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Original poster

Exhausted all my advent options... Help!

74 replies

TwinsandTrifle · 18/09/2021 22:31

I know how whiny and difficult this is going to sound, but any help would be gratefully received...

I need to get DH and DS13 their advents. I feel like they've had everything over the years that they would like. So would love some inspiration of anything I may have missed.

DS. Now too old for Lego. Had a fossils one. Had a Reese's pieces one and various chocolate. Has ADHD so anything too "build along each day" he gets bored with or loses the bits. I'd rather it wasn't food based as he opens it all and gorges when we're not looking. He's not interested in the crystal ones that have appeared this year. He's got an escape room box for Christmas present, so the calendar wouldn't be ideal.

DH. Likes food. Would not like the snaffling pig, the popcorn, tea, I'm not keen on the idea of a cheese one, he wouldn't like the Bonne Maman or a marshmallow one. Or liquorice. He wouldn't like a sock one. Don't want a solely alcohol one. He does like food. And gadgets.

I've had a look at Degusta which I've seen mentioned on these threads, but last year's looked a bit naff, but I'm basing this on the one review I can find. Can anyone shed a little more light on this? Also debating the F&M feasting advent to share between us, but it's pricey. Can anyone share personal experience of this? Worth it? I know the crackers they do (and charge handsomely for) look beautiful but still contain "posh" shite Xmas Grin so I'm sceptical the advent could be similar.

Please send me your ideas, of things that are different/unique/beautiful/fun/have been real hits in your household....

Thank you xx

OP posts:
DoucheCanoe · 18/09/2021 22:38

DH can get his own if he wants one.

Personally after buying "different" ones we've decided that we all prefer chocolate ones.

15yo is Autistic and will binge it but he's old enough to understand that if he does that it's done and won't be replaced.

I've seen fidget calendars this year which would probably go down well with mine but they've got enough of the things!

PinkFootstool · 18/09/2021 22:40

DH had a Harry Potter socks calendar last year - it made him laugh most days. Anything like that for your teenager?

Brewdog beer calendar went down well one year but I see you don't want alcohol only.

What about making your own up? 24 (25) small gifts per person - tricks, sweets, socks, posh crackers, nice cheese, an umbrella, new toothbrushes, bottles of beer or soft drinks, something to make like a cake mix, a brownie mix or a tshirt tie dye kit? You could keep it as a new gift each day with breakfast or dinner to avoid it being opened in one.

Original poster
TwinsandTrifle · 18/09/2021 22:51

I'll have a look at the HP socks, thank you. He's not particularly into HP, but he can always do with more socks I guess. I'll look at fidget calendars too.

I have made DS my own ones before, but with now having toddler DTwins, I will not have the time.

OP posts:
MinesAPintOfTea · 18/09/2021 22:53

Do they actually want advent calendars? And do they care if they are repeats?

Yerroblemom1923 · 18/09/2021 22:59

Glossybox.

Original poster
TwinsandTrifle · 18/09/2021 23:05

Whilst Glossybox looks interesting, I'm not sure a load of makeup and lotions are what my husband and son are looking for Xmas Grin

OP posts:
Bellie99 · 18/09/2021 23:08

Coffee or hot chocolate ones?

Original poster
TwinsandTrifle · 18/09/2021 23:10

Oh! DH might like a coffee one if they aren't daft flavours. I'll have a Google....

Do you know of any naice ones?

OP posts:
Original poster
TwinsandTrifle · 18/09/2021 23:16

Gaaaaargh the coffee ones are all whole bean, or cafetiere as a minimum every day. DH won't bother with the faff of those. I'd need it to be instant coffee, and they don't seem to exist.

OP posts:
Bellie99 · 18/09/2021 23:23

beaniesflavourco.co.uk/product/coffee-advent-calendar-1447873
Would this be any good?

Bellie99 · 18/09/2021 23:24

Not had any experience of them mind

msssm · 18/09/2021 23:25

There's an advent thread in the Christmas section. I'm sure I saw in there one from, I think, Radio Times, that was build your own model car/other things.

Worth a look for inspiration. You'll find Christmas under 'fun and games'.

TowelStripes · 18/09/2021 23:27

Is this normal, to be this interested in advent calendars? Who knew.

Stompythedinosaur · 19/09/2021 00:39

There's a magic trick advent calendar (on Amazon sold by Trends UK) and a Sherlock Holmes puzzle based one.

Is your ds too old for the funko pop advent calendars?

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 19/09/2021 06:55

Have you looked in Menkind? They had various socks and gadget ones.

(I was thinking of getting the Build a Transistor Radio for DD)

Lego have a new Marvel Superhero one this year.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 19/09/2021 06:56

Last year I had a Sherlock Holmes one, with a different mystery each day.

DancinAtTheDisco · 19/09/2021 06:57

Can't they just have ones with a picture for every day? There's about a gazillion of them out there to suit every taste and budget. They might find them pleasingly retro.

(PS which one of them is stressing about getting you the perfect advent calendar in September?)

Timetoeat · 19/09/2021 06:59

How about an advent with activities to do? Buy an advent calender that has wooden doors or pockets, and add your own activities. Can be things you'd be doing anyway like put up tree to watch a Christmas movie, donate to local food bank to etc.

Acrasia · 19/09/2021 07:11

DH and I had the Degustabox Advent Calendar last year and have pre-ordered this year’s already because it was so good. We’re in Germany though, so I cannot vouch for the UK version because it was different. However, there are unboxing videos on Youtube if you want to see the contents.

elQuintoConyo · 19/09/2021 07:13

I've just looked at the fossil calendar because DS would love it - but OMFG the price Shock

We have a refillable calendar. This year he's getting a small sweet (eg sherbert dipper, he'll eat after school), a note from the dog (freely stolen from Thoughts of Dog on Twitter!).

In the past he's been given a Lego and a Playmobil celendar, and honestly it just all seemed too much before Christmas.

If I were you, I'd pare it back this year - get one with pictures, one with jokes. They can have cheese/coffee/Sherlock Holmes puzzles from Father Christmas.

Br1ll1ant · 19/09/2021 07:44

The Spicery?

IAmSantaOhYesIAm · 19/09/2021 07:52

Sometimes the simple things are the best! My ds really loved the haribo one we got a couple of years ago and the marshmallow one last year was fab! But if you don’t want food related then you will end up with 24 bits and pieces!
How about the lynx one for ds? I think it’s only a 12 day one though.

Seesawmummadaw · 19/09/2021 07:54

Make one instead with bits that they would like.

HelstonaireMonty · 19/09/2021 07:57

Buy a reusable calendar for your son and then just as we did when the children were little stick a chocolate in the night before so he only has access to one at a time. Then he can't gorge it all although I do have fond memories of doing that as a child Grin

BikeRunSki · 19/09/2021 08:03

@HelstonaireMonty

Buy a reusable calendar for your son and then just as we did when the children were little stick a chocolate in the night before so he only has access to one at a time. Then he can't gorge it all although I do have fond memories of doing that as a child Grin
Us too

Last year DM bought them traditional picture advent calendars and they loved them!

I’d rather not have 48 pieces of tat/pairs of socks/miniature anythings cluttering up the house.