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)

Marks and Spencer are really good for these.

These are lovely too actually, ordered a box for my mil one year.

@mumonthehill we use sponge.co.uk for cake cards. One or 2 slices of cake in a greeting card. Think they also do brownies

Cake cards

Brownies

Code BOGO gives you one free item with every item you buy at Claire's. Doesn't include early cyber deals but it includes some sale items. I had to play around with my basket for a while but ended up getting £15 worth of stuff free whilst only paying £11 for the 'buy one' part. I did end up spending £20 in total though to get the free delivery (and I only wanted one thing which cost £5 so it's quite clear who the winner is here (and it's not me 😂). Still quite pleased though with my 9 items which apparently should have cost £65.

Matalan have some lovely Christmas goodies in, including some gorgeous duvet covers, with 20% off.

The vtech dj mixer is now price matched to £30.on Amazon

Did they have initial ones too? With a new addition I was hoping to find one this year to match!

My 14 year old and his mates have all very suddenly developed a mild obsession with aftershave if that helps at all.

I don't know if there are any specific ones that are more popular though. I have been asked for Hugo Boss or the Gautier one that looks like a body. He's currently using a ted baker one and Versace blue jeans both from b&M for around £15.

I didn’t see any ones with initials @Ceejadess - just the plain red ones - sorry.

Does anyone know if Neals Yard, The Yorkshire Soap Company and Bomb Cosmetics join in with Black Friday?

Who else is at that stage that they could buy it now and be sorted but you just know it’s going to be half price come BF?!

Little City are having a site wide 25% off sale on their wooden and role play toys. Delivery is a little steep but might be good for anyone who missed out on the aldi wooden toy event.

Baileys https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/baileys-price-cut-morrisons-tendendo-30315751#ICID=Android_WalesOnlineNewsApp_AppShare

Yes!! We brought this last year and it’s brilliant and still played with regularly.

Yes!

Well in relation to kids toys/ Santa presents anyway.

I have managed to get a bargain (or at least a bit reduced) on nearly all kids toys apart from some smyths ones. I purchased them anyway earlier this week as some are 'smyths only' and I checked and if I see them cheaper I can rebuy and return to smyths.

The last one on my list I got today from Argos and used their £10 off voucher so it felt like a good discount!

I remember the last couple of years being unhappy when the prices of what I wanted didn't drop then one of them was out of stock everywhere.
Last year some toy prices seemed to drop the days before Christmas but I'm not that brave to leave it that late!

However all adults I need to by for have NOTHING!

Thanks to the poster for the Ari perfume at Superdrug - bagged it for my niece.

Does anyone know anything about Polaroid/instax cameras (I don’t even know if they’re the same thing?). I think my dd would love a camera that prints instant photos but I haven’t got a clue where to start or what to look for. Thanks :)

Neals yard yes, normally has Black Friday discounts on everything

https://beldimaisoninteriors.com/collections/wooden-toys

Beldi Maison also have 15% off all toys not just the wooden ones. There are also reductions on their homewares as well.

I’ve given up trying to get Hi Smile in a Home Bargains bricks and mortar shop, but I see they have it online too.

And since I would be buying 3, even with 3.95 postage it’s still cheaper for me to buy from HB than on Boots half price offer. (£10 for 3 including postage from HB, rather than £13.50 at boots).

BUT I can’t bring myself to checkout without making the most of the postage.

Im getting one of the Bum Bum Cream dupes. What else is good from Home Bargains?

Does she have a smart phone? If so

* https://www.boots.com/instax-mini-link-3-sage-green-10353717?cmm*mmc=bmm-buk-google-ppcpcPLAsLAs-----pmaxxcatchallggggshoppinggv2catchallpmedia&gadadsource=1&gbraid=0AAAAA-AdmwTbvGfmTRFSKH3GFKXqX8r5D&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvsSp6-HNiQMVtZBQBh1XNRjBEAQYAyABEgK6LvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.dss**

This may be a better idea- prints photos from any smart phone the same way an Instagram camera does but you don't have to carry the camera with you.

How old is she? The papers are quite expensive, so if she’s young the thermal print might be better

@CandyRaining
Sorry about the messy link, there are also Kodak versions
Polaroid and Fuji film they start from around £70 without discount.

A trampoline and net for the garden? She can use it for gymnastics.

@InbetweenDreams are you able to recommend the sewing machine your DD uses please? My DD is after one, she'll be close to 9 come Christmas. Often when the topic comes up on these threads people say just yet a basic John Lewis model rather than kid specific so I've been dithering. I don't want her finding it hard and giving up but equally want one that will work OK and last.