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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Thread 27 - Would appreciate any other ideas for ninja-move dolls

329 replies

YuleAreBeingUnREASTIEable · 20/12/2020 21:02

Thanks @raindropsonrosesand for the title

I just accidentally set up the thread in the wrong talk board 🤦🏻‍♀️!

Think this will be the thread with Christmas Day on it. I hope all of you have wonderful christmases (well, as wonderful as possible atm) and everyone enjoys all the bargains and you’ve saved money. We’ve been quite careful this year and I’ve definitely saved even more money than usual!

Keep an eye on the sales, I’m assuming the actual shops, given many are closed in the SE atm, will have pretty mega discounts to shift stock once they’re reopened.

You’ve all kept me sane in a slightly insane world this year, here’s to next year Brew Wine Thanks

please post any bargain info IN BOLD to make it easier to scroll through the thread.

To make things bold you:
Put a star each side of what you want to make bold like this but without the space between the star and the writing *

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 Thanks

Affiliate Advertising policy: Mumsnet carries some affiliate marketing links, which means we earn commission on sales of some products when users click through a link from the site. Our editorial content is NOT influenced by affiliate partnerships. You may not post affiliate links without the prior permission of Mumsnet.

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 Thanks

OP posts:
Thread gallery
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YuleAreBeingUnREASTIEable · 20/12/2020 21:02

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.

Independent online businesses to look here for links recommended or own businesses.

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.

Thank you fireflygirl for the info on when supermarkets opened Christmas delivery slots last year:
Last year, Morrisons opened their Christmas delivery slots to pass holders on 6 November, and non-pass holders on 27th November, Tesco opened theirs 3 days early for pass holders (27th as opposed to 30th), and Asda 5 days earlier (13th as opposed to 18th). Sainsbury's likely opened theirs 3 weeks in advance to everyone at the same time.

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

OP posts:
SomethingInTheWaySheCooks · 20/12/2020 21:04

Thread 27! Thanks Reastie.

Londoncatshed · 20/12/2020 21:32

Just a quick thank you to you all. Not posted much but have read most of the threads. It’s been such a lovely place to escape to and to feel positive, alongside some great gift ideas. Wishing you all a safe and happy Christmas. Thanks Reastie x

Thedarknightsaredrawingin · 20/12/2020 21:57

Has anyone seen sipsmith sloe gin in stock? I css as my find it anywhere Xmas Sad

TwnklTwnklLittleStarfighter · 20/12/2020 22:12

Thread 27 Xmas Shock

I’m starting to wonder how I will pass my time after Christmas?

sorryiasked · 20/12/2020 22:14

@Thedarknightsaredrawingin ocado?

Thedarknightsaredrawingin · 20/12/2020 22:32

@sorryiasked we are too far for Ocado and can’t go to Glasgow as not allowed to leave local authority. Always got it in Sainsbury’s but none in this year.

Might need to accept online will be here after Christmas, my fault for not ordering sooner 🤦🏻‍♀️

TheGirlWhoLived · 20/12/2020 22:52

I’ve got one very very last request, anyone seen gingerbread houses real life shopping? I have a mould but don’t want to bake my own (lazy)

ClaraTheImpossibleGirl · 20/12/2020 22:55

@TheGirlWhoLived I got a gingerbread house kit from Flying Tiger and DP got a nicer but much more expensive one from our local garden centre!

Thedarknightsaredrawingin · 20/12/2020 22:59

We got one from B&M yesterday. We tried Sainsbury’s, Asda. Tesco, Lidl. Aldi and M&S first but all sold out.

TwnklTwnklLittleStarfighter · 20/12/2020 22:59

@TheGirlWhoLived they had them in Aldi last week, baked and ready for decorating

SpamIAm · 20/12/2020 23:07

We had a gingerbread house from Flying Tiger, also seen them in home bargains.

TheGirlWhoLived · 20/12/2020 23:16

Thanks- tried aldi, b and m, Lidl, all the big supermarkets and home bargains round here to no avail - will give the garden centre a go, fingers crossed! Don’t fancy braving flying tiger this close to Xmas, but the garden centre should be safe Grin

Theonlyoneiknow · 20/12/2020 23:25

Ikea usually have gingerbread house kits if there is one near you?

DS has a birthday on Christmas day, I had to succumb to a panic and bought a betty crocker cake mix. It always feels like I run out of time at this time of year to get everything done. Let's not mention every year having to drive around various supermarkets to get helium for balloons!

deeplybaffled · 20/12/2020 23:30

Do we normally have a post Christmas bargains thread, please?

ThatsMySantaHisBeardIsSoFluffy · 20/12/2020 23:33

Yes, @deeplybaffled!

uniqlo · 20/12/2020 23:40

@deeplybaffled

Do we normally have a post Christmas bargains thread, please?
Ooooh, I hope so! I'm going to miss these lovely threads but hoping they will carry on a bit longer with sale bargains!
Raindropsonrosesand · 21/12/2020 00:13

Wow, thanks Reastie!! Xmas BlushXmas SmileXmas Grin

icedaisy · 21/12/2020 05:19

Morning everyone and special thanks to @YuleAreBeingUnREASTIEable

I've been here since the thread before thread one this year and have loved the chat and kindness.

I announced my thread baby early on, due Christmas Day and am pleased to announce beautiful holly arrived Friday. Yes a Christmas name and I'm not sorry, she may have been puppet at some stage took me so long to get those.

Thank you all, merry Christmas.

YuleAreBeingUnREASTIEable · 21/12/2020 05:35

@icedaisy congrats, and what a fitting name!

OP posts:
CeeceeBloomingdale · 21/12/2020 06:10

Ah a thread baby, congrats @icedaisy. I agree, these threads gave been all warm and fluffy and full of loveliness!

WisestIsShe · 21/12/2020 06:30

@icedaisy congratulations! Holly is a lovely name. Hope you're both doing well.

IggyAce · 21/12/2020 06:38

@icedaisy congratulations, I have loved these threads this year. I hope you all have a Merry Christmas.

Yeknom · 21/12/2020 06:47

Welcome to the world Holly. Beautiful name x

HoHoHolyMackerel · 21/12/2020 07:26

Aww little Holly. Lovely news, congratulations.
Thanks for the thread Reastie. I'm done christmas shopping but am picking up what I can for the seven birthdays in January.... 😫 Including my sons first birthday first week of Jan