Help, please with advent calendars

[DutchessOfMuck]

I am looking for help buying advent calendars for this Christmas. I am thinking about treating us and stepping away from the traditional daily chocolate mould ones.

Dd 11
Dh - mid 40s
Me - mid 40s

Thanks so much

I’ve bought my DD a rubber duck one! I’ve previously bought the marshmallow ones, which come with a little burner and skewers for roasting them.

I’ve bought a pork scratching one for XP and also have a little set of advent drawers and some mini stockings that I would put chocolates, coins, little gifts etc in.

For me I’ve bought a box of 24 handmade chocolates which I had as an advent calendar. Have also had a beauty/toiletry one and a tea one.

@SteveHarringtonsChestHair those sound really thoughtful and lovely.

Hiya. Advent Calendars are a fun thing for us and we enjoy them so much. DH puts up a big shelf every year to display them all on.

This year so far DH has a Star Wars Lego one. Last year he had a Pork Scratchings one and a Star Wars Sock one. Thinking about a sock one again too this year- we like the ones sold at Boots.

Last year I had the Joe and Sephs Popcorn Calendar and the Bonne Maman Jam Calendar. This year I’m having the Naked Marshmallow one and probably a sock one too. As are Dd 16 and Ds 12. They’re very excited about it. Younger Dd and Ds are having book calendars (Avenger/Princess) and normal chocolate ones to go with them.

Last year older Dd had a Soap & Glory Calendar, older Ds had a Precious Stones Calendar and younger Ds had a Fidget Calendar. Younger Dd had a Peppa Pig Book Calendar. Previous years Dd has also had Make Up Calendars.

We like having things to do or keep but something to eat is good too so tend to have 2 or 3 each 😂

Also we get the Pukka Tea one for us all to share

I can never understand grown adults having advent calendars... Perhaps I'm just a different generation

@ChelseaRobertsofMalibu And yet here you are on a Christmas Forum in September! I think they are fun :)

I’m in Aus and have Advent Calendar envy every year as our choice is a lot more limited 😂 I love hearing about what you guys can get.

I'm over 50 and love a good advent calendar. I remember one year I think Sainsbury's did a cheese one that I wanted for DH but couldn't find it in stock. Last year DD had a makeup one and DS had a hot chocolate one.

I've got myself a beauty one, DP the Brewdog one and then DS has a refillable one that I fill with chocolate coins and free activities (film night, baking gingerbread men for Santa, walk around to see the Christmas lights etc).

Just in case anyone's looking for a Schleich calendar - a poster over in the bargain threat shared that this wildlife version is reduced to £15 and is a bargain!

You could always build your own advent calendars. You do your husband's and he does yours. My DS is really picky, so that's what I'm doing this year. I'll just pick up 24 small things I think he'll like and I got a little drawstring bag to hang from the Christmas tree.

B&m do cheaper but non chocolate ones if you are on a budget. Last year I got a scented tea light one.

You could turn the advent calendar into the Christmas present itself... I don't know, it depends know how much money you are prepared to spend.

My mum goes nuts over Christmas and we love her for it, but last Christmas she made us our own advent calendars. It was expensive, must have cost about £75 each, but it really was just the two of us.

It wasn't fancy, just a big box with 25 small individually wrapped presents in it... all numbered, with it culminating in a bigger one. A few were those little bottles of wines, a few were packs of sweets, picture frames, drill bits for me, small makeup kits for the wife... small but tailored gifts.

Obviously that's extortionate but you could downscale it... otherwise you're limited to the Lindt, Thornton's, Kinder sorts...

I get my dad a pork scratching one every year. Snaffling Pig Company.

I bought myself a wooden one with drawers and put my favourite chocolates in them. Check the drawer sizes because some are tiny.

I can second the naked marshmallow ones - my ds has had this two years in a row.
Also have had in the past the popcorn one, Lego, Yankee candle, and haribo.

This year going to go chocolate ones again but probably nice ones like Lindt.

Thanks all so much 😁

Some fab and amazing ideas you have all given me to think about.

I have just had a look at this one, looks great 😁

uk.elemis.com/skin-wellness-advent-calendar.html?trk_msg=OOTCPGKVELPK3D2CPOQ0957POC&trk_contact=KRN986RJE7G05GJBG9F6DJBVIG&trk_sid=BJ99856GL1CJDJKEM24BH2GDQO&trk_link=ATCTFBG2CFA4N8HDJF91FKMCMO&utm_source=listrak-uk&utm_medium=email&utm_term=SHOP+NOW&utm_campaign=ele_bau_Christmas_EM1_20220923

Lego. For all ages. Lots of different ones. Job done.

Dh had last year jam calendar which he enjoyed. This year he gets a chocolate bar calendar from my home country. Ds12 wants that one too. I have half price last year's Bodyshop calendar from Brandalley. Dd10 hasn't decided yet but thinking of having smiggle or little brands one.

I make my own, using the wooden boxes from The Works, painted and pop anything in the fits! Last year it was chocolate and lego fugues for DH, figures that matched friends and family. But could anything.

www.bonnemaman.co.uk/advent

Bonne Maman's advent calendar is now available.

I just bought a lovely one from national geographic with crystals and geodes in it. Lovely.

I highly recommend the Reese’s Pieces one- lots of nice little variations (obvs if you like/can eat peanut butter!).

Also this one is fab.
www.amazon.co.uk/Roger-Borde-Before-Christmas-Advent/dp/B07XX4HBD2/ref=asc_df_B07XX4HBD2/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=377971464706&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8767014578960940603&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006739&hvtargid=pla-1016364389912&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=72384691130&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=377971464706&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8767014578960940603&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006739&hvtargid=pla-1016364389912#

I'd like to do a homemade one for my just 2 year old granddaughter. Any ideas that are inexpensive besides chocolate?