Cheap, small things for 9 year old advent calendar

[NotLactoseFree]

DD can't do a traditional advent calendar as she's lactose intolerant. She's ridiculously girly, so a mix of little treats, a few small cosmetic items etc will be great, but money is tight so I need physically small AND cheap... Any ideas?!

On my list so far I have:
mini notepad/pencil
Lip balm
Possibly small cheap makeuppy things for play
hair bands/clips
Nail polish
Bath bomb
Hand cream
Travel sized body lotion etc
stickers
Possibly some crafty bits - need to go take a look at what I can get hold of. eg mini sellotape, mini stapler,little pompom things, glitter etc
beads - if I can get some cheapos.
Sweets

Any other ideas? I need to start buying soon so I can spread out the cost a little and keep it tight.

Socks rolled up small
Hair scrunchies
Jewellery (cute Christmassy bracelet/necklace/rings)
Keyring
Tiny stuffed animals
Nail stickers

I need to do a big trip to Claire's dont I? . But I'm conscious that at least some need to be super cheap. I usually buy Lindt Advent calendars, but they're still a LOT cheaper than me filling a lot of windows.

Mini lego set or jigsaw puzzle and spread the pieces over a few days?

I buy stocking items mostly second hand either charity shops or Vinted. All your suggestions sound great.

Btw a traditional advent calendar is just pictures, no chocolate 😉

Have you got a sostrene Greene near you? Lots of cheap beads etc and cute little Christmassy things in there.

A packet of seeds
Mini tape measure from a craft shop
Cake sprinkles

Funky post it notes often get 4 lots for 99p in home.bargains. that would do 4 separate days

Embroidery cotton to make friendship bracelets?
Does she like fruit teas?
ould she like a couple of pretty marbles?

I think to keep it cheap you'll need to look at buying multi pack things from eBay or Temu etc.

unless you count it in with her present spending?

This sounds so lovely. However if you wanted to just do a food one to save money there are of course lots of lactose free treats!!

Edit to delete

original post was 'hidden' so I wrote it differently & now the original is back.

Or savoury treats.
If you're struggling for small things, you could hide something bigger in the house and have a clue folded up in the advent calendar for how to find it.
That way you could include things like puzzle books, fluffy socks etc.
Or a piece of paper with a destination on - use what three words - if you were doing something special like a cinema trip or panto etc.

@NotLactoseFree home bargains have some good mini stationery sets from. Also pound stretcher or toy planet have really cute key rings. They are Kenji ones in hmv too

Hair ribbon, coiled up

Little pendant on a cord or ribbon.

Small bottle of scent, a kind perfume counter assistant might give you one free.

If you can crochet, a lacy cuff with beads worked in.

Any seashells from holidays to make into a necklace with cord or ribbon?

Home made badges to wear for a day...eg Happy Saint Nicholas Day, Only 7 more sleeps, Best Christmas Chef, Christmas Holidays Start Today!
You can probably get blank badges at the likes of WH Smiths, other stationers.

• Cute keychain charm for school bag
• Sweets - Tic tacs? The branded jelly belly beans? Tesco sell boba tea flavoured ones in the world aisle, it's a small packet but you may need to fold it up or something.
• different pin-badges with funny or cute designs, spread out over different days in advent
• Charms for crocs if she has that sort of shoe
• Mini erasers in different styles and shapes, like food items or emojis

Mini Christmas decorations to hang on her own tree, we do this with DD, has the lights on and builds up to be fully decorated by Xmas

Search the charity shops or bazaars for things

You may want to keep with your small present theme, but it would be cheaper / less waste to get a Nomo or Moo Free advent calendar (Holland and Barrett/Ocado respectively). I'm lactose intolerant and can handle the small amount in advent calendar chocolates, but have had nomo and it was nice.

Nomo have a dairy free advent this year

I found doing my own advent calendar cost a fortune 😁 and DD wasn't really that bothered!

Accessorize have a girly advent calendar for £21 with loads of hair and jewellery stuff. Probably cheaper than buying your own stuff!

We have a fill your own fabric adventure calendar. At that age I used to get cheap collectible sets from eBay. We had a Christmas play mobile set one year that I picked up cheaply. Also put a Christmas joke in every day, so there was an extra (free) thing included

A 20p, 50p and £1 coin on three separate days.

Temporary tattoo.

Bouncy ball.

I’m getting a load of photos printed as photo booth strips for my 9 year old daughter, may get her a book or pouch to store them in too. I also put a wrapped sweet for each of us in. Previous years I have done Lego mini model sets and trees/people, a couple of Sylvanian Family sets split up, activities written on slips of paper, craft stuff/hair stuff/jewellery, fossils and gem stones.

Surely all these things are actually gifts rather than for a calendar?
Advent calendar chocolate is never nice anyway, she isn't missing out. Just get one with nice pictures in, that's what we all favour here.

My kids are k pop and anime mad so for their advent calendar last year I ordered loads of little bits from Ali express, like key rings and stickers.