Christmas Bargain Thread 1 - the one where my dad is 17

[Reastie]

Thanks @snowmanshoes for the title!

Hello everyone, so nice to see you all. Pull up a chair, have a mince pie and a peppermint latte and share your Christmas bargains and ideas. In message two are the links and info from last year - if anyone has anything they'd like me to amend or add, please do tag me and I'll update.

A reminder not to post affiliate links in the thread but that MN do change amazon links shared by posters into MN affiliate links.

Please do watch the thread rather than post to mark place to make it easier for everyone to keep up and find relevant info.

A massive thank you to those who have contributed and/or run the prequel threads this year. I can't believe it's another year! I started these when DD was a baby and she's just gone into Year 8!

Mine haven’t arrived yet either. I actually sent them an email this morning as delivery says 3-5 working days.

Exactly this.
Proceed with caution with Buyagift. Check the reviews thoroughly.
My DC were given a driving experience which will cost an additional £25 each to use on a weekend or in the school holidays. They also received a Segway gift sold on buyagift at the time as being for over age 10, when we arrived they weighed us and my average-sized 13 year old was not heavy enough to ride - no refund or alternative. DC went home extremely disappointed.
DH and I were also given a meal voucher and the business closed down, so we lost the money. Buyagift did not want to know.
These gifts have give us nothing but stress and disappointment. The loved ones who gave them to us are left embarrassed and out of pocket. I will not use buyagift now and I would urge others to be careful.

@WhyHasAllTheRumGone did they say how long it may take? I'm not in a rush for it, I'd actually forgot I'd made an order until I saw your comment!

Re: BuyAGift, I ordered a flying lesson for my son, according to BaG, we had a place local to us where we could do it. Except when we came to book, the local place didn't do it and the closest place was hours away. We exchanged easy enough to a driving lesson but it was a let down to what we wanted.

Iv used buyagift several times for food/afternoon teas and Iv personally never had a problem.
I read the t&c before I book and they have always been good value for money.
The last afternoon tea I paid £15 for on there and it was fantastic.

Hi!

does anyone know if the entertainer have any upcoming sales?

Also my ds has asked for a marvel squishmellow, i have only seen the smaller sized ones and they are still quite pricy .. does anyone know of any larger ones or anything similar that are not as expensive?

thanks

Re: Buyagift
I only have one experience with them: received a spa-hotel stay which we used nearly 2 years later (!) without an issue.
I have, however, bought similar vouchers off other companies that ended up worthless when the specific business/activity no longer existed, so always check all fine print and even ring the provider if possible to ask about using the voucher.

@MmmALovelyBitOfSquirrel

Thanks for posting this. I ordered on the 3rd and was starting to worry I would never see my Marshmallows!

@HereForAdvice123 sign up to the entertainer birthday club, I’m sure you get 20% off, someone may correct me if I’m wrong though I haven’t used it for a while.
Claire’s accessories always have huge sales on too which usually include squishmallows, costco do some good deals on them too and last couple of years Aldi have had some too.

@Nightsku some of the jellycat range can sell out really quickly, can’t always tell which ones will go fast though so if there’s one your daughter is particularly after, then I’d buy it sooner rather than later. Temptation gifts and maison white sometimes have money off jellycats, as do selfridges.

@WhyHasAllTheRumGone thank you! Saves a few of us having to chase it up too.

Looking for ideas, have three 7 year old girl birthdays coming up next month. Budget max £10 for each but ideally less. My 7yo is a boy so I don't know where to start. Thank you!

@NortieTortie
A previous poster told us about this, I ordered one and (haven't opened it) it looks great, haven't seen it on the shelves in supermarkets, is something fun and would suit most personalities (ie they can make fart comics or fashion books).

Hi, I can't see the original post about a helicopter experience but if you're buying it for someone In the North West to go from Barton have a look at Helicentre. I'm sure you can buy gift vouchers directly. We've used them a few times and they are excellent and very reliable.

If you're buying them for someone into aviation there's a 747 top deck and simulator at Barton too which is a lot of fun.

Looking for advice, I've bought recycled paper (it's not for Christmas but my daughters 18) but sellotape doesn't seem to stay stuck and my Nan whose helping me wrap is putting on about 8 pieces a parcel (bless she's 93 and trying to help) but they look a mess.

Can anyone suggest anything else as I'm now currently looking for other paper but that seems a waste.

I dont think this has been posted but Boots are doing 4 for 3 on selected Tonies characters, online deal only.

Thank you. I think il buy it straight away. I will check out the websites you mentioned too!

I know snuggle has been mentioned, but I have just found this lunch box for 80p.
Might be a good stocking filler.

Perhaps glue dots? Wilko used to have a cheap own brand version but not sure that's an option at the moment..

I remember Paddy and Scott’s coffee being popular last year, and we really liked their coffee. They currently have 15% off with code BACKTOSCHOOL15
 

@sparklepuffkin thank you. Other places do glue dots I just wasn't sure how good they are

on a similar note, has anyone received the shortbread from Steven Brown Art? I ordered these and the marshmallows on the same day and no sign of either

Hi, this is niche, but off the back of the Japanese strawberries discussion upthread, has anyone come across somewhere that sells Japanese snacks (savoury and sweet) that are guaranteed gluten free (safe for coeliacs)? I’ve checked the places mentioned (Ichiba/Japancentre and Bokksu) but neither had stuff guaranteed free from cross contamination.
Thank you!

Stupid auto correct.
I actually meant smiggle.

I got paper tape off etsy, that worked great on kraft paper

Did anyone order from Fossil with the extra ADD25 code last night? They have just cancelled my order so heads up there might be others in same boat. Thanks for sharing though OP (they don't appear to have stopped the code working though so might not be linked but I suspect it is as item still shows as in stock)