Thread 7 - the one with matching bowels and plates

[Reastie]

Thanks @allatonce99 for thread title

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

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Here’s Barbarara’s instructions from last year on doing clicky links:

Open double square brackets
No space
Paste link
Space
Name of link
No space
Close double square brackets

Like this
[[www.amazingbargains.com bargain ]] but with no space after/before the brackets.
If I do it again without the extra spaces only the word bargain will appear in blue

For more links etc see message 2

If any link doesn’t work or you want to add something please let me know by @ing me

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.

Cash back sites. You can order through cash back sites like Quidco and topcashback. It’s really simple, you just create a free account and then when you’re purchasing anything online you search on the cash back site the lace you’re ordering from and see if they do cash back and if so follow the link to place the order. You usually have to earn £5 minimum to cash the money back but it easily adds up. Go to the referral link page to join if you haven’t before.

The summer holidays 25% off at Tu was due to start next week, but has been at the least postponed, and probably cancelled. The next one is then usually October half term.

camel camel camel is a great page for price tracking amazon

A great website for looking up items of specific price so you hit the £20 free delivery at amazon here

Sockeatingmonster’s age old but very useful top tips for using aliexpress (note these are also relevant for wish website and anything shipped from China on Amazon and Ebay - you can usually tell by the estimated delivery time and multiple same pictures but different companies. Although you can filter search by country on Ebay. - thanks scrappydappydoo for that bonus point).

“1. Check reviews

1. Be wary of plastic toys. There have been concerns about toxic plastics from China, and I have binned plastic figures for having very unpleasant smells. I no longer buy any 'low-end' plastic items (UPDATE: I wouldn’t buy squishiest either, for the same reason) and only ever from sellers with lots of positive reviews
2. Aliexpress refund/complaints procedure is actually way more straightforward than eBay, and stacked in the buyer's favour
3. Beware of mains operated electricals, many of which are supplied without fused plugs. Always message the seller first if in doubt, don't rely on the photos
4. I don't trust dress up clothes to be flame retardant, although I don't believe this is UK law anyway?
5. Clothes can come up very small. Quality can be variable (excellent to awful). Photos are often of similar items, so take them with a pinch of salt and check the reviews.
6. Actually, all photos on Aliexpress should be taken with a pinch of salt. Again, check reviews (where buyers often post photos of the actual item received)
7. I wouldn't trust toys to meet UK safety standards and wouldn't buy anything that could pose a risk (e.g. Paint might not be safe for children to gum, there could be sharp edges/choking hazards, etc)
8. Lego alternatives don't tend to stick together as well as genuine Lego. Minifigures are still excellent value, but the odd one might benefit from a few drops of superglue.

10. Barbie and other doll clothes can be excellent value, but check reviews for fabric quality and finish (UPDATE: Type “18 inch doll” for clothes that will fit American Girl/Our Generation/Designafriend dolls. Shoes are particularly excellent value. Wash dark clothing first as dyes can stain dolls’ limbs) 11. Stationery is generally excellent value, although paper quality can be lower than expected. Type 'kawaii' into stationery and be prepared to spend a fortune!

Also to add I’ve seen a fair few posts from fb this year from small businesses where aliexpress have posted photos of their products and photos without permission, so be wary and be warned the photo might not be exactly what you get.”

Bargainmax here

Laser cut outs which have been popular on the thread here

Lisa angel is a very popular site with great regular sale discounts on jewellery etc here

Toysforapound has some well priced items here

Thanks for the new thread

If anyone is toying with the idea of buying from The Skinny Food Company linked to on the last thread, they sent me free delivery on a spend of £5 when I signed up for their newsletter. Can't share an actual code as it was applied when I clicked through.

So I collected my Hobbycraft wicker basket @saynotocarrots and you are right! I'm glad it is just something basic to give DSis going off to uni as opposed to an actual present. Much smaller too!

I did also get DS a felt Christmas tree for him to decorate for £6 which does look good.

