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.

@PumpkinSpicedTea have you tried www.bookfinder.com. They are great for tracking down books (never used them for children's ones before though)

There's lots on Facebook marketplace @PumpkinSpicedTea but haven't found the elusive Alyssa the snow queen. Might be worth checking your local Facebook marketplace on the off chance. They are selling for £1 a book here. Who knew there were so many fairies!

Can anyone recommend a decent doll head thing for doing hair please?

@PumpkinSpicedTea is it this one?
https://www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/book/9781408354476/isbn/Alyssa-the-Snow-Queen-Fairy-by-Daisy-Meadows.html
edited to say it’s the wrong one - please ignore!

Sink n Sand game on entertainer for £6.66, my six year old loves it and has for a year or two now. It's not as messy as you might think, honest! Sorry, it wont let me post with the link for some reason.

side note: All these years using paypal and I never knew about cashback 🤯🤯

I would definitely do this, my DDs loved a big shopping trip we did between Xmas and new year last year, they gotto spend Xmas money and get what they wanted.

You could also look at show, concert tickets.

I always donate a few gifts to my dad's care home residents that don't have any family. The staff asked for manicure sets and nail varnish for the ladies as the staff give them manicures.

Packs of cards boxes of nice biscuits for the men apparently go down well

You might be in luck @Justhereforthechristmasthreads I had the same issue, it arrived but was showing on the tracking as not delivered yet. I received a refund and when I let them know that I had got my order anyway, they told me not to worry about it!

😆🤣 who knows! Could be a hit or a miss… if he doesn’t want them then I have no problem consuming on his behalf 🧐😬

You won't get skates with adjustable widths, but the make FR tend to be wide. What size is she?

@user202242 Thank you for taking time to look. I'm off today and kids at school so will have a chance to have a deeper search through bundles.

@myjoyoustraybake thank you. Doesn't look like it but really appreciate you looking. And again making me think about bundles.

@blessedbethefruitz thank you for trying.

Honestly blown away by all of you helping. Love the spirit of this thread.

Not in any sale & pricey but lovely for a one off life changing something different experience - recently gave my teenage niece a colour consultation analysis - she loved it & is already excited looking for clothes that are her colour. Mum loved it too as previously she was in the wearing black stage.

Lots of people offer this service - I used colour me beautiful.

@mrsbloomsburybarton1 I'll have a look, thank you.

Will start going through bundles in Marketplace, Vinted and eBay today.

@zippymonkey thanks for looking though

Let us know if you find it

Just to add to this, if you don't have a decent sized local you can click and collect into your local store. I did this for some band tees for dd1. I'm hoping the slipknot one comes back into stock soon as her one from a gig 5 years ago is very well loved. Also hoping for more metal shirts as usually they cost me a fortune.🤘

Oh, I noticed dome manicure sets for around £3 on amazon haul last night...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Clippers-Manicure-Stainless-Professional-Workplace/dp/B0DTTYDJ2K?s=bazaar

@Oriel2013 we had adjustable ones from skate hut which were good as they slide to close so can stay wider if needed and lasted years. Like these. Skates

and @WimbyAce I got the proper hairdresser styling head for dd and she loved it. Like this one- could wash the hair and it didn’t tangle. Like this- which has cool colour options. Ours was dark brown haired and got called Mary (how festive!) Head

@WimbyAce the Barbie pop up things are these

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/2845706?utm_custom6=PLA&deeplink=true&gclsrc=aw.ds&cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59157%7Cacid:629-618-1342%7Ccid:20368907733%7Cagid:%7Ctid:%7Ccrid:%7Cnw:x%7Crnd:14665676200867325894%7Cdvc:m%7Cadp:%7Cmt:%7Cloc:1006815&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20368907733&utm_term=2845706&utm_content=shopping&utm_custom1=&utm_custom2=629-618-1342&GPDP=true&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19671806872&gbraid=0AAAAAD9II9n3FvjtuBcpr52e4KD67ircl

Thank you, size 3g but we ended up with size 4 for school to get enough width!

A not very festive warning about roller blades. Please ensure your child uses knee pads. 4 weeks ago adult DS fell before he even pushed off to start skating , ( he has been skating for years). He shattered his kneecap into 4 pieces. He had an operation to wire the pieces back together and it will months before he will be able to resume his sporting activities. The right safety gear is so important. End of public service announcement!

For tablet shoppers, this is a great price for the specs if you're looking for games/streaming :) Half price atm, the brand is apparently well regarded for light gaming tablets.

amzn.eu/d/f5wP1kw

Oh my goodness, how scary for you both. Yes I was told a similar story about a friend's boy falling as soon as he stood up and narrowly avoiding a serious injury. Helmet and pads will be insisted upon!
Hope your DS recovers well

We ended up having around 150 of the rainbow magic fairy books, my daughter loved them. Sadly we ended up selling them to the school last year.
I don't think they do have many early readers though, I could be wrong. We didn't have many in the bundle. We ended up sourcing most from boot fairs, although slightly out of season for that though.
Could be worth checking any library books sales, they sell them for 10p a book around here.
Book shops like Oxfam etc.
The schools often seem to have book sales too to fund new books.
And like others have said, FB marketplace and vinted etc. I will keep an eye out though in case I see it anywhere. The books were so popular around here.

Apologies if this has been posted already but this TOMY bath toy is 20%off at smyths. Remember it being recommended in previous years

www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/toys/pre-school-and-electronic-learning/tomy/tomy-toomies-bath-barista-toy-set/p/224268