Christmas bargain prequel thread 2020

[sideorderofchips]

Hello!

Welcome to the annual Christmas Bargain Prequel thread! We run through till about September which is when Reastie takes over for the run up to Christmas

So feel free to post your bargains or questions here

Apologies @Focusanddetermination, i read your typo ‘what so you buy for kids’ as you being a grinch about xmas! I should have realised that so was meant to be ‘do’. Sorry! , but in my defense we do get a few miserable Xmas bashers on this thread!

@Focusanddetermination 7 is a funny age where they’re not beyond toys yet, but they are moving towards a different type of play. In the last few years we’ve acquired a different level of toy with things like a microscope, a telescope, sewing machine and a camera. Last year (dd was 9) I got her a beginners archery set (decathlon) and it has got a lot of use. It’s far better quality than a toy and so has got some sustained quality play. As children get older, I think the key to keeping them interested in playing offline, is good quality equipment that doesn’t frustrate them. I considered a kids camera too but ended up spending a small bit more to get a second hand DSLR camera instead. It takes great quality pictures. Recently dd was trying to photograph birds in the garden and realised that she needed to do more than point and click, and had what she needed in her hand to get closer to the sort of picture she wanted. I’m pretty sure a kiddie-zoom would have been abandoned at that point and been one more out-grown toy.

In terms of actual toys, Our Generation dolls were very popular in her peer group around seven (and still are) - more of a “look at” doll than a “love it” if you what I mean. Also kapla has been very popular in our household. Even our adult guests get stuck into that. Build a bear is still a massive draw, and there’s always a craze around Christmas for some junk.

Hobbies, as they get older, have great gift potential. I’ll happily supply basic kit year-round but flashier branded stuff is for birthdays and Christmas.

I would love to break the dependence on “stuff” but haven’t had the courage to really go for it. I think my dc would be really disappointed with a trip as a gift but that’s down to our family culture (and no doubt, my own hang ups) so I don’t want this post to discourage you if you want to go down that path. They’re just suggestions. Maybe something like an experience day might work better than a trip in the current circumstances.

PinkDaydreams not too worry. Definitely not a grinch here, have been on the thread for years under different names. We have a Playmobil Fire Engine if anyone remembers that one.

Barbararara thank you, archery set! That might work... She has one of those kids cameras on a selfie stick.

For the travel, there is a specific country and place she wants to see, and I think she might prefer experiences over stuff. She is not materialic despite me providing all these toys, really.

If anyone's buying for toddlers, the pink VTech Learn & Dance Dino is £23.60 on Amazon at the moment (compared to £35 at Argos and Smyths). It's the lowest price that camelcamelcamel has seen too.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07Q5NCC2X/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8

Love the idea of an archery set thank you Barbararara, I was just browsing through and found this set for £22.99 with free delivery, slightly more advanced than the arrows with suckers and slightly less dangerous than the arrows with actual metal points.
I've checked the website out on Trustpilot just to make sure.

@Focusanddetermination it’s such a pity not to be able to plan a trip for her. I hope things get back to normal soon.

Every year people are after Biden vouchers so here’s my £10 off a £30 spend (excl sale etc as usual):

Code: WX4VCNQGWR56
Exp: 07/06/2020

Boden*

I'd like to just mark my place on here so I can silently lurk and steal all your best deals 🤭

Hi all, I'm jumping in on this thread here hope you don't mind. Have started my Christmas shopping this week and will pick up bits whenever I see them.

I haven’t ordered from this site so I can’t really vouch for it. It gets 4 stars on trust pilot.

These are big hard back Lego books that I’ve recommended several times over the years as lego-but-not-more-bloody-Lego gifts. Really nice and substantial. I’ve paid more for one of these than they’re charging for a set of four.

They also have these build lego contraptions books which are great for kids with a decent lego collection (they only give you the extra pieces). Better for older kids as the instructions aren’t as straightforward as lego, and the concepts are wasted a bit on younger kids imo.

Pic rather than link as amazon links often include your personal details but I just ordered three of these nerf guns down to £9 from £36.

Barbararara You are on fire, those Lego books are perfect, thank you.

@Barbararara, it must have been you who told me about those books before, they went down a storm here - DD loves them so much I get credited every time she builds something 'because you and daddy gave me the book'. Thank you so much!

I got them on Amazon so if the Trustpilot ratings are low for Lowplex that could work too.

I've ordered from Lowplex. Quick delivery and no issues.

For Amazon bargain hunters - Camel Camel Camel is working again. It was switched off because of the pandemic, but I guess as lockdown is easing, they're back up and running: uk.camelcamelcamel.com/

Oh the bow and arrow is genius idea! My DD will love that. I think that is
the first Christmas buy this year.

Hope someone can make use of my Boden code - £10 off a £30 spend. To be used by Sunday.

Playmobil cup cake shop reduced on Amazon

I’d very much appreciate a Boden code, I think the ones above have already been used. Thanks

@sorryiasked

Playmobil cup cake shop reduced on Amazon

Just bought it for DD1 - thank you!

A couple of amazon bargains that would make lovely stocking fillers.

www.amazon.co.uk/Rhinestone-Ulanda-EU-Clearance-Comfortable-Wristwatch/dp/B076QBBQRN

www.amazon.co.uk/Bourjois-Velvet-Lipstick-Ultra-Violette-Purples/dp/B07B46FBFT

Only some of the lipsticks are down in price so make sure you're choosing the bargain colours!

Whoops, don't know why the links mashed together but there are two separate ones, click the start for the watch & the end for the lipsticks