Thread 5 - The Mumsnet bargain thread - spreading the squeaky clean, ethical love!

[Reastie]

So it’s not a thread all about ethical stuff (good grief there’s a lot of plastic tat that’s been purchased by me from these threads over the years) but with our current obsession with soap bars and shampoo bars and then I think it was fireflygirl who did the quote and it tickled me.

Just a reminder you can watch the thread by clicking on ‘watch this thread’ at the top of the first message. It’s much easier for everyone than so many place marking every time which can use up a fair chunk of each thread to scroll through

Referral link here . Use this to post any links where you can refer a mner and you or both of you get an incentive. For ease and fairness please don’t post these on the main thread.

Affiliate Advertising: Mumsnet carries some affiliate marketing links, which means we earn commission on sales of some products when users click through a link from the site. Our editorial content is NOT influenced by affiliate partnerships. You may not post affiliate links without the prior permission of Mumsnet.

For more links etc see message 2

If any link doesn’t work or you want to add something please let me know in bold

@Pinkjam We're doing a reverse advent calendar too this year. I know my local food bank takes them, and you can put in toiletries like shower gels and nappies for babies. Mine lists of their website the stuff they need the most and least. Perhaps check yours out?

@pinkjam our local food bank arranges this but it starts in November so the food parcels are ready for christmas. They always get lots of chocolate so its alway est to ask your local bank what they need.

Apologies if already posted but I got this 3-in-1 Lego Friends Set from Argos for DD. Thought the price was really good as the treehouse alone is between 18-20 in other places. Bonus though is it comes in a big box but the 3 sets are individually packaged so I'll be wrapping them up separately.

Also got this LOL outfit of the day box which is much bigger than I expected.

Gifting wise, our local shopping centre does a 'gift tree' each year - you take a tag off the tree which tells you who to buy for (boy, 11-14 etc) and then you buy a gift, wrap it, put the tag on it and return the gift to the collection point. It's a good scheme.

My ASDA was very disappointing:(

My tea has arrived. I only placed my order yesterday afternoon. I looks bloody lovely. Gift wrapped and very expensive looking.
Obviously it’s for me!!

@PinkJam I do this but in November so the food bank has the food for Christmas.

I put in nice chunky soups, biscuits, mince pies, hot chocolate, tea, coffee, some Christmas chocolate, selection box, smellies, cleaning bits and pet food.

Has anyone seen any bargainous benefit things? It's all just so expensive and it's for a 13 year old!! Or recommendations for similar but cheaper brands?

DDs school does reverse advent calendar- if you have school aged SC, it’s worth mentioning to school as they may adopt it! We get asked to bring in specific items (I imagine so it’s not all beans) on a certain day. It’s worked well so far!!

@PinkJam we also do this in November so the recipients have it for Christmas.

We give the food items in a basket with cellophane and ribbons so it's like a Christmas Hamper gift and the household/sanitary products separately.

@recklessgran Good idea! I have started a thread

@Ehunt1 & @livingthegoodlife Thank you for the ideas

@Spam88 Yes that’s what I was wondering. I wanted to do it earlier so that it was ready to be handed out in time for Christmas

@beadyboo Please can you give me details of the tea deal? Thank you!

Ok I have a £20 off a £25 spend at Cox & Cox thanks to the referral thread but seem to have missed what people are recommending. I’ve seen a few references to the wrapping paper but it seems so expensive (although very lovely) Do you get loads?

Argh. That was supposed to say table presents at the end of the last thread. Thought I’d just counted the number of words right and somebody else posted a proper presenty post so presents didn’t post.

Didn’t want anybody wondering about vegan soap tables that they had missed on the thread!!

@MyIncapableOne tea starter kit is £15 if you use code PROPER - I had to scroll back through the last thread to find it, but looks like a lovely present - thanks @beadyboo

@PinkJam what about your local women's refuge? Most of those of have families and staff work to try and keep things as 'normal' as usual for the kids so presents from 'santa" really help

Saw this on Amazon, looks good

@Dogmatix34 I haven't ordered any wrapping paper although others may he able to help. I ordered ribbons as it looks so pretty and my beloved Christmas tree train. But if you click on item specifics it says how many metres.

I did like the look of the paper but I've decided to go for brown parcel paper and decorating it with gold paint pens, then using the posh ribbon. Big rolls of brown paper are 85p each in my local corner shop. It's recyclable too which is a bonus. My council won't accept any wrapping paper and I hate it clogging up my black bin!

Hi what's the cox and cox code/offer?

@EvilHerbivore Thank you, I will ask them. I did think of asking the women’s refuge but then I spoke to them a year or so ago and asked about giving baby clothes (a lot has never been worn) and they said they wouldn’t accept them so wasn’t sure if they would this either.

@Tigger83 £20 off a £25 spend (look at the referrals thread in Christmas section). Lots of expensive things on the website but some nice decorations and things. The wreaths are pretty.

Our local radio station (Manchester) usually has a campaign in the run up to Christmas for kids toys to go to families in need. They have drop off points all over the place which makes it really convenient too.

@beadyboo I can’t wait for my tea to arrive! Thank you so much :) DH has really got into loose leaf tea so I think he will love it. I’ve emailed them and asked them for a yellow spoon instead of the black one, hopefully they’ll see my email.

I think I’m going to adopt the brown paper ethos this year once I’ve ran out of the Xmas paper I already have. I didn’t realize until reading on here that it’s not recyclable.