Thread 7: the one with the Sti sitting on the shelf

[Reastie]

Thanks @riverhouse for the title!

If you’re posting anything specifically for me please do @ me or I may not spot it. It’s helpful if when sharing bargain info you bold it to make it easy for people to differentiate between chat and bargain links.

To follow the thread without using up a post to mark place you can click on ‘watch this thread’ at the top of the first post.

No affiliate links please.

Referral thread here to use for if you’re posting your personal referral link to others.

Vodafone codes thread here

Second message has a few links and info which I’ll slowly build up, let me know if there’s anything you’d like me to add to it

I've missed about 15 pages of thread and now feeling like I need to pay attention to get as mnay cheap presents as possible this xmas.
I'm an avro energy customer and after yesterday's news it looks like our bills will double to about £200 month. Which takes rather a chunk out of the budget for Xmas and 2x January birthdays.
I don't even know what to get the kids, they've not really expressed any particular thoughts yet.
I'm feeling extremely hormonal this morning.

@YesIcan3 @brightwhite

For something like a scuttlebug for older children - some friends of mine have swing cars (also called wiggle cars, didicars or plasmacars I think). They are ride-ons that you wiggle left and right to make them move. They’ve had theirs since their children were 3 or 4, but they still ride on them now aged 9 and 10! (they can take adult weight too, so we may or may not have had slightly drunken late night races around the house )

It’s this kind of thing although I think that’s a different make from the one they have.

I went to TK maxx yesterday. No chilly or sho bottles but they did have some of the thermos brand ones with a sort of flat lid. I actually think these are better, they are shorter due to less lid but same capacity. Also had another brand which were sort of short and stout something like quokka. Ish.
And a load of unbranded ones with nice designs.
I have a £5 wilko one, it's done me 4 years and still perfectly fine so I'm not sure that it's necessary to spend ££££ on chilly branded ones.

@Bsgetty ooh they look pretty cool will look into them! Thank you!

Have you all heard of Playpennies - worth a look - it also locates good deals that are going round at the moment but it’s best to check daily.

Has everyone had their Smyths catalogues? I didn’t get one delivered last year for some reason - I normally get one - and as I couldn’t get to a store we missed out. I haven’t had one this year yet either, despite re-entering my details on their site months ago to request one in advance.

@gratedbeetroot yes ours arrived on Monday. I think they are making there rounds maybe order again on website just incase.

The Tefal Cake Factory is down to £99.99 on the Tefal shop and HELLO30 gives you 30% off which brings it down to a bargainous £69.99.

Boots have some offers on today including fragrance and beauty product collection and code FLASH10 gets an extra 10% off when you spend over £50.

@PeachTea1

Sorry another couple of scuttle bug questions…

What age do you think they’re appropriate for and are they indoors use only?

Depending on answers it might be another 2 gift ticked off my list

We got one for DS’s 1st birthday and he’s slowly getting the hang of it. We use it outside and inside as we’ve got a bit of patio he can go on. Also worth checking out Facebook Marketplace if you’re happy with secondhand because we got ours from there for £10 and it was in fab condition.

Candles Direct have 30% off at the moment. 22.88% (strange number!) with top cash back too

@gratedbeetroot I haven't had mine yet

@PeachTea1

Sorry another couple of scuttle bug questions…

What age do you think they’re appropriate for and are they indoors use only?

Depending on answers it might be another 2 gift ticked off my list

My ds is nearly 11 & we got him one for his 1st birthday, he used in indoors and outside. He used it for several years and I then past it onto my DN when she was 1, she’s now 4 and it’s still going strong.

There's always scuttlebugs on fb marketplace or charity shops for £5-10. We got ours in a charity shop for a fiver. Definitely worth keeping an eye out.

@PeachTea1 we've only ever used our scuttlebug outside. Wouldn't be much good on grass but if you've got a bit of patio or tarmac then you'll be fine :) the sight of my DD freewheeling down our street was quite something 😂

Just had an email from M&S to say up to 50% off in their sale. There are also a few school uniform items in the kids section if anyone needs more or the next size up.

@peachtea1 I lived in a flat when mine were little so we used to fold up the scuttlebug, stick it under the buggy and take it to the park, they loved racing around the paths or on the tarmac! Also along the seafront. Aswell as indoors! We got it for dd1s 1st birthday or Christmas and she used it till 5ish (her knees were up by her ears at that point!)

@PhantomErik thanks a million, I am in Ireland though and we dont have home bargains unfortunately, I think it was galt people were recommending, I wonder is it worth paying the extra for the galt or just getting an unbranded one on amazon some of them look fab and are half the price of galt.

@RainbowPhilosophy

Just had an email from M&S to say up to 50% off in their sale. There are also a few school uniform items in the kids section if anyone needs more or the next size up.

Excellent. Just bought DH's annual underwear! And I got 5 pairs for less than I'd normally get 3 pairs for. He will be pleased!

There is a new vtech marble run out whatwillicallmyself I am tempted for my 4 year old but I need to do a bit more research first.

@nicky2512

@nocutsnobuttsnococonuts Mine are almost 16 year old Ds (Christmas day birthday) and 19 year old Dd but still big kids that love their surprises! Budget has got tighter but luckily my parents are v generous and give me money to buy a big present from them. Ds is big into cars/models/scalextric etc. He is getting a nitro r/c car. So really need bargain items for him as wont be spending much more.

Dd loves Pandora so looking at the 3 for 2 for my parents present. She loves Hotel Chocolat so waiting for that.
I would love to buy her a Tommy Hilfiger bag but can’t see better than 10% off.

I’m a bit stuck this year to be honest.
I still need a lot of other presents too but Ds needs new trainers so I’m spending no more this month!

@nicky2512, it does get trickier as they get older finding the bargains. A few things I'm doing for my girls which will be fairly cheap to bulk out gifts. Dd1 - an American foods box - pop tarts, nerds and other cool looking sweets i can find in home bargains/poundland/b&m. Dd2 - pringle selection box (will wait for them to go on offer and buy all the flavours!) Dd1 - ready salted selection box (again wait for offers and buy all the various crisps i usually say no to!) Dd2 - a facemask and beauty box. Bought in primark and reduced in super drug. Will get a new character headband for pushing away her hair.

They both love fleece blankets from primark/wilko.

Magazine subscription and crunchyroll subscription (anime to stream) the cost each month will spread it out but they will enjoy it!

How about things for their room? A nice lamp (I'm fancying a lava lamp for dd2!), framed pictures or posters, a noticeboard, one of those hanging frames to put photos in (then get them to download freeprints to get some free each month)

Check out charity shops/olio/Facebook marketplace. I often pick up little bits like games / dvds / knick knacks / books at little cost.

New lunchbag/drinks bottle.

Do they have an echo dot? Ours are great for music. Wireless headphones are on dd1s birthday list this year.

@ConsuelaHammock thanks for your reply, did you get the EUFY BoostIQ RoboVac 30C, there are so many different versions ?

@Elphaba17 ooh yes the vtech ones look fab but they are pricey.

Oh another one that has just landed in my inbox. Not much but every little helps

10% off at Book Depository and free worldwide shipping as standard

That should’ve said 10% off at Book Depository with code SEPT10 until Mon 27th Sept. 🤦🏻‍♀️ Had very little sleep last night thanks to DS (I reckon he probably knows subconsciously about the toy kitchen I have my eye on for his older sister that she will feed him from until he’s old enough to tell her to bog off!)