Little things for men’s advent calendar.

[Barbarara]

I’m stumped.
I have one of those wooden advent calendars with ridiculously tiny drawers.
It’s easy enough to fill for a woman as there are small make up items, samples and nail varnishes that fit. But I can’t think what to put in for dh.

All I can think of are sweets. He’s already got good usb sticks, sd cards and AirPods and anyway they’d be proper gifts in our house. He doesn’t drink, play golf (tees), or guitar (picks), share my sense of humour (jokes), gamble (lottery tickets), or wear cheap remotely affordable cuff links or any other jewellery.

Last year I gave him his favourite Christmas sweets and a set of notes from the dc of reasons they love him. I was hoping to be a bit more exciting this year.

Anyone got any other suggestions for advent calendar fillers for impossible to buy for men?

Following as this seems like a great idea. When I think of stuff and it's not so late at night I'll post x

I've got my DH Lindor balls in a variety of flavours from the chocolate emporium. He loves them and they do enough flavours to have a different one each day

I don't think I could bring myself to fill an advent calendar for a fully grown man to be honest, although that doesn't answer your question!

I bought one of these when I had one tiny DC so it was easy but now I have two there's no way I can fit two of anything in the drawers so instead I write a note (from the elves) with a slightly cryptic puzzle so they have to go off and find their little thing up the chimney or wherever. Could you do something similar for your DH so you're at least not bound by size?

You could fill every other one with a chocolate/sweet if choice do that would leave only 12 small gifts to find.
It depends on your budget but cuff links and tie pin? Look on eBay for mini sample bottles of aftershave. You could put in homemade vouchers for a day out/ nice meal/ or a clue on a piece of card like a treasure hunt so he’s got to go and find the gift hidden somewhere.

Advent calendars are for children.

What a lovely idea OP, nothing to add I think you have got some great ideas already!

If something is too large - hide it in the house and write a clue for the calendar box of where to find it!

We do the slightly cryptic puzzles for where to find little things. Or the gift might be a nicely decorated piece of paper telling of something nice we will do that day.

Some lovely ideas, thank you.

I save little boxes, ranging from tablet boxes so small cereal boxes, put things in those, wrap them, number them and tie them together with ribbon.

My husband would be the happiest man alive if the whole thing was filled with a mix of 'steak dinner' and 'BJ' IOU's.
He is a simple man.

Liquor chocolates
Nice pen
Mini aftershave
Post-it notes?
Rolled up funny photo of him and kids?
Mini bath bomb
Something small from Lush
Tiny wooden puzzles - try home bargains

I hate buying for blokes!

I am doing similar for my DH.
So far I’ve got:
Novelty contact lens holder www.beautifeye.co.uk/coloured-contact-lenses/contact-lens-cases/
Individual coffee pods
Key ring
Yankee car jar www.yankeecandle.co.uk/product/midsummers-night/_/R-1020366E112
Nivea Men’s www.boots.com/nivea-men-caring-lip-balm-with-spf15-5-5ml-10261683

Thanks for all the ideas. December is a very tough month at work for ds, working longer hours than normal and generally being tired, stressed and a bit grumpy. He doesn’t get to share much in the build up to Christmas or do much fun stuff with the family so I want to pamper him a little bit.

I did this last year. Is your DH into walking/hiking (or do you want him to be)? We sort of spread some big Xmas presents into the advent as Christmas morning is kid focused and I find it a bit much going through presents constantly.

This year I’m doing Swiss Army knife, fancy hiking socks, a small compass, i printed out little maps of local hiking routes with a ‘no quibbles we’ll go’ card (I’m usually the less enthusiastic one), a mushroom knife, a fold up in a bag mac, a beanie, a strike lighter thing and dark chocolate which he loves.

We did one for my dad last year. We wrote poems, made tiny Christmas cards and homemade sweets, drew little pictures and made them into scrolls, tied with ribbon, and little Christmas ornaments for his tree (it’s just a branch really) out of clay, then painted.

We wanted him to feel loved- we lost my mum this time last year.

Molton brown, rituals or loccitane minis
Small multitool/penknife
Gift card for coffee shop
Voucher/note for takeaway food of his choice
Pen and small notebook
Hotel chocolat hot choc
Skincare or mens face mask
Mini body spray

One year i wrapped all the advent stuff and just said, pick one each day to unwrap, so it was random went down a treat

I've starting picking things up for my DH to, I have written some scavenger hunt notes & purchased some larger items that I'll hide round the house on that day (providing I remember😅)
Some of the smaller items I've picked up;
Photo keyring with DC inside
Money clip
Whiskey rocks (going to only pop one in the drawer, the rest in the freezer ready to be used)
Leather watch strap
Pop socket
Christmas bow tie
Reusable coffee pods for our machine
& some very exciting car valve caps!
I'm thinking chocolates & hot drink sachets for the rest of the days.

Lottery ticket; trolley coin would fit in small advent boxes.
As an alternative to the treasure hunt already suggested, you could put some bigger things wrapped in a Christmas bag and then write 'lucky dip' on paper for the advent box