Exhausted all my advent options... Help!

[TwinsandTrifle]

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 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

What about a reverse advent calendar this is an example to help your local food bank.

Is your husband putting this much thought into your advent calendar?!

...and here it is again. Yawn. If there's the effort to bother with passive aggressive comments like this, perhaps combine with the effort to read the thread and see where this has been (predictably) already addressed.

Re: a really pretty "just a picture" one, that's what I have. The traditional German ones are lovely. And Fortnum's has a lovely looking musical one this year, which I'm debating.

No, they're not essential. But we all really enjoy them. 1st of December is very much looked forward to in our house. It's when we all get our jumpers, Christmas PJ's and advents, so they get loads of use all throughout December. Not that I need to justify, I'm looking for recommendations, not what others prefer to do and why that's what we should be doing

I only buy Dh a calendar if I find something good that he will enjoy. Last year I didn't get any but this year he is getting jam calendar.

I wouldn't force myself to find something just because.

Not on The High Street do some really nice one's OP.

Hope you find the right one OP. The coffee thing did make me laugh though - I’m not sure there’s much of a market for unflavoured instant coffee advent calendars which seemed to be what you were expecting from a coffee one. It’s either going to be flavoured instants or proper fancy different origin nice coffee. Did you want one with a sachet of Nescafé in every window?

@Hiphopopotamus that's made me laugh too!! Visions of a Nescafé sachet plopping out every morning. I meant the nice coffee ones first mentioned on thread (that you have to do bean grinder or cafetiere with) are all "Brazilian roast" one day and "Guatemalan medium blend" the next, nice, different varieties and strengths of actual coffee. He'd love this. But he just wouldn't get the cafetiere/bean grinder out and actually make them every day.

The instant one is like, maple coffee, almond coffee, coconut coffee. He doesn't like flavoured coffee.

I have just started trawling through NOTHS though, as may well have more coffee ones on there....

Get them a Good Gifts charity advent calendar. Make them realise how lucky they are .

Pringles was a favourite for my DS
Flavourly beer for DH

Taken a punt on the Degusta for DH. The video showed some interesting things in last year's, and the bargain thread had a fiver off code, so fingers crossed.

DS, I'm still looking. The lynx is ideal, but with his ADHD, he will get miffed that he has to wait until 12 days before to open his first box, so if anyone can find anything like that, that's a full 24 day size?

Looked at the Sherlock Holmes ones, and whilst they sound good for puzzle loving DS, they aren't doors to open, but a 24 page flip each day calendar. Which he'd not be able to stop himself reading through the whole thing on day 1. And he doesn't like when I drip feed him things day by day, as it reminds him he can't control himself too well. Not something I want to do any more than I have to around Christmas.

Scratchcard advent? Not out yet but with the lynx one you'd still be under £20

Hope he likes the Degustation as much as we did.

There does seem to be a 24 day Lynx Advent Calendar too www.boots.com/christmas/all-christmas/lynx-24-day-countdown-calendar-10299168

Degusta Box…. stupid autocorrect 🤦‍♀️

Buttermilk Fudge Advent calendar?

@Acrasia I could kiss you!! Perfect

So happy that's both of them done so I don't even need to think about it now.

Thank you to all who've contributed Xxx

I’m going to get my dh the spicers one, has 25% off at the moment but is 12 not 24 days.

Hope you have two happy chaps every day in December, and that they find you the perfect Advent Calendar too!

@TowelStripes

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

I am stunned.

I used to love the calendars but now the Advent Wreath is all and all and I wonder if there is any real awareness of the true meaning of Advent

Where did you find a discount on degustabox?! I was looking but cannot find one!

@Tanaqui it's on bargain thread 7, or towards the end of 6. I can't remember what it was.... Something like ADVENT21 (try that first in case by some miracle I've remembered it) and you got a fiver off

My DSS (15) loves Oddsocks (sets of socks that are all odd, but themed so they kind of 'match' whatever two you put together. They have an advent calendar:
lostuniverse.com/products/a-very-oddsock-christmas-advent-calendar?variant=39562823467052&currency=GBP&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-5zO2OqN8wIVStPtCh1eoA4IEAQYASABEgLxVfD_BwE

Thank you!!

Loving look of degusta. I tried advent21 as a discount code but it didn't work. Any suggestions please?

@RockingMyFiftiesNot

What about a reverse advent calendar this is an example to help your local food bank.

What a good idea. I volunteer at our local foodbank and we always need more contributions especially at Christmas.

I'd go for a milkybar one, a malteser one and a good old Cadbury milk chocolate one
:)