The one where there’s 20 days til Christmas

[hugsandpugs]

Posting on behalf of @reastie hope you don’t mind 🎄 🎅

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
If you have any voucher codes to share (or want to check for any) then have a look https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/christmas/5212144-sharing-voucher-codes
The current referral thread for sharing referral codes here . 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)

Amazon (and other places too) do hand warmers that you charge up like a mobile phone and sit in your pocket like a big pebble. Imagine a baked potato that doesn’t run out and you can control how hot you want it. £10 each

Ridiculously specific but I'm looking for a wine glass I can personalise but it must have a slim stem, nothing chunky. And no diamonds or crystals either. Anyone seen anything slim and delicate but not too spendy?

Bryna what about some waterproof socks from Sealskinz. They were cheaper on Amazon last time I looked, but there was a new customer code on the Sealskinz site.

My dad has a "fisherman's gilet" which is basically a waistcoat with about 50 zip up pockets of various sizes. He can't ever find anything, but it's all in there somewhere. Also called a utility jacket.

@Bryna could you get a heated gilet, or new wellies - ie upgrade what he already uses?
Or maybe a personalised calendar/doormat/mug.

@dancemom lots here 5* reviews

Thank you. 🙂 I think the problem is that I have so many people to buy for that it gets overwhelming. I have my DH and 2 DS’s in their 20s, then my parents, my sister, my BIL, my 2 nephew’s (aged 12 & 15), then all of DH’s big family, oh and not forgetting my secret Santa! 😣

I am pretty much done with DH and getting there with DS2 but have nothing for my eldest son and the only thing he has suggested is black out curtains.
I have got bits for the females in the families but struggling with all the men

These boots are the business if you work outdoors because they are insulated and waterproof and have steel toe caps for safety https://www.xtratuf.co.uk/?gadsource=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7IXIm8uVigMVnpZQBh2ex1HEAAYASAAEgKlxvDBwE
It looks like they are working with RNLI now.
They are £150 a pair for tall safety welly boots so that might be more of a contribution towards type of a gift. but they come highly recommended by two people I know who work outside. 20% off first order if you sign to mailing lists.
Dunlops also do safety wellies with toe caps and insulated which are £99 in the sale down from £150 but I haven’t tried them out. https://dunlopboots-uk.com/collections/thermal-wellingtons/products/fieldpro-thermo-safety-wellington-orange

@pinkchampagne1 this thread has some great ideas for men

Thank you for this! Just ordered a mini shea hand cream for MIL and one of my friends.

@Bryna

any inspiration from these

Thanks for the link - I will take a look. 🙂

@Ssfb3 just had email to say cushion is back in stock in Argos

The easiest year for buying for the men was a few years back when there was that great Woolovers offer. Think you got 3 jumpers for something like £30 on Black Friday. It has sadly never been repeated. 😏

Hi, I managed to get the free Boots mascara about an hour ago - quite a few left in my local. It’s red and sparkly, so am quite pleased.

Note: You do have to make a purchase to get it, but it can be anything - not no7 and no minimum spend. You could buy a bottle of water. I got a reduced price shave gel as extra present for one DS!

Help! I can't think of anything to get for MIL and her partner. Have some shortbread from the Deans hamper but out of ideas. Don't drink, play scrabble and enjoyed the Thursday Murder Club book but buy any books straightaway so books not an option.

Any bright ideas?

You can check local store availability for the mascara on the Boots website www.boots.com/no7-lash-impact-ultra-mascara-7ml-10338254

You don't need to make a purchase, just load the offer on your app.

@Turtleoo @SugarIsHardtoAvoid @LOpportunityCestFuckingEnorme @Wellwhoknewthat Thank you for your suggestions, as you have guessed I usually resort to edibles! I bought him a heavy duty coat last year, (and previously the woolovers special offer jumpers ), he has lots of clothes, rotating them from best wear to farm wear. The heated ‘pebbles’ sound good, are there any particular recommendations? As do the sealskinz- off to check them and insulated wellies out!

Re: Boots mascara - the staff at the no7 counter referred me to the terms and conditions of the offer and it does say ‘with any purchase’ so I bought a different brand’s shave gel on special offer as a stocking filler.

It’s not letting me look at the t&c as the offer has been used, but I think it depends on who you get.

The mascara case is very pretty and I am pleased with my SpaceNK freebie.

If anyone else made a recent purchase from SpaceNK as a new customer, check the bits of card at the bottom of the box to see if you have one too. It was such a nice surprise as I wasn’t expecting it.

The person on the counter at SpaceNK was pleased for me too, (I am quite impressed by the staff in there on the whole!)

My husband is a farmer.
Good handcream, my husband uses Working Hands
Alpaca wool socks- cool in summer , warm in winter. He normally gets these as gifts from American family but I have yet to find a really good replacement here. I did buy him the Celtic and co Donegal wool socks with the £20 off and they worked out at £18 postage so ££ but not ridiculously so.
A lovely cotton type body warmer. Nylon will tear. Coats aren’t practical.
Steel toe cap boots. Green Dunlop wellies and welly socks. A plant potting tray for inside your house is fab at the end of the day for wet boots- much better than the boot trays you get as they have higher sides.
Waterproof over trousers.
A rechargeable torch
A beanie hat but not one that’s super warm as he’ll sweat .

Just Discovered Calendar Club also sell gifts including great football and motor racing gifts. Free delivery atm, 3for2 offers, 7.5% cashback at Quidco and 10% blue light discount!

Right DB and DSIL to buy for.
Friend at work got me onto Nio cocktails so ended up with a 9 box for black Friday and there's 45% off a 6 box on vodafone today so I bought those too.
I am thinking one or 2 nio cocktails, plus some chocolates and a cool pair of socks each. Keep having bare kind advertised to me: https://barekind.co.uk/products/new-save-the-badgers-bamboo-socks
They look cute but anyone have experience or better recs for nice socks (wondering about the sock shop calendar if it's still there but would like nice patterns rather than plain)
I think most other pressies are in hand strangely but sure I will remember some that aren't!

£5 off a £40 spend plus free delivery at Frugi.

Code: 5CF24

@Bryna - I've got my farmer uncle and brother boot/shoe dryers from Amazon - the Dr Prepare tall black ones

Then the Snowpea ones (with Alice Beer reco) for my running brother as he just wears trainers

Has anybody seen bargain gym /weight listing trainers?

Also gym bags

Thank you

@pinkchampagne1 I'm usually so on the ball with Christmas. This year I'm all over the place. My Mum had a massive stroke in July, somehow she survived, but she's always been my partner in crime at this time of year. Stores presents, helps wrap etc. She's now in a care home so aim visiting her regularly, I'm now carer for my Dad who has dementia, so he can't help. I have 5 children, am 7 months pregnant, and my husband works abroad and isn't home until the 22nd!

How I'm going to manage it all, I just don't know.