Over the top advent calendars

Have just seen an item promoted as a stocking filler at £80 fgs!!

I bought the M&S one last year. It was pretty good and I still have about half of the items, some I gave away as I have no use for eye liner. The perfume which was in the last box was really lovely.

In December DH & I sit in bed with a coffee and eat a choc from our AC. Rather fancy the miniature alcohol AC (or is that too early in the day to start) cheers!

I get great pleasure buying nice advent calendars for my young grandchildren. The six year old is getting a Lego one & the three year old a playmobile one & don't get me started on the naughty elf. I wish I'd had him when my kids were young. Wonderful on the run up to the most magical day of the year for all the kids I know. X.

I have bought my daughter the M and S calendar as each box is shaped like a little house, very cute. Must be getting soft in my old age.

I just ordered one of those from M&S today. My daughter is so thoughtful and takes so much trouble about choosing presents for everyone else and she loves Christmas, so I thought it would be lovely for her to have a little treat to open every day in December.

I just ordered one of those from M&S today. My daughter is so thoughtful and takes so much trouble about choosing presents for everyone else and she loves Christmas, so I thought it would be lovely for her to have a little treat to open every day in December.

lovebeigecardigans1955, the Shay & Blue perfume? It was gorgeous, wasn't it? I felt a bit giddy with excitement when I saw there's another one of theirs in this year.

For me, Advent is a time for preparing for Christmas, getting food and presents ready, and thinking about what Christmas is really about. We always had a religious Advent calendar, I see Advent as a bit like Lent and I give up my daily wine, eat a bit less, lose a bit of weight, do without some things and so Christmas means a lot more when it arrives. Getting a little present every day would water down Christmas Day for me. And of course, having fasted a bit during December I'm back on the wine when everyone else is having a dry January and trying to lose weight.

I went to spend a couple of days with my sister and upon my return noticed my dh has bought a cheese advent calendar. I noticed but made no comment. Maybe he will offer me a bit.

I think some of these calendars sound good fun, especially as a treat for someone unwell or for the girl with a birthday in December. But they have nothing to do with Advent which, for me, is a time for preparation and reflection. I don't think Advent should be hijacked in the name of commercialism but if you want to buy a treat for yourself or somebody else for everyday then you should.

Someone in our area suggested doing a reverse Advent thing by each day putting something in a box suitable for taking to the Food Bank. Obviously you need to start before 1st December so you can get the box to them in time for Christmas distribution. I am doing this because the Food Bank is a lifeline for many people. (How shocking that they are needed though).

Although I have posted that I have bought the M&S one purely for myself, I am also mindful of the wider community who could not possibly even contemplate such luxury, and having been there myself, I do contribute to causes that help out.
I hope that this appeases the people who think this is selfish and thoughtless this could not be further than the truth.
I could feed my H and myself bread and water on Christmas Day and give the money to the homeless, I am not so altruistic as are not so many millions.

How ridiculous...I remember as a child I made one with little doors in it...no chocolates alas!! There is no need for a gift in and advent card..its not what its about!. Commercialism gone mad again!

I bought the M&S one last year, and am going to get two this year, one for myself and one for DDiL. I'm well chuffed to hear there's a Shay & Blue perfume in it again this year; really looking forward to that!
We also have a wooden house with twenty four doors which DH made when DS was a toddler, so we'll be putting 'tiny treats' behind each door for DGS.
I also do a 'reverse advent', whatever I spend on my M&S advent calendar, an equal amount is given to our local radio station's children's charity.
I'm lucky that I can afford most things I want, so I spread the luck around a bit.

Quite, Juggernaut and annsixty. We are allowed to treat ourselves occasionally, if we’re lucky enough to be able to do so, and still care about others. I’m doing the reverse