Thread 3 - The one with the unhinged crab 🦀

[Reastie]

I certainly don't want an unhinged crab for Christmas

This post is a work in process and if you have any links you’d like to share or would be good to add then please do let me know. The general consensus for the thread is to share any bargainous links, ideas and/or discount codes or information. No affiliate links (is that the right word?) And any referral links to the separate thread linked below. This is a warm, friendly, kind and cosy corner of mn filled with Christmas cookies and hot chocolate - let’s keep it that way!

If you have any referral links then please post on this thread https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/christmas/5212180-bargain-referrals-thread-7 and share around the joy/referral perks.

Well I ordered a cheapy one from TikTok so we can compare!

We've got Maghub and some other generic brand from Amazon and they are still going strong after several years of very regular use.
Lots of similar ones on Amazon, I just got the ones that were on "offer".

will any dishware work with posca pens please? thinking of DGD. I buy her mostly craft stuff but am running out of ideas. thank you.

For the marble run poster, we got a VTech thing from Sainsburys toy sale last year, was £80 down to £40, then reduced again to £20. I got it on a whim for DS5 and it was a huge hit.

The marbles are large (more like a £2 coin than a £1 IYSWIM) so not really a swallowing risk

@Dreamqueen Posca pens work on unglazed ceramic (bake to seal) and on glass (seal with varnish) or fabric and wood

on glazed ceramics they will wash off and aren’t food safe but can be used decoratively

you could get pens and t-shirts, tote bags, trinket boxes etc

otherwise my kids have always loved tie-dye kits

or you could look at a kids sewing machine and some fabric - scrunchies are really easy to make

@SkinnyOatFlatWhiteForMePleaseI live in London so must do - great thanking, thanks! X

Does anyone know how regularly Top Cashback do the £5 cashback offers on vouchers? It was such a good deal, I ended up getting a £50 voucher for my parents for £40.

It was a special offer for TC's 'birthday'. They often do a £2 bonus with a minimum spend though.

Tik tok shop wanted £6 postage for the crab so I’ll stick to light on the box

Thank you for all the magnet tile suggestions, it’s for a school so don’t want to spend too much but don’t want to be responsible for any injuries/hospital trips!

Also, a friend has this unhinged crab on her desk at work

The board game 'Where is Moldova?', all kinds of geography questions, human & physical, flag knowledge, locational awareness etc. There is a mechanism for adjusting question difficulty and it's got great replay value. I must have been given it at a similar age and am now a professional geography nerd 🤓

For some reason I thought the 20% cashback on Asda George via PayPal was just on clothing - perhaps because that’s what I think of as the George brand. It seems to be on everything. I just bought homeware, electricals and Lego and it shows as pending.

I second this recommendation. Where in the world is a brilliant game. DS1 is a geography whizz and we got it when he was about 7. Edit: sorry I’m getting confused, the game we have is called “Who knows where?” but it looks like a similar concept.

On the subject of marbles would recommend the Vtech marble rush range - incredibly ugly compared to a traditional marble run but the balls are bigger than marbles and both my kids loved it.

For whoever asked about books2door I’ve ordered from them multiple times, all good.

Any ideas for a 15 year old who has started getting into cooking (but not baking)?

@ThaliaFailure
Have you got the Hasbro Simon says game?
Or Bop It? (But noisy!)

www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/toys/games-puzzles-and-books/board-games/family-board-games/simon-memory-game/p/189714?srsltid=AfmBOorb444abpcn1hUxO9mpznKktZFRdQBNqTTjYrVzNZmiNCqAjflY8IU

Melissa and Doug schoolyard tumble for 12 months plus down to £10.99. It doesn’t show the original price on it but when I bought it a couple of years ago I paid £38

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09RZV82YC/ref=sw_img_1?smid=AQ48P6MXO5STO&psc=1&tag=bb4bmgemma-21

@Ohladear we like Picasso tiles in this house, not sure how they compare price wise but definitely well made.

I’m keeping my eyes peeled for good ideas / bargains for the nursery team. I did stanley like thermos cups and hot chocolate last year. It’s tricky as I like to buy specifically for a few staff member and key workers but also need something big that can be shared as so many amazing support / bank staff.

Looking around the TK Maxx site and came across these:

Nuxe stuff
https://www.tkmaxx.com/uk/en/search?st=Nuxe&sort=&facets=&page=0

This Eve Lom kit looks nice
https://www.tkmaxx.com/uk/en/women/beauty/all-skincare/conscious-beauty/six-piece-award-winners-gift-box/p/42881980

Elchim hairdrier which Ive heard people talk about on here?
https://www.tkmaxx.com/uk/en/search?st=Elchim&sort=&facets=&page=0

sorry to ask but is the problem with swallowing or choking on the marbles? Because I always feel the larger £2 sized marbles are more dangerous as a choking hazard than the smaller ones. Or can you die from swallowing them? I used to let my younger children play with the marbles and added small beads into the mix too. Until the 5 year old got a bead stuck up his nose.. 😬

Yes, love them. They've generally got a timer you can set for 1 or more hours so it won't be on all night. I like the Dreamland ones and just seen they're on offer:

www.dreamlanduk.co.uk/products/relaxwell-luxury-heated-throw-dusky-pink

We have enjoyed Mapominoes. There are different versions too. My son is a teenager now and still enjoys playing now and again.

www.amazon.co.uk/MAPOMINOES-EUROPE-Geography-educational-teenagers/dp/B0012L7E28/ref=asc_df_B0012L7E28?mcid=b9efb976d5f13f3cb6937d7764259700&th=1&psc=1&hvocijid=3046112137945745382-B0012L7E28-&hvexpln=74&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=696285193871&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3046112137945745382&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007345&hvtargid=pla-2281435177418&psc=1&gad_source=1

What about 12 days of Christmas advent where you wrap posh/ christmassy nibbles, one to open every day in the run up to Xmas. Once eaten there will be nothing to waste and 12 little presents more fun. Did it for the whole advent with my nan one year, just after she lost my grandad, mixture of food and toiletries, photos of grandkids in frames etc, she was so excited she rang me everyday to tell me what she got x

That might be what I mean too!

What about the set of hand creams from boots that someone posted to be split up?

Yes this and mapominoes- which you can buy in continents and there’s a UK version. We played this ALOT