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

I can definitely recommend the Lanka Kade dinosaurs @FilthyforFirth

Thanks for the accessorise tip - just picked up loads of presents! Lots of kids stuff reduced really cheap and some gorgeous clutch bags and purses 😍

Do any of you know anywhere reasonably priced to buy musical instruments? Dd1 (13, will be almost 14 by Christmas) would like a keyboard to add to her expanding collection but I have ZERO clue what I'm looking for.

Thanks for the accessorize tip!!

@lucysmam in terms of a popular brand you can't go wrong with a casio but generally there's little difference between brands other than fancy key tones, and stuff like that. For her age I would say a 61 key keyboard would be best. Have a browse around as some will come with just the keyboard some come with seats, stands etc. There's so many apps and things online to help people learn instruments now I wouldn't worry about forking out for books etc. If they don't come with the keyboard.

See this link for a good reasonably priced keyboard, it doesn't come with a stand but it will give you an idea about size and features plus it has great reviews from a variety of ages and skills.

www.amazon.co.uk/RockJam-61-Key-Portable-Electric-Keyboard/dp/B07FDL3NGT/ref=mp_s_a_1_16?hvlocphy=9045405&psc=1&hvnetw=g&keywords=casio%2Bkeyboard&hvadid=259135897903&qid=1595191562&dchild=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsreCz5fa6gIVyrHtCh2feQdXEAAYAiAAEgJR6vD_BwE&hydadcr=13898_1730173&th=1&hvdev=m&hvqmt=e&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=kwd-15037300&adgrpid=52117038446&hvrand=16605947374083632896&sr=8-16

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hidden-Hut-Simon-Stallard/dp/0008218013/ref=zgbss27945011??encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=5MKSFR0PC3E607Q35F7T. It's one iv had my eye for a bit possibly a bit niche though

@Cherryrainbow that's really helpful, thanks very much! She already uses a number of apps with her guitar and ukelele so I'm sure she could find what she wanted reasonably easily.

I'd be tempted to buy her a book of Hamilton music to go with it if I can find one.

& that's cheaper than I expected so I'm guessing I could probably find a stand/chair to go with it and they'd probably not push me over £100 or so all together.

I'll have a look and see what I can find in the morning before I spend anything but that's her main present ticked off in my head

Thanks for the accessorize tip I also got about £45 of stuff (probably near £100 worth!!)

@lucysmam it might be worthwhile checking to see if your school has an instrument purchase scheme. The place I work does. So you order it through the school and as it’s a “device used to support learning”, the school pays the vat giving you 20% off. So you get a £100 instrument for £80. Might be worthwhile asking?

@doodlejump1980 I didn't know that! I will email to ask them, thank you!

All those yet to buy from accessorize the code ACCZ10WEL takes an additional 10% off the sale prices. You need to be quick though as the code expires today [20th].

Playmobile sale on Brand Alley started today

This arrived today and I am very impressed with it. Got it for my ds 7, but would also like one for myself now 🤣 will be ordering more for nephews

I got my Ollie and Nic delivery the other day on your recommendations. Very happy with them both at half price!

Although they will not make it to Xmas - one has become my bag and one is a present for MIL's birthday!

For accessorize I got 15% off including all sale items - ACCZTRT1518

I downloaded Honey a while ago, an extension for chrome, it auto finds all discount codes and you can build rewards etc

Question... If you buy someone a present in the sale, do you buy them more, or are you happy spending less than 'usual'. So, if you brought something for £25 now would you spend another £25 to make it up, or reap the saving yourself iyswim. I always feel abit guilty buying 'cheap' presents despite having half my Christmas shop done already and saving a tonne

So, I have spent about £12 on five items including a backpack for my 7 yo niece for Christmas. All things she will LOVE. But knowing my sis will buy my kids ££ presents make me feel guilty

I go by "rrp" of presents, that way if you get a bargain it's great, but people get 'equal' looking presents. (And your sis may be on here too )

Generally I'll spend the budget (so if I get bargains, they get more things). But that said, my budgets are set with bargains in mind so they're perhaps smaller than they might be otherwise. Also, I will stop short of the budget if I think I've already got enough for a person - I'm mindful of e.g. gifts for siblings looking equal, or not buying a lot more for someone that they do for me which might make them feel their gift was inadequate.

@sorryiasked

I go by "rrp" of presents, that way if you get a bargain it's great, but people get 'equal' looking presents. (And your sis may be on here too )

This. Definitely!

OK great. It's definitely helping shopping early to cut the costs. I'm currently on 'Mat leave' (joke thanks to covid) with a baby and two year old so shopping is a) impossible and b) expensive, I have 16 people to buy for...

I'm due back to work after Christmas so am anticipating being broke by then 😂

Same as the others - it's the value of the gifts that matters, not the actual spend. The savings are for my own benefit because they're offset by the extra effort I put in to get them (watching threads like this, setting up camelcamelcamel alerts months ahead, etc)

Does anyone have any advice on nice go-to places for baby clothes? My niece turns one in October so need something for then as well Christmas.

SIL likes "naice" brands - so I want something impressive but not expensive as money is tight.

Baby is 1 but a chubs (91st percentile on weight but 0.4th percentile on height)

I set a budget too and try and get as much as possible in that budget.

So for example I have a £10 budget for a 2 year old boy so I got a personalised tshirt for £5 from rocket and Rose in the fiver Friday deal and I got a peppa pig till from the asda sale the other day. Together it prob looks like I've spent double that.