Thread 2 - the one where I try to get organised

[Reastie]

Hope I'm not tempting fate with that thread title
This is intended as a friendly, kind, safe, warm and fuzzy place for people to share discounts, bargains and Christmas gift ideas both online and IRL. Please note the tone and intention of the thread and join with spirit as generous as DC helping themselves to the Christmas chocolate celebrations .

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You are all wonderful and I’m now going back to my mince pie and stollen (never too early!).

Ah, it's the Bay & Rosemary for me- my winter scent. I'll go try all the combos now.

Just got an email saying it’s the last day for 80% off at Starfish.

i got the starfish necklace for a friend who loves starfish and the mint twist darlings for me as they’re a bargain and pretty 😊

Bohomoon have 50% off their full range today. They have lovely hypoallergenic jewellery, I have ordered before and been very happy with what I’ve received.

Joe and Sephs popcorn have reduced their chocolate fountain to £17.50 from £60.
https://www.joeandsephs.co.uk/gifts/chocolate-caramel-fountain
they also have truffle popcorn in their sale section. Usually their best reductions are Black Friday, but the fountain looked good

Yes, was going to say that they're pretty decent, but not stuck feet to the carpet (my Giesswein ones are the best I've ever known for this. A tip on here previously. So comfy & still going strong after 3 years. Usually ££ but so good).

There’s an Elemis Christmas gift set on QVC reduced to £78.96 down from £129

https://www.qvcuk.com/elemis-4-piece-pro-collagen-essentials-gift-set.product.257724.html

FIVE4U gets £5 off your first order, and for those on TopCashBack there’s a cash back offer too

Thank you for this. My daughter has a 36cm Tiny Treasures doll so I've picked up some 36cm clothes for her stocking in the hope that they'll fit ok.

BLC gives an Extra 15% off at Mountain warehouse and stacks with free delivery. I bought head torches.

I've been on this thread since the beginning and I think this year has been one of my best yet so far!

2 bouquet making books and glue guns
1 for mum recovering from cancer, great mindfulness thing to do.

2 lots of Jewellery from Starfish

1 interactive boy Baby Born dolly and outfits
Such a BARGAIN I was actually excited getting this!

1 candle warmer lamp
My daughter is gutted she can't light her candles at uni because of residence rules. Now she can!

Im sure there's tons more but this is what I can recall right now :)

Thank you everyone!!

I think we MNs are crashing some of the websites. I've actually given up trying to place an order with H&M. Gonna make a coffee and celebrate the fact that I'm unable to spend any money!! 😆

I can't vouch for this brand, but I love my Robo Vac and this looks like a real bargain!

https://www.gogroopie.com/all/w7bcsl5wqh/_ggthesun_6125C_170926_sewe?sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=255437&awc=5578_1789898937_2379efb26eb67e486bb33e97c7991ec4&utm_source=Affiliate_Window&utm_medium=Affiliate_Marketing&utm_campaign=Affiliate_Window_Sale

@CarrieMoonbeams & @RainbowZebraWarrior
I got my candles at Bath & Unwind! Thank you for the 15% code & advice. 3 of my usual Bay & Rosemary & I threw caution to the wind & ordered a Christmas one. £40, which is a bargain as it would cost £62 direct from St Eval.

All for me. St Eval are my Christmas treat to myself. When the box arrives it smells of Christmas to me- a little early this year, but they'll be stashed away until Nov 23rd (my birthday, after which it's officially Christmas season for me).

They gave me a code at checkout, £10 off a £50 spend. I imagine it stacks with the 3for2. Anyone welcome to use it.

M19M1VC98

I'm struggling on the marshmallow site! Ah well, I don't need any more sugary treats.

Brewdog Beer advent calendars are on sale in Costco for £46.99 (a £ or 2 dearer online but includes delivery). Direct from Brewdog they are currently priced at £51.99 if you pre-order (expires Sept 23rd) then the price increases to £64.99.

As last year Brewdog seem to do the cheapest 24 day calendar. DH is a member of CAMRA so I do my research. He has always been happy with the Brewdog one. It will be interesting if this year's is different following the sale of the brand. A quick warning make sure you have somewhere large to store it. It's heavy and big!

DD2 has eczema and uses Aveeno products but wants to find alternatives because of Aveeno's animal testing. Can anyone recommend and alternative that does travel size/mini bottles that I can put in her advent calendar that way we can test them without wasting too much if they prove unsuitable?

Also gluten free chocolate recommendations please? I bought some vegan free from recently and it was horrible, very sugary and impossible to melt turning grainy immediately.

Thank you.

@Toooldforlonghair what is the chocolate for? eg just eating, cooking, melting ? also milk, dark or white? We are a gluten free household so have an option for most things!

Managed to order marshmallows but the site is very slow and kept going non responsive.

15% off TU 2T2CGF27XZPG

@Toooldforlonghair my daughter has eczema and has used Welda skin food with good results. She has only used the face cream but they do body lotion & body butter.

Edited to add that I checked the Welda site and they have a £5 promotion on some products.

@Toooldforlonghair I second @IggyAce I have eczema and use Weleda now. I’ve got the face day cream and use their cleansing balm and skin food moisturiser at night. I used Aveeno for years and years and recently swapped to Weleda.

Not sure if this is a Christmas thread or beauty thread puzzle but I could really do with saving some money AND actually getting the product if possible…
really want to buy Jo Malone Earl Grey and Cucumber fragrance as a Christmas present. Husband getting a flight today so it was his job from duty free, however… no longer stocked. Told it’s discontinued. Ideally I wanted to get the small bottle as recipient travels and it’s an acceptable price but frantic googling has now just brought up 100ml bottle for an eye watering £125. Any ideas on either finding a small bottle or nudging the cost of a large bottle down? Airport charge was £45 ish for 30ml and £99 for 100ml.

Galt Sewing Case – Learn to Sew Arts and Crafts Kit, Ages 7 Plus £7.99

Noodle Dog Towel Mitt £4

Top Trumps Stranger Things in Tin Case £7.50

Does it need to be vegan or just GF? I wouldn’t necessarily buy GF branded, just go for something that is GF (if it’s for coeliac you need no gluten containing ingredients and no “may contain” - Barley, Rye, Oats, Wheat).

A lot of Lindt is GF (they have confirmed that if the barley malt extract is the only gluten containing ingredient, the level of gluten is low enough to count as GF under U.K. and EU standards. www.lindt.co.uk/help/lindt-frequently-asked-questions

And for vegan - go for dark chocolate by preference, although the Hotel Chocolat nutmilk is ok. I have a feeling some Hotel Chocolat is “may contain” for gluten and not suitable for coeliac though, so you would need to check the box if you need both.

When fragrances are discontinued, any surplus stock is often sent to factory outlet type places. Bicester Village would be one, that sells Jo Malone products, but there are loads all over the country. Could be worth trying one near you or ringing them. I was in one near me yesterday and was quite amazed at what they had in stock there.