Thread 9 - the one with a kink for L’Occitaine

[Reastie]

Thanks @Travelcrazy for the title. It really tickled me!

Greetings and welcome one and all to a friendly and joyful corner of mn - the Christmas bargain thread. Here, we share Christmas present purchases, ideas, links and discount codes, with the aim to spread the Christmas magic and joy and reduce the financial stress.

It's a very busy thread, so see the tips below for helping everything run smoothly and avoiding repetitions of Cookiegate etc al. It's a lovely, friendly bunch and I'm so grateful to each and every one of you for building such a warm, fuzzy and generous spot on mn. I know I've save so much over the years and am so grateful to all of you for sharing.

Pull up a sleigh and relax with a mulled wine and mince pie, for Christmas has nearly arrived!

@ me if you need anything or you want to let me know anything - the thread moves so fast I can't always keep up so this really helps

A few pointers to make everyone’s life easier and the thread be as useful as possible:

• It’s handy to put in bold the bargains so they’re easy to spot
• No affiliate links
• No need to place mark or post messages of hello or thanks at the start of a new thread - use the ‘watch thread’ button
• Be nice or leave

The current referral thread for sharing referral codes https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/christmas/4940918-4940918-bargain-referrals-thread-6 . Please use this rather than this page to share referral links to make the sharing fair.

To make clicks links, you set it up like this only without any spaces apart from between the website and the word(s) you’re writing: www.bargainsahoyeveryonecomehere.co.uk

Thanks @RainbowZebraWarrior for the instructions below.
To make something bold, put this star * either side of the word you want to bold (with no spaces in between)

So starhellostar would look like this.

hello

Obviously use the * not the word star

Some of the below is copied and pasted from previous years, so do @ me if the links don't work

Stock informer is a handy site http://www.stockinformer.co.uk/default.aspx?fullsite=1

Camelcamelcamel is a great amazon price tracking tool http://uk.camelcamelcamel.com

The following links compare price products including postage
www.find-book.co.uk
www.find-cd.co.uk
www.find-dvd.co.uk
www.find-game.co.uk (as in PS4/xbox etc)

For curly haired people: only curls have 20% off for BF with the code EARLYBIRD. I didn't bother using in the app and it stacks with the 10-15% discount on create your own bundle

You might find them in store. They had some in my large-ish local one today. There is a 'find in store' option so you can see if there are any near to you.

@mousegiggles1 lots of nice necklaces on Posh Totty - and 20% off with WINTER24

@SweetPeaPods, depends what's local to them but off the top of my head, you could consider a family ticket to something like West Midland Safari Park, a family outing to Go Ape or a similar high wire/adventure activity, kayaking, driving sports cars...

There are lots of ideas at Red Letter Days and you can search by area to try and find something that's feasible for them. The code MAGIC15 will take off 15% on a spend of over £70 and TopCashback is offering up to 17.85% cashback.

Joseph Joseph microwave rice cooker is brilliant. We've given a few as gifts since we bought ours - had it about 6 years I think. We even take it on holiday (in the UK).

Well bugger.

I got that totally wrong then

The last three orders I've tried ro place in M&S would not allow a click and collect option for me. I even went into a store and got them to try for me. They had no idea why it wouldn't do it. Very frustrating (all over £20 and no exclusion items etc) I'm thinking of deleting the app.

Unfortunately, my local store is a foodhall, and the nearest main store is miles away. I have often used the click & collect option from my local store, as it is a short distance away from me, so I hope it’s not a permanent change.

@HeartandSeoul exact same problem for me. The trip to town is no cheaper than paying for postage which I begrudge as I have a click and collect just down the road. It's not the cost of the postage it's the principle. I'm equally annoyed.

I have another John Lewis question please…
the ‘personal care’ voucher. It says the voucher will automatically apply but I’ve tried about 10 different things and the voucher isn’t applying. I’m using the most up to date version of the app. What did you use yours on?

How about the PLouise lipgloss or lip mask sets that are currently 3 for £25?
Or a little pamper hamper with a few designer dupes (serums, sprays, creams) and face masks from Home Bargains and either a blanket or the paperback books you saw?

How about the Outsmarted game that has been recommended on here? I ordered one a couple of days ago for over Christmas, it arrived today. You could also then either gift something small each, or do a family treat hamper for a games night?

Limited-time deal: Mini Projector, VISSPL 1080P WiFi Bluetooth Portable Projector, Outdoor Movie Projector with Tripod, 15000L Home Video Projector Compatible with iOS/Android Phone, Tablet,Laptop,TV Stick,HDMI,USB amzn.eu/d/aYiDban

Mini wifi projector with the extra £35 checkout voucher only £44.99!! I've ordered one for the husband as he loves a techy gadget!!

@Georgieporgie29 mine like the Mango flavour but have asked for others to try too.

@chillimice do you have any recommendations for curly girl sets? Dd2 12 is just getting into her curls - she has a bob. But also tween so can get greasy so not sure what products are good.

@SweetPeaPods we have had the Exit game advent calendars which are really fun to do as a family. Otherwise a voucher for an Escape Room? They're normally around £30-35pp.

@Pollypoorly I just got a Sol de Janeiro set for my goddaughter for £25 from Cult Beauty with the discount. I got her the Bum Bum set which has the cream, shower gel and 62 mist but there's also the set of 4 mists which is a little more. They seem to be very in with the teens.

@Chaispice - the same voucher isn’t working for me either online. I think I will try it when I am next in store.

Have sent PM

Cinema and bowling vouchers with a voucher for food.

Theme park

Activity such as in door sky diving/ dry slope skiing, go karting, paint balling, rock climbing (depends how active and adventurous they are).

Theatre tickets.

Immersive art experience tickets

The cash with a printed voucher advising it's for a family treat day.

Movie night in with a hotel chocolate velvitiser, a just eat voucher and sweet hamper.

@sweetpeapods If there's an escape room local to them perhaps a voucher for there? As far as family activities go they're right up there for us with our teens.

Those looking for the HiSmile toothpaste, the ones in b&m and home bargains are a dupe and not the actual HiSmile branded ones if that's important when gifting. I love the watermelon one and bought loads as I never want to go back to 'normal' toothpaste but don't want to pay £11 per tube!

I did not know that. Thanks!

I have visited the bricks and mortar outlet store whilst in Cornwall. My DSiL works for them and my best every bargain was when she got me two of their coats for £10 at a staff sale.

They have a dupe but they also do the actual Hi Smile one, it was on the same shelf at my local Home Bargains, easy to mix up the two if not looking properly as the packaging is identical

I got a beautiful personalised necklace for dd from LeslieArtJewelCo on Etsy. I got a wee discount 5% off using THANKYOU as a thanks. Necklace was beautiful and came in really lovely packaging.

Could you buy some hair products and present it as a hair maintenance hamper type thing??

Just realised that you can add the M&S £25 apothecary gift set to an Ocado order and avoid delivery charges/having to track it down in a store. Mine is coming this weekend disguised with the shopping [COUGH]

....Genius idea @friskybivalves .but ..how did you manage that ?
I just went onto Occado and can't see it in the list .