Not buying an advent calendar this year: mutual support thread

[MorrisZapp]

Right. You know it, I know it, we all know it. Beauty advent calendars offer shit value for money when you actually break it down.

I guarantee that if you spent the same sum on any other format of beauty products, you'd do better. Especially when gifts, bonuses and freebies are factored in.

Off top of head, take Clarins. Spend a chunk there at bonus time and you'll have enough good stuff to last the year THAT YOU SPECIFICALLY CHOSE.

Join me. Say no to that tenth mini bottle of Nuxe oil. Decline to fill your pants drawer with Percy and Reed 'wonder spray' (I wonder what it's meant to do?). Stop hassling your friends to relieve you of Leighton Denny nail polish in revolting shades. Guess what? Silver doesn't flatter their hands either.

Rise up! Buy all the gorgeous, beautiful stuff and CHOOSE IT YOURSELF!

I saw the Clarins advent calendar in John Lewis. Without the packaging, it's just a bigger bonus gift.

I'm with you OP.

Initially I was excited about them but when I broke them down the only one I was going to use and enjoy everything was SpaceNK.
When the websites gave their previews I'm sure it said that it was going to be £165 and I've got a load of money off points for SpaceNK so I'd spend £85 to get it.

Now it's released and it's £250 and, like you, I can't help but think that £250 gets me a lot of products that I could choose for myself.

Instead I've got a load of stuff together and I'm doing a make your own beauty advent calendar (MYOBAC). It's cost me a lot less and I've chosen everything in it.

Thank you!!! That cream got me ID-ed for booze in my mid thirties 😀.

I think they're total madness and wasn't going to comment but it occurred to me that as so many of you have unused bits left over from last year, why dont you all swap addresses and send each other 24 things each? Then you get the thrill and it will only cost you postage

I want a gin one, but I’m buying a bottle of gin for 20 quid instead.

Oh, you're so right, but I do still want one. However, we're skint and I could supply an entire pharmacy with all the beauty stuff I own. So no, I'm going to be strong!

Right you have convinced me. I’ll treat myself to one nice product instead. Just bought a couple of ReVive products from SpaceNK and got a sample of the night cream. May buy the full size if I like it instead of an advent calendar.

Now do I hide the thread where people comment daily in what has been in the calendar or not? I might crystallise that I was right not to buy and let me live vicariously. Or it might make me regret it?

How about doing this instead?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42069381

You are my people!

I kept on thinking I want one because they all look so pretty and they keep on boasting how much value is in the products. But the maths don't add up- most of them are filled with samples that really have a retail value of zero. And then the full size products might not be to your liking anyway. And I'm also foreign to the idea of advent calendars growing up, and the package is just so wasteful.

I've had my fill of freebies by getting the GWP at liberty and Look Fantastic so I'll save by money on buying nice things that I choose.

And exchanging freebies is an excellent idea, I have a few things that I can offload from the Liberty and LF gifts!

I had three last year! I’m not doing it again, purely because of the amount of plastic involved. I’m a lot more aware of plastic consumption now and I’m cutting down wherever I reasonably can.

I’m with you. I’ve had the l’occitane calendar a few times but I think they just put their most unpopular products in. I really dislike the smell of verbena, it reminds me of strepsils.

Yes! Verbena! It's so ghastly isn't it. If you prefer eg the almond or lavender etc then buy a gift box of that fragrance. You'll actually use it.

I was thinking of not buying one this year either but I've decided I will get the M&S one because I can't bear the thought of not having one to open.

I would prefer the Liberty one though or Fortnums because they look to gorgeous and would be delighted with Space NK or Harrods but I baulk at the ££ for all of them.

I would really like the Rituals one but I'm trying to reduce my collection of lovely shower gels by using one bottle till it's finished! I've finished MB's coco & sandalwood and am almost through Shay & Blue's Blood Orange (ironically, fell in love with their perfumes when I got one in the M&S calendar). I do not need more beauty stuff.

Yes I've got four small shower gels to use up, plus two full size shampoos to be repurposed as shower gel as they didn't suit my hair.

God count me in. I keep looooooking even though I know they are shit. I hate samples so why am I so enthralled by the thought of 24 of them encased in cardboard?!? Arrrgh

I make my own with the gwp I forget to use during the year

I think the Elemis tsv is November 12th.....

I barely even use the free samples that I get with normal purchases and yet here I am, convincing myself that I need all of these tiny travel size products that I would never dream of buying if not in an advent calendar.

Must not give in

I'm not buying one either. I have sensitive skin and I'm very careful about what I put on it. I got the l'occitane last year and enjoyed it, but I still have a lot of little botties left.

I'm going to get a diptyqye candle instead, I will enjoy that much more.

Look, the packaging is delightful. I get it. This year, Liberty and Fenwick have knocked it out of the park. But at the end, you have a massive, Christmas themed cardboard box that won't really serve any other purpose unless you want to store it and reuse it next year.

If I was disciplined, I would do this. But I'm not disciplined and I'm old enough to know it.

I've just had an email about the launch of a glossybox advent calendar. I want it!!!

I cancelled glossy box a couple of years ago, and was left with boxes of unused random dross. I tell myself the advent calendar will just be more of the same!

But, but...but..........but........................ I know you're right (I did the same). Arrggghhh!!!