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!

Any young hot wheels enthusiasts, last year's advent calendar for sale through Mattel much cheaper that this year

https://shopping.mattel.com/en-gb/products/hot-wheels-advent-calendar-hcw15-en-gb

@MayaTheBusyBee Chelsea Pears!! 🤣

I am determined this year to not buy endless tat for my two kids that barely play with toys! I'm looking for around 5 main gifts each and then stockings and I'm sticking to it. Saying that if anyone knows a baby doll that wees on a potty as requested by 5yo DD , that's less expensive than the Annabelle let me know! Watching the thread!

@purplesky18 argos or b &m usually have those dolls for less than £10 sorry don't know the make but have seen them

Thanks @Smil3 the trash stash game is right up DS’s street, just managed to grab one in our local Entertainer, bargain!

I'm doing a "bookvent" for my two young boys this year too. On the bargain side - I picked up a few books in the 10 for £10 on This Works. Vinted was the best as I got a good few book bundles on there for the equivalent of £1 per book or less. And I made sure to pick up a copy of The Wintertide Bear when it was mentioned on one of the prequel threads a while back. 😊

INSTORE at Sainsbury’s these Smash z travel cups were £5.10 for the black one and £7.30 for the lilac. Great to use, my own one is 18mths old and never leaked. Keeps drinks HOT too.

Alternatively theres a few books with 24 chapters in to be read over advent. Our one is called how winston Delivered christmas. Dd reads this every year. You can also buy packs ofbooks.

Winston

Can you see any means of actually buying this? It only shows for me as ‘where to buy’ & when I click on this is says Amazon where the price is higher…

I did the same and bought most of mine in charity shops. We have father Christmas by Raymond Briggs, the jolly Christmas postman and Alfie's Christmas by Shirley Hughes. These are the only ones I can remember off the top of my head.

Oops no sorry I didn't follow the link before I posted it. A quick search on amazon finds it nearly the same price though?

Hot Wheels Advent Calendar, 8 Hot Wheels Holiday-Themed Toy Cars Plus Assorted Accessories with Playmat, Gift & Toys for Kids 3 Years Old & Older, HCW15 https://amzn.eu/d/6brcq0c

Yeah I just had a look at that myself thanks!
I’ve got £15 credit on Mattel so trying to find something on there which still justifies the £5 postage lol

We also have the box of Christmas books that come down from the loft on 1st December and we read one a night until Christmas.
Adding the Wintertide Bear and this new one, a You Choose Christmas book:

You Choose Christmas: A new story every time – what will YOU choose? amzn.eu/d/6l6CAXu

We also have The Polar Express, jolly Christmas postman, Alfie's Christmas, the snowman and the snow dog, the night before Christmas, Raymond briggs Father Christmas.

I’ve gone past the Christmas book stage but I’ve kept a couple as they were firm favourites.
Father Christmas needs a wee is a funny counting book which we read years after the age recommendation.
How does Santa really work is an amazing pop up book with tabs to lift up. You can lift the bed covers, look down Santa’s toilet etc. There’s a video on YouTube showing all the pages. This was the favourite and I definitely recommend it if you can get your hands on it.

@IWantNotASoundOutOfYou thanks for sharing the new You Choose book! My kids love these and youngest will be delighted with a Christmas edition

Oooh thank you @TherebytheGraceofGodgoI! I’ve just bought both of those recommendations for less than £3 each on eBay.

Can’t get much more of a bargain!

Ahh thank you @IWantNotASoundOutOfYou for sharing the You Choose Christmas book! My 6-year-old can pour over those books for ages, she'll be thrilled there's a new one. 😀

Another big You Choose fan here - just preordered, thanks @IWantNotASoundOutOfYou 😊

We also do the Christmas books. It started out with Mog,Maisy, spot books, mr Christmas and raymond brings the snowman. Now they are older we have the Tolkien letters book, a big book of Christmas jokes and all the christmasaurus books. Oh and sting man is vaguely Christmassy. Even though they are older they still enjoy books like the night before Christmas, it has become a tradition.

Recently rediscovered rummikub and we're loving it. There is also junior and travel versions, but the original is the best price at the moment(£13.98)

Deal of the day: IDEAL | Rummikub Classic game: Brings people together | Family Strategy Games | For 2-4 Players | Ages 7+ https://amzn.eu/d/e2g1sGn

Good price on rummikub here on bargainmax
£7.99 & often voucher codes knocking around too

@Realfastfoodie I hope you enjoy them as much as we did. DS would be so excited to see them come out of the cupboard every year before Christmas. 🎅

Phew found you all again!

did anyone get their illuminated mirror from boots (the one for £10). Mines showing as despatched but not arrived at the store. they've sold out so they can only offer a refund. I'm gutted. :(

@ZeroFucksGivenToday I was wondering the same thing. Mine just says dispatched when I track it.

My mirror arrived a couple of days ago, but I had delivery not collection.