Thread one - the one with no name of note

[Reastie]

It feels bizarre setting up the first Christmas thread on one of the hottest days of the year, yet here we are!

Lovely to see you all; take a seat and grab a mince pie as they get passed around.

Please do alert me to anything for the next thread's page of links (I'm starting fresh this year). Hope you've had a good year and looking forward to celebrating and sharing our bargain buys.

Very niche but thought I'd ask!

Hubby has fallen for trainers from the brand Sparco. They were in a sale but don't have his size so I don't know if there's any known websites that do these type of trainers?

sparcofashion.co.uk/product/sp-ff-ultra-black/

I think you might be confusing them with another website as 5poundstuff have never sold board games, it's clothes, shoes and bags. I've used them a bit over the years, you have to be selective but there's some real gems in there. They basically buy end of line, odd sizes etc from retailers really cheap to sell on so I've had some bargain topshop, H&M stuff etc. Nothing amazing that anyone would be bothered counterfeiting but still bargains. I'm pretty convinced the kuddly I got is genuine when I compared it to dd's but at the end of the day I paid 11 quid for a hoodie not expecting anything much so I'm happy with what I got.

I’m sorely tempted to buy dd one of the new oodie robes while they are £50 instead of £75. Mad but I know she’d love it. Only thing is I’m not making much sense of the sizing. Might just be me being thick though. Would someone more awake have a wee look please?!
says circumference 31cm? I must be reading it wrong.

There’s 15% off on the H&M app at the moment.
Think it ends tonight though.

"I think you might be confusing them with another website as 5poundstuff have never sold board games, it's clothes, shoes and bags. I've used them a bit over the years, you have to be selective but there's some real gems in there. They basically buy end of line, odd sizes etc from retailers really cheap to sell on so I've had some bargain topshop, H&M stuff etc. Nothing amazing that anyone would be bothered counterfeiting but still bargains. I'm pretty convinced the kuddly I got is genuine when I compared it to dd's but at the end of the day I paid 11 quid for a hoodie not expecting anything much so I'm happy with what I got."

Definitely not confused, I still have the email receipt. They sell toys, outdoor stuff, household stuff. There are currently toys and games on there now.

People will counterfeit anything. I've had a counterfeit game from them and also counterfeit Uno from another site. Retails at around £6 - it is still worth faking for them. You get counterfeit everything. Toothpaste, shower gel, everything!

If the oodies and Kudd.ly were genuine then they'd use the brand in their marketing like they do for other brands. I should've known better and like you say, for £14 with postage it's not the end of the world but having something sent with a purposely cut primark label is not great.

Hardly good for gift giving. They've sent me a returns label (after telling me their customers are all happy ) so that's something. I believe it's Primark and therefore passed the necessary fire safety and other regulations but counterfeit stuff in general is everywhere and so dangerous.

Feeling a bit twitchy about the beauty box, it looked like that once I used the link that it all went through. On looking deeper into it, it looks like I have to subscribe, which involves getting a different box for £7.50, and it doesn't mention the free one . So not going to subscribe and I'll wait and see what happens.

Forgot to say thanks to whoever shared the MOB cook book. Great price and will be perfect for DB.

I've also bought the £2 slime baff against my better judgement. Don't think I'll be allowing it in the actual bath!

The MOB book was back up to £8.99 but have ordered it second hand for £4 which is still a bargain. Will make a good stocking filler for DH

Can I ask for opinions please?! Is 5 years old too old for these kind of books? Just going through my stash for a bday present!

Thank you!

@LemonFrosting I'd say 5 is too old for one of those. I think they're more for when you can't trust your toddler with crayons 😅

Can I just point out early on for any newbies that there is a separate thread for referrals to give everyone a chance to benefit, here's the link

Bargain referral thread 4 www.mumsnet.com/Talk/Christmas/4421887-Bargain-referral-thread-4

Yes, a bit too young for a 5-year old @LemonFrosting

I think scratch art books are better at that age.

The websites sales games & toys now?

Hi Sally I had to go through agreeing to subscription and setting up an account .., only took 5 minutes but was simple enough to cancel. Although they did try and offer me several - but no where near as good a bargain / boxes on the way.

@tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz So did you have to subscribe and pay for the half price box too? Sorry, but I've never subscribed to anything like this and I don't really understand it

Thank you to the PP who linked to the Debenhams sale. If anyone is looking for make up they have some really good offers. Lots of Urban Decay offers, many palettes with £10 off.

Okay, bit out of left field this one…

just saw on a gardening group that anyone with South West Water is entitled to order Free water saving products including a 100l water butt.

might be good if your other half gardens? Says allow 16 weeks for delivery.

Lots of other water suppliers are on the list, I’ve checked ours (Severn Trent) and can’t see any, but worth looking at your supplier’s site and searching ‘free kit’

good luck hiding it in the present cupboard though…

Okay I was determined to find it on Severn Trent water… I had to take a Get Water Fit quiz which then linked to the free products available- no butts, some water flow regulator hardware… I got some water saving gel stuff for the garden (just for me to use), a 4 minute hourglass shower timer, cute crocodile toothbrush timer for the kids, and a little seed kit.
So a couple of nice free (and useful) stocking fillers :-)

@ChristmasCwtch @Crimsonbow thank youfor the quick replies! I thought it might be too young but then on an amazon review someone said they'd bought one for a five year old.
I've got an Orchard toy game I can give instead, thanks all! 😊

I'd also like to point out that there's a referral thread. And that craft gin club don't allow your '£20 off a box' any more when you refer someone. IMHO it's not worth the money any more after the first box. Same as Hello Fresh etc. At the end of the day, they are there to make money.

This thread has been going for years and is not about profiteering, it's about genuine bargains.

Also, thanks to the PP for the hot diamonds discount. You were right, it was probably picked up by MSE. Most of the things I clicked on were Out of Stock. I also think they over exaggerate their original prices. The 'diamonds' are tiny. But you can pick up the odd bargain here and there.

www.wessexwater.co.uk/community/blog/6-free-water-saving-devices-for-your-home

not much for Wessex water.

I'd also like to point out that there's a referral thread. And that craft gin club don't allow your '£20 off a box' any more when you refer someone. This thread has been going for years and is not about profiteering, it's about genuine bargains

Thank god its not just me that gets irritated by this. The referral thread is great for when you want to buy something and need a code. I hate it when people try to bypass that and profit from the bargain thread.

Thank you to whoever posted the hot diamonds code. Got a lovely bracelet for my mum

@JubileeTissues I would suggest using the slime in the actual bath because then you can run the taps and dilute it really easily. It doesn’t make a mess and my kids love it.

I made the mistake of using it in a tray in the garden once and it took weeks to get rid of it because it was really hard to get enough water to dissolve it and you really need warm water or it doesn’t work.

My girls are asking for Pandora bracelets but they’re too young - 5 and 8, they’ll just lose them. Has anyone ever bought a decent cheap version?

First post of the year - so hello all. Apologies if someone has already posted but Lidl have Ty Squishaboos in from the 21st for £4.99 which a couple of pounds cheaper than Amazon.