridges price range but somewhere between £50 and £75. Sometimes they've been beauty, some times other things. They bring me pleasure. And pleasure is what I want from a gift

@Hearthnhome I'm so sorry for your loss. It's lovely that your mum was able to have the joy of receiving your gift before she passed away.

I'm not keen on these modern calendars, they are the same marketing principle as a gift box - there's always some crap you don't like and wouldn't have chosen, and the price is generally more than double what you'd pay for the goods if bought at normal size.

I really wish you could still buy advent calendars with pictures in, not chocolate. It was one of my favourite things in childhood. All leading up to that big double-door on the 24th with the manger scene 😊 I'm not religious but I wish they were still around.

Appallingly bad for the environment too.

Beauty calendars are just full of stuff nobody needs. I wouldn't even want these £££ calendars if they were 50p.

Who would the companies donate to? Why should they donate?

I have a Liberty calendar. It’s a gift and I’m looking forward to it.

@EvenMoreFuriousVexation you can still buy picture calendars from paper chase, m and s and Liberty to name a few.

I think the ones you have linked to are most definitely above prices that most people can afford .

I bought myself one two years ago - a L'occitane one which was around £50. I would agree with those who say that they are overpriced and contain a lot of packaging and probably wouldn't buy one again.

That said - the year I bought mine was in lockdown and most of my friends got one that year to cheer us up through a crappy time . Not
saying things are hugely better for a lot of people now but perhaps in a different way.

Regarding the haves/ have nots - I wonder if it will be that the really expensive luxury ones will still sell - but those people who extended to buy the cheaper ones won't bother any more .

I just ordered one as a surprise gift for someone dear to me.
It's an extravagance but I know she likes the brand/products she will receive.
Something to look forward to in the dull autumn months, nice things to use in the new year, so why not?
Probably wouldn't buy one for myself.

Thing is its good marketing for brands to be included so the price retailers pay to include them in a calendar is probably less than it would be to buy them to pop them on the shelf. Most people I imagine who spend a decent amount on one will do so because because they like a % of the products and brands but want to try new things as well and might go on to buy them. It's good value to the buyer if its stuff they'll use (as obvious as it sounds) and not just because you save a lot as you might not use it all. I enjoy finding the one I want to buy each year.

Thank you, I'll have a look there!

I’ve wanted one for years, just as a proper treat, but can’t justify spending that much

I jumped on the bandwagon once, but won’t do it again. I ended up with loads of small things I’d never buy again and it was a waste of money. Crack on whoever thought if it makes you happy for the millisecond after you’ve opened it.

As I get older I realise that fewer things, but good quality, is the way to go.

I'm just annoyed they're so expensive. I'd love the lush one but not worth it.

I made an advent hamper in lockdown when we couldn't have Christmas together, so my mum would have a special celebratory moment for each day she would usually be at parties and fairs and busy cooking a preparing.

I think if you're someone who doesn't get a lot of presents or fuss from others it's a nice way to treat yourself (or for useless men to spoil unimaginatively/ without doing too much leg work.)

I wish they'd make something worth having in my budget.

The ratio of product to packaging is awful. Also, most people will find that only a couple of the products actually suit them so it's wasteful on two counts. Trend that needed to die a long time ago!

Check the best before date. I bought one for under a fiver in the sale which I put by for dd for the following year.

I thought they were loss leaders? All that expensive to construct packaging but it gets people trying products that they then go on to buy full price. Same principle as boxes of perfume samples.

Surprised people don't know you can still get paper advent calendars, we buy one every year for the DC (and save them for future use as well), although they are also getting 'bigger and better' as well, we bought this 3D carousel advent calendar a couple of years ago and have an old Eric Carle Dream Snow one as well. My favourite one is a street scene one I got in Italy a few years ago where you open the windows and then see the silhouette of the inhabitant.

@EvenMoreFuriousVexation
They won't be to everyone's taste, but I've bought myself a couple of these in recent years and also bought them for friends who seemed to have enjoyed them, especially as I have chosen an appropriate city. They are expensive for paper advent calendars but they are designed by an individual artist and I like the fact that the windows open show something you might actually see behind a window! He does nice cards and interesting wrapping paper too too.

www.windowcards.co.uk/productlist.php?category=10

They're all a bit of a con. I get tempted every year, they're cleverly marketed, especially the high-end ones. It's all about treating yourself and I think taps into the Instagram glamour/showing off thing. However, I do the maths and realise that I don't want 3 mini hand creams, a tiny brow gel and a mini purple nail varnish etc. It's wasteful and bad for the environment. I was looking at the White Company calendar the others day and feeling tempted but then decided I'll buy myself the large 3 wick winter calendar instead - I know I love the scent and it'll last ages, it's cheaper and less wasteful. I'll get the children the chocolate Lindt ones as usual.

I'm the world's biggest tart when it comes to beauty products, buy a lot, from different price ranges but I honestly think that they're a waste of money and packaging and just don't buy them.

However, I have been gifted them in the past I think one was Liberty. Half the stuff in them, again, I either use or give away.

I'm sure you can buy picture advent calendars and found this one. There are others.

www.amazon.co.uk/Traditional-Advent-Calendar-Christmas-House/dp/B07FZL39JT/ref=asc_df_B07FZL39JT/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=381514071318&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6411774036771016441&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045877&hvtargid=pla-556880514373&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=80546116529&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=381514071318&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6411774036771016441&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045877&hvtargid=pla-556880514373

My husband gets me a Liberty calendar and I’ve ordered a Look Fantastic one which is about £80 for our daughter and will be getting an equivalent male one for my son. I’ve found stuff I liked in the calendars and have carried on buying the products. They’re good marketing and we can spend our money how we want.

I’ve never been tempted to buy any advent calendar than the ones with chocolate. We get the ones with a bit of the Christmas story each day. We got a free Hotel Chocolat one from DH’s work last year and I thought the characters were cute. It’s only £8.50 but I still wouldn’t buy it.

Im grateful i could but the one in the OP, if I wanted to but i don’t see the point.

I think they are awful. So wasteful.

I have been eyeing up the No7 boots one but i already know which products I like so I might as well spend the money on those knowing I'll actually use them.
I've also made a promise to myself to use all my products up including all the sample sizes before buying new ones as I'm fed up with so much stuff cluttering up my cupboard!! Slowly getting there so i would annoyed with myself creating more clutter again!! So I'm resisting!!

I had one for the first time last year and loved it. I've been using the products since last December and have found some incredible products I wouldn't have been able to afford to buy full size versions of.

I knew I wanted another this year so I've been saving money each month to pay for it. Feels like I get a treat for almost all of December, also there will be loads in there that will be perfect for my holiday.