What are you putting in your refillable advent calendars?

[clare8allthepies]

Despite saying that I was going to be more organised this year it’s only about 3 weeks to go and I’ve only bought a few bits for their advent calendar. My girls are 11 and 14 and mainly into anime and K pop. I’ve bought them a few key rings/pin badges and have just bought a couple of photo cards each from vinted.

Even with a few face masks and lip glosses and some sweets and chocolates I will only have covered about half of the days. Does anyone have any genius ideas for things they have got that isn’t going to cost me an arm and a leg? Many thanks.

Are they allowed to wear perfume? You can buy mini perfume bundles on eBay? Plus miniature hand creams, hair pins a few more sweets and you’re done

There are lots of mini stationery stuff like pastel highlighters, tipp-ex tape, colourful post-its in shops like Flying Tiger.
Or tech like a touch screen pen, phone case, extra long charger cable, a mini microphone or selfie stick.
A handbag mirror or one of those brushes that folds into itself. A handbag perfume spray that you can refill from a larger pump bottle.

Vouchers for things you plan to do anyway but a bit more special?

Cookie cutter for making biscuits with edible glitter, sprinkles and food dye?
More expensive treats for a movie night?
Trip to a cafe/restaurant you normally would only go for a treat?
Christmas ornament
A arts kit/material to make some decoration - good for the first weekend
Electric candle for their room
Small fairy light you can put into a glass jar

When I had things which were too big for the calender, I put a note in it and send DD on a little treasure hunt, just 3-4 clues

Thanks for the tips, there are some lovely ideas.

My 14 year old daughter suggested I fill hers up with different amounts of cash in envelopes but nothing under a fiver lol which I am not doing but at least she hasn't asked for a gold bar this year like she did when she was 7 haha she didn't get one of those either btw

Why donyou do this? You don't have enough ideas and it must cost a fortune. Just put sweets in and give all the other stuff in a stocking.

And as for the 14 year old who wanted cash every day - hopefully she was joking.

A post it note with a promise on - eg I will bake brownies with you, I will take you to the cinema, whatever she would like.

Im thinking about this too. Most of my ideas are for food things tho… I’m not up for getting bits of tat that just end up in the bin in a few months…

Hah. A mixture of sweets and coins. It's a running joke that as it gets nearer to Christmas there's a shortage of pound coins and 50ps and there's likely to be a paltry sum less than 50p behind the door 😆

There are some great ideas here which I will copy!

I have bought refillable calendars for DP & my best friend this year … both of the calendars have v small boxes (4.5cm max), and I wanted something beyond just sweets

Ive ordered mini toys (9 tiny cat cake toppers for DP, some Mochi Xmas squishies for my friend) & will add notes/sweets/choc coins to make it a bit more interesting). The toys were £6 for the squishies, £8 for the cats

I used to do one 'ice skating' session as a highlight (Christmas Eve if we could get it) and one family walk travelling to the nicest lake, hill, forest area near you and then stop somewhere for a hot chocolate on the way back.

I am currently trying to fill DD’s (13) and it’s ended up as expensive as just buying a branded one but I like that it’s personal and I definitely mix up physical items, money (usually for things like the local fete or popcorn at the cinema with a friend), things to do, baking and chocolate coins.

Loving the chancer wanting a fiver every day! 🤣 bought some little jewellery bits today so that’s a few more days taken care of.