Thread 9 - the one with the thick willy scarf

[Reastie]

Thanks @Anydreamwilldo12 for thread title

please read the thread is moving so fast atm and it’s pretty hard to keep up! I was just wondering on people’s thoughts on this so did a super quick questionnaire here . I’m not sure we’ll find a perfect answer to suit everyone but would love your feedback on if it’s an issue or not.

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

@BadgerFace

Robert’s just checking in to say he likes the chat (thanks *@Reastie*). Especially when it’s about him.

(And yes, seven years in, I am still slightly disappointed by the size of his horn).

And yes, seven years in, I am still slightly disappointed by the size of his horn

Just to add to what tentative said, I feel exactly the same but to be fair I think most of the bargains on the thread these days (and what I’ve got most from them) are things like clothes, books, food, experiences, candles, makeup and toiletries etc, ie things that won’t go into landfill, although maybe that’s just what I’m picking up on because they’re the kind of things I’m looking out for.
I think and hope that the last few months especially have shown us all how fragile our planet is and how we need to be mindful of looking after it for future generations.
I used to be guilty of wanting a big Christmas with a massive pile of presents waiting for the dc in the morning but what I’ve realised over the years is that they have been most happy with one ‘big’ gift like a bike/scooter/games console or whatever and then things like books, mugs, clothes and most of all they’ve been pleased with experiences - concerts, animal encounters, ice skating classes have been some massive hits. They genuinely don’t even care about piles of gifts.

Wow this thread moves fast!

Iceland have their selection boxes in, the big ones are on offer 2 for £5.

The works have more Christmas crafts in now also and CRAFT20 gets 20% off.

Christmas tags and twine set i ordered on Amazon has arrived today and its lovely.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07TJHL525?ref=ppx_pt2_mob_b_prod_image&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

I have two Matalan codes if anyone wants them. I’ve used one but still have
£5 off 25 spend
SPMD5-5RU-018W7Z-24D

£15 off £75 spend
SMD15-5S1-00VFON-85E

Does anyone have any good ideas about presenting hampers in a way other than a basket? I know that my sil and bil have had a few different hampers over the years and so have accumulated a few different hamper baskets and probably or looking to acquire any more. I was thinking a nice jute bag or something? Any recommendations?

Thanks @Adelais I used the £5 off code, desperately needed some boots

@Sunshineskies

Does anyone have any good ideas about presenting hampers in a way other than a basket? I know that my sil and bil have had a few different hampers over the years and so have accumulated a few different hamper baskets and probably or looking to acquire any more. I was thinking a nice jute bag or something? Any recommendations?

I just used a really nice Christmas gift bag last year and called it a stocking, rather than a hamper. I have said I'll do the same this year and they are delighted.

Sunshineskies other ways to present hampers depending on budget and what's in hamper .....

Wheelbarrow
Pretty jute bag that can be used after Christmas for shopping - Tillyana do lovely extra special ones and often have 20% off
One of those colourful plastic baskets you can get in Wilkios etc for laundry
Beer crate

Not a bargain as such but just a heads up that the M&S Christmas food ordering is live.

[quote TheDrsDocMartens]These have 20% design your own t shirt
tshirtandsons.com/home[/quote]
May have to use this - I REALLY want a t-shirt that says "Will you just shut up, man?" 😂 Best part of the debacle that was the presidential debate!

Oh I'm having a panic. For some reason I can't Mumsnet from my phone (tech are looking into it) and I keep opening my mouth (metaphorically) to post and then can't till I get to a PC! Gah!
Anyway, I agree with most people, been here since the days of the presents in the rubbish, somebody stropping that Reastie got a nomination, the milk jug, the scary woman who didn't want us to post things from HUKD, the Murad (iirc) shit free gift you needed a microscope to see and babies born and now all grown up! I wouldn't change a thing, and it's my happy place too.

Even the fact that we all buy stuff we don't need- well, that's what Christmas is about really. I'd never heard of the Oodie that's winging it's way to me, and one of dd's favourite ever presents was the light box wotsit that she still uses daily and has done for the last 3 years. All for about £11 and all thanks to this thread.

Anyways, I'm on the PC now so catching up, today was the last day for my photo book credit so spent the morning sorting that fecker out.

Sunshine Skies Seasalt usually do Christmassy jute bags nearer to Christmas and tend to have offers on them - I've done Gluten Free food filled bags for FIL. No waste re packaging and wrapping.

M&S also do shoppers with initials on them. Will get one for my mums cook books she wants for Christmas.

Oh, and usually, mid-Oct early Nov we get through a thread a day anyway, I just think, as others have said, it's because we need a bit of extra cheer this year and probably means things will be slower come November than usual, because we'll be all wrapped and ribboned and sitting by the blazing fire with our Christmas candles and a glass of white wine while everyone else panics!

@Sunshineskies I’ve used shopping bags (jute or canvas) by rolling down the top a couple of times to make an edge, and depending on the contents, using cardboard to strengthen the bottoms and sides. With a nice ribbon to finish off it looks very well.

Also you might be able to make the hamper part of the gift- eg a bucket or a trug for gardening, a bowl for a baking hamper, a frying pan for a spice selection.

I find some of my basket hampers and pretty baking tins make their way back to me so mine have been recycled several times over the years. My mil always collects up all the ribbons and returns them to me, whether they were mine or not

Please has anyone seen any [hopefully bargainous] wrapping paper anywhere made from recycled paper? I've looked at all the lovely papers on REWRAPPED but it's very ouchy for the amount I'm going to need. TIA.

Did my weekly shop in Aldi and they have put some of their Christmas range out they had chocolate coins 59p the mini choc snowmen/Santa & bears £1.99 for 25 so perfect for advent calendars. They also have a very cute hot chocolate snowman for the bargain price of £1.79.

@caffeineanddryshampoo, thanks so much for the '90s poster saving. So glad I hadn't checked out my other basket yet!

Thank you for the hamper suggestions

@Bluewavescrashing

Does anyone have student beans I could use please?

I do if you still need a code

Just got my bargain amazon garden lights. The cord to first bulb is pretty short but not too much of an issue for where I’m putting them. They give a great light and feel pretty substantial. Let’s hope they last ok.

@KillZill thanks for the bath bombs, they look good. I wonder if dd2 would be happy with those rather than vastly more expensive Lush ones 🤔

So I've got a bit of a random request. Loom bands seem to be making a reappearance in miniest yellows hats class. Can anyone shout if they spot a bargain. Remember seeing them for pennies when they were babies

@Sunshineskies last year I bought these Whistlefish to do hampers and just for general gift bags. My one is still going strong! You may want to hold off buying just yet as I got them half price nearer Christmas.

Marks and Spencer Christmas food slots open

Google Marks and Spencer Christmas food 2020

22nd gone already in this area .