Has anyone seen any decent halloween sweets please? Not big multipacks, something more unsusual? Usually get some from John Lewis but my loca lone has closed.

Thanks for the new thread @Reastie

Thanks for the new thread @Reastie we are certainly moving quick this year.
While in b&m I spotted these brownie & cookie skillet sets that might be good for teens and for £4 they are pretty good.

If my plates matched my bowels, they'd be rather shocking.

It's all rather hard to digest.

Just discovered this thread. It looks like it will be really useful.

Although, your thread title has to be one of the best typos I've seen in a long time .

filthy I think the Hobbycraft felt Christmas trees sell out every year. We got ours about 5 years ago and we use it every year, the kids love putting the felt baubles and presents on, and it hangs on a door handle outside their rooms.

Oh glad to hear I've got one good Hobbycraft purchase @singaporeslinky! Hanging it on his door is a good idea, I was wondering where to put it.

I've just ordered some personalised Christmas labels from Tinyme. They currently have 15% off site wide.

www.tinyme.co.uk/

Not sure how many people are aware of this but lots of crafters/makers are participating in something on Instagram this Saturday (26th) called #supersecondssaturday where they’re selling things with very small defects at bargain prices due to Christmas craft fairs not going ahead thanks to covid. If you check out the hashtag you can see a lot of the crafters involved and the sorts of things they’re going to be selling. Some are doing it via Instagram and some via websites. I’m hoping to get some decent bargains for presents.

Sorry if this has already been mentioned but Hearst are currently offering a Good Housekeeping bundle worth £65 for £16.99. Includes 6 issues of the magazine, including the Christmas issue, the Good Housekeeping ultimate recipe book, and the Christmas Collection book. The books could be given as gifts?

Ooh I nominated the matching bowels as a thread title ! {Feels famous}
Has anyone seen the lindor chocolate tubs for sale anywhere? They are quality street/roses style tubs with assorted lindor in them. Saw them advertised on Facebook but not in real life .

The Lindt tubs are exclusive to Tesco but you don't get many chocolates in them for the price compared to the boxes

@gaggiagirl

Ooh I nominated the matching bowels as a thread title ! {Feels famous} Has anyone seen the lindor chocolate tubs for sale anywhere? They are quality street/roses style tubs with assorted lindor in them. Saw them advertised on Facebook but not in real life .

I haven’t seen them in store but I’m sure I saw a thread on fb where they only had something like 16 chocolates in them and really weren’t value for money

16 chocolates in a tin , cheaper to buy the boxes

Matching bowels?! His & Hers intestines for Christmas lol 🤣

I was looking at those hobbycraft trees yesterday but thought I'd pop to a store rather than pay postage, but we're locked down as of this evening 🙄

I bought the Hobbycraft £6 felt tree yesterday to give to DGS, aged nearly four, in advance of Christmas to have at his home, and also bought the Snowman version for him to play with here when he comes for Christmas (Covid permitting).

There were plenty of both available, but the check out girl told me there had been a crazy demand for the Tree when it was mentioned on MN a couple of years ago.

Still on the lookout for bargain OMG dolls, if you can shout if you see some. The Argos ones aren't in stock anywhere near me

Bumpkin, M&S have rewrapped their Christmas Sprouts in eyeball wrapping.

Thank you to the PP who shared the Crafty Giraffe BOGOF offer. I placed an order because they had the rare cat breed I needed listed.
It came this morning and I'm delighted with the customer service - one of the cats has three legs and following my cheeky request the 'spare' leg was removed from the ornament! Here they are , names obscured to protect their innocence

Sainsburys are doing Lindt balls pick and mix. Choose your own in nice gold coloured different size boxes. I still think the individual boxes are better value, particulalry as they are often on offer for £4 or £3.50.

As an aside the ebayer who makes the lottie clothes has said, at her DDs request, she will be making christmas print outfits soon so keep an eye out.

@missmouse101

It's all rather hard to digest.