What advent calendars (gifts not chocolate or pictures) have been good?

[WaltonOnNaze]

I love planning, so thinking ahead to next year... what advent calendars have been good this year?

I was disappointed with the stuff in my M&S one.
DS loved Usborne books one and DH v happy with Laithwaite's wine one.

I've bought my husband the Wera one the last 4 years which is really good.

I had the Liberty beauty one and it was excellent. Loads of brands I'd not tried before. It was very minimal on the make up, couple of beautiful candles, lovely perfumes and some quality skin care. I've had the Cult Beauty and Space NK ones before and it was vastly better. Definitely saving up for next year's.

Bonne Maman jam advent calendar has been amazing!! It's gorgeous and super value for money if you can get it on sale

I bought the sephora. So many brands I'd heard of and never tried. It was really good value for money.

Fever tonic and gin - bloody excellent!

All three were a hit here. Dd15 had a rubber duck one which she loved

Dd11 had a crystal/rock one which she collects

And Ds 7 had hot wheels which he loved but I thought was a bit naff in the end as there were only 6 cars and the rest were just random bits but he loved it

I got the cheese one this year which was very much enjoyed!

I bought DD a body shop one on offer and she has absolutely loved it.

We have an embroidered one with plastic rings by each number. It gives me the freedom to choose whatever DD is into that year.
In previous years I’ve bought and divided into 24 presents:
goodie bag type stuff
Lego sets
Playmobil sets
Sylvanian families second hand stuff
second hand loose Lego
make up (this year)

Every year it’s good as it’s what she loves at that time. Buying sets or second hand saves on cost.

The M&S beauty one. The Bonne Maman Jam one. The Pukka tea one.

I was pleased with my Fabric Godmother one :) kids had choc and pic and DH didn’t have one this year. In the past really liked playmobil and I hear the play doh one is good!

We had a coffee advent calendar for two from Whittards; two coffee bags each day, presented in a beautiful box of drawers.

I think this was my favourite calendar for a while, as much as anything because we’ve used it as we’ve gone along - the Bonne Maman one we had a few years ago was delicious, but we don’t have jam every day so had multiple little jars hanging around over Christmas; last year I was given a yankee candle advent and I’ve still got tea lights from it in a box now!

My body shop advent calendar was fantastic, I would highly recommend. I had a pukka tea one the other year which I loved too.

DD really liked her Body Shop one.

Tiny rebel calender. DH has very much enjoyed December this year!

We had an Office funko pop Advent which was fab and we've gained 24 new figures. That was between the 3 of us plus ds had his pocket one as usual. I put sweets/treats etc in there.

I really liked my m&s one and dp loved his Wera tools one.

We got given the big Hotel Chocolat calendar (I wouldn’t have spent £75 on one) and it had mini bottles of flavoured gin and vodka, chocolate liqueur and a pot of lip balm, as well as different flavoured chocolates.

I had the M&S beauty one this year and loved it

I had the Yankee Candle one which was lovely

I’d love nice advent calendar for next year thing is don’t drink don’t wear make I’d feel stupid doing eye shadow at 56 no mascara either.

I had Clinique and was v pleased with it. DH liked his Aldi beer one.

Flannels was amazing

Beer52 and Baby Anabell were loved here (got both on offer). Candy Kittens was a bit rubbish.

Hey duggee book one was good, very cute, loved by both! Lego city was a v random assortment of builds and not super fun or played with - last year's playmobil farm in comparison is still played with weekly on it's dedicated shelf, so won't make that mistake again!

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