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!

They get me every time with their clever marketing, surely paying £250/£300 for a calendar that’s worth £700/£800 is good value for money, or is it?

Well, it is, but thats still £250/whatever on an Advent calendar. Times however many if you feel obliged to spend a similar amount on each of your family members, so maybe £10 per person per day through December, plus all the usual expense of Christmas. Then there's all the packaging waste. I think I'm going to suggest to the family that we reign it in this year and go back to our old re-usable one with chocolate coins.

Might still have to get a catnip one for the cats though, kept them and us entertained for hours last year watching them trying to open the doors with their paws.

They ramp up the supposed 'value' by including tiny amounts of wildly overpriced unguents, often I find this is 'eye cream'.

I've never used eye cream in my life so it's value to me is £0.00. If you add up the value of the stuff you'll actually, truly use then the 'value' is much lower.

Ooh! @PaulHollywoodsleftbollockhair, you can keep all the contents but the box is gorgeous!!!

I recently started using an eye cream and can't believe the difference though some of the improvement may be because I am also drinking more water. I look so much better in that area though and enjoy how much better my skin feels. DH has already bought me more for Christmas as I love presents I will use or eat rather than just stuff that clutters.