Christmas bargains prequel 2023 thread 🎄 - the final prequel before the main event

[InDreamland]

Last bargains prequel thread before @Reastie takes over for the main event.

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@Fakeasalouisvuittonfromchina

I had the Dualit and loved it. It started making a tired noise after a couple of years and at the time there was only a tenner in the price so I upgraded to the Velvetiser. Basically the same, just slightly nicer looking! Worth noting that the Dualit has the option to froth cold though which I miss in the summer so bought a little hand frother too!

My DDs will love these sharpies! Thank you!

Thank you for responding.
There is currently only £15 difference between them.
Yes I noticed the dualit does milkshake. Reviews say the dualit doesn't heat the milk and that it only makes enough for one cup! These are off putting. Does the velvetiser heat? And make more than one cup?

The velvetiser only makes one cup at a time @Fakeasalouisvuittonfromchina - and they aren't big mug size drinks. One run of the veltiser perfectly fills one of the pod cups that comes with the machine

Thank you.
That's no good, I'd be there all day running it to make everyone a drink. Think I may need a choclate fountain not a velvetiser

Thought the velvetiser is made by dualit anyway?
Anyway I love mine. So much. So so much. 💖

@@Fakeasalouisvuittonfromchina , following a Christmas thread on here several years ago, I compared the Dualit and the Lavazza milk frothers in John Lewis, and went for the Lavazza.

The Lavazza will heat and slightly froth milk (180ml) with chocolate powder or grated chocolate, although the chocolate sometimes sticks to the bottom a bit. The Lavazza rep said to run it briefly with water and a drop of washing up liquid to clean it when that happens. Mostly I use it on a different setting to foam and warm a smaller amount of milk (100ml). It works on plant milks, too.

There’s a third setting which I can’t remember as I didn’t use it and I have lost the lid which had that information on. Possibly foaming but not heating the milk.

Often I heat milk in a mug in the microwave for hot chocolate or use powder and hot water. I add foamed milk on the top from the Lavazza. It makes the drink seem much more luxurious.

It was £19 at the time, price matched with somewhere, but as JL don’t price match any more it will probably not be that low again.

Later I considered buying a Velvitiser but decided it was going to be no better. I’m not sure it even makes foam.

Thank you.
I have looked but I think it's the same size as the dualit and velvetiser. It's a similar price too.
I the problem is I would need it to make at least 2 cups. Another is I don't want to heat the milk in another area, that's adding more prep time. Maybe I'm looking for something that doesn't exist

I’ve got the dualit frother and I can’t find any difference! Had it for 2 years and it’s great!

Naked Marshmallow sale ends today for those still thinking of buying.

At the risk of being a bit of a grinch, could we possibly have a separate thread for the hot chocolate chat? It feels like every year half of each bargain thread is taken up with ongoing discussions about the difference between the machines, the best chocolate to use etc, and apart from anything else it means that people who might want to chat about hot chocolate miss it because they aren’t looking on the bargains thread. Obviously flagging bargains etc are all lovely, and useful.

At the risk of annoying QueenofWeeds….

@Fakeasalouisvuittonfromchina :
Another is I don't want to heat the milk in another area, that's adding more prep time.

It doesn’t add prep time because the milk and the froth are heating at the same time, and you get a 2-layered drink. It also doesn’t add to the washing up because the milk is heated in the mug you’ll drink it from.

I don’t have any suggestions for something which will make enough for 2 drinks at the same.

In my experience none of the milk heaters get the milk hot enough. This also applies to Costa etc. I’m told that’s to avoid scalding the milk, but to me the drink is lukewarm when I start to drink it and cold by the time I’ve almost finished.

I’ve got this one

Salter milk frother

Goes up to 300ml and I often have too much for my huge mugs so if you use smaller cups you could easily fill two but not with a huge amount of froth, that’s the 150ml setting

https://www.hamleys.com/plum-discovery-forest-water-run

I just bought this for my 3 year old with code NEW10 making it about £280. Obviously a more expensive item but still a bargain when original price was £399 (however noticed it on other sites at £340). I think she will love it! Now to hide it somewhere........

I've twitched and joined in with the Naked Marshmallows and biscuit bargains - stocking fillers for my twenty-somethings (who all claim they still believe.....). Thanks also to the PP who posted the Steven Brown Art shortbread tins, they're lovely, that's four more bits bought :-)

My s’mores kits arrived and the marshmallows inside had a BB date of mid Feb. The chocolate and biscuits were longer.

Was that the sale items?

Oh no I’m devastated 😂☹️

Please can someone remind me of the marshmellow deal?

50% off Sumer sale

nakedmarshmallow.co.uk/collections/sale

Think it ends today someone said.

Can vouch they are absolutely delicious. Have had their advent calendar before. 🤤

Just reactivated my Amazon prime membership ready for all the amazing Amazon bargains that will be coming 😉

Noticed a banner saying free £5 credit if you add a Visa or Amex card to your payment section. Might just be certain accounts though!

I'm looking for any Pirates of the Caribbean Lego or toys - anyone know of any leads? My six year old has just seen the movie and is now obsessed with Captain Jack sparrow (he also wants a costume) but it looks like most related toys are now discontinued...

@Soscrewed (loving the name by the way)

thanks for this!

im doing dd12 a stationery ‘mystery’ box - basically a big Amazon box wrapped up with bits and bobs and needed some cooler items to go with the feeble plant pot I nabbed and the £1 Asda black mugs 🤭😂 she’s not hard done by she has lots of Posca pens from last year lol but trying to do a present that takes up space/she’ll enjoy/ doesn’t cost the earth ….

I don’t suppose you have the link? I can’t find it for that price x

Try on Vinted?