Christmas bargain thread 1

[Reastie]

Greetings folks, it’s that time again!

Starting a fresh for 2021, so if anyone has any specific links they’d like or think would be handy to add to the list for the next thread please do let me know.

Hope you’ve all had a better year so far than last year and here’s hoping things will be at a point for a more celebratory Christmas with friends and family (and lots of bargains) this year.

It's so lovely to have this thread back (thanks Chips for all your hard prequel work).

Could we have the yearly reminder on how to do short links please @Reastie ?

Argos have some lovely baubles filled with designer friends accessories reduced to £4 each which I've picked up for my DD, I was surprised at how big they are, perfect for stocking (sack) filling or I might take the contents out and incorporate into advent!
www.argos.co.uk/product/7690231?clickSR=slp:term:designafriend%20doll:100:116:2

If anyone comes across a bargainous magic set suitable for an older child please let me know

😃 Indeed! No harm in being organised if you can manage it! Good to hear Lego should be ok!

@Willow4987 I know, the main thing one of my boys want is a game not released until end of November! But I figure a voucher for the eshop would do if we can't get the physical game. I think they come from China/Japan....

Hopefully not be too bad though, could be clever marketing..if only they knew how little encouragement I need anyway 😂

@Kollamoolitumarellipawkyrollo

Blokus game. RRP £33. Usually £20+

£7.99!

Was very popular on here last year and I’ve never seen such a low price! I’ve bought 3 for gifts. We love it.

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Ooh this is right up my street just ordered this. Thanks

@thelegohooverer

Lovely to be back on the bargain threads. Thanks *@Reastie*!

Thanks @stressbucket1 for the Dunnes oodies and to @WeeFae for the mug cake mixes. That’s got me started!

WAVES25 gets 25% off swimwear at Character.com
Avoca have their summer sale on now

I don’t know if it’s just me but I’ve noticed a real uptick in problems with online orders in the last few months and I wondered if it would be worth putting together a few tips in the second post stickies @Reastie.

My tips are:
check out companies on trustpilot before ordering
be wary of companies that only have email/contact firms for customer services and no phone numbers or addresses (unless of course you enjoy meaningless replies from bots)
keep a list of what you’ve ordered so you can follow up if something doesn’t arrive. Sometimes it’s a numbers game where they’re betting on people not following up on missing orders.
check where things are shipped from, particularly if you need them quickly. I’ve got caught out waiting for the slow boat from China when I thought I was ordering locally.
I’ve started using Revolut to avoid putting in my main bank details (and it helps me budget)

Sorry if I’m lowering the tone! Just thought it might be worth a little brainstorm now as I know there are savvier posters than me and I’ve been very grateful in previous years when wiser posters sounded the klaxon!

I think the point about keeping a list of what you've ordered is a particularly good point, something I know I'm guilty of not doing!

More broadly perhaps consider whether it is enough of a saving to buy online vs in store (assuming it is something available in store); if the difference is small it might be easier to buy on the high street.

In a similar vein, it's not a bargain if it doesn't come or requires endless chasing down (well, I guess it might still be in the latter case depending on what you've ordered). So maybe try to be objective about the bargains that seem too good to be true or that are those little extras that we all love to buy but probably aren't strictly necessary and won't be missed. I guess don't get carried away - better for your wallet and for not having "stuff".

In terms of stock availability I feel like last year a lot of the good offers on confectionery and other food were early on, probably linked to stock issues closer to christmas. I could be misremembering of course, but if you can trust yourself not to eat it, I reckon buy stuff the first time you see it at a price that suits you.

Any ideas for a computer/YouTube obsessed 5 year old? I’d like to get him building something electrical but no idea where to start

@happytobemrsg I’ve heard of something called osmo which I think is like a coding toy thingy (I’m not 100% sure as my DS are 3 and 1)

You could also search STEM toys on Amazon - there’s a lot on there that are for building robots or electronic things. Not sure on how age appropriate they all are but there might be something

@Room4onemore thank you for the book recommendation - DD2 loves some of the others in this series so this will be a great addition to our Christmas book collection!!

Hi everyone, checking in for another year.
Started getting a few books today for DS stocking - amazon have some good prices on Tom Gates books at the minute.

Thank you @Kollamoolitumarellipawkyrollo for the Blokus info. I’ve bitten the bullet and purchased for dd. We don’t have a good record with games (shes 8, young for her age and doesn’t like to loose!) but we’re moving to a detached house in a few weeks so can start playing again without worrying about a tantrum if she doesn’t win.

Any posh marshmallow bargains? I seem to remember some from last year but I missed out...

I'm just about to buy Blockus, thank you @Kollamoolitumarellipawkyrollo.

PlayDoh Kitchen Creations is down to £5 here www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07ZYBXNMW?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Thank you for the Blokus bargain!

I only dip in and out of these threads this early but happened to dip in at the right time.

I promise I'll post any bargains I come across though

Thanks for the blokus price alert, I was hoping to get it on offer for ds and missed it the last time

Another order for blokus placed, along with some paperbacks on the two for £7 amazon offer.

Thank you! I've just ordered blokus and the elf book!
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! 🎶

@Kollamoolitumarellipawkyrollo Wow that is a great price for Blokus! We paid twice that last year and thought it was a bargain. It's a great game, am tempted to buy another!

[quote mum2jakie]@Kollamoolitumarellipawkyrollo Wow that is a great price for Blokus! We paid twice that last year and thought it was a bargain. It's a great game, am tempted to buy another![/quote]
I bought it for £15 last year as it was a bargain. I put it in my basket months ago waiting for it to come as low again but never did until today when it plummeted!

@Froppysue

Yay this thread is such a tradition now, thanks *@Reastie*

I’m under a new name this year but can’t wait for the weeks ahead of reading this thread. I’m struggling this year with mine all getting older it’s harder buying in advance (or finding bargains)

@nocutsnobuttsnococonuts my youngest is almost 13 and very into anime/manga too, so hopefully we can both be on the look out for ideas

@Froppysue @nocutsnobuttsnococonuts Not bargainous but on of DS’s favourite presents last year was a box of Japanese sweets and drinks from www.japancentre.com.

Hello, would you say blokus is good for a six year old or maybe better for next year ?
Thanks

Also thank you for the play doh ordered for my 3 year old

@Willow4987 I’ve never heard of Cosmo before! Thanks so much. He already has a kindle fire & it looks like some are compatible

With Cosmo they need the kindle/iPad to be out of its case for it to work

We wanted the Disney princess one for dd but decided against it when we realised it wouldn't work with the protective case on the iPad

Anyone get the Peppa Pig book advent calendar before? My 2 year old is obsessed with Peppa but I got him the Organix one last year. Not sure if I should stick with food. Are 24 books too much??

Thanks for the heads up @superstar84. I’ll see what DH thinks. Would definitely have to keep it out of my 2 year old’s reach

@IggyAce

There are some bargains in the clearance section of character.com link

Thanks so much @IggyAce I’ve bought DS (12) his first Christmas present, a Friends How You Doin? Tshirt. He goes mad that there’s never any Friends clothing for boys. Now I just have to not give it to him before Christmas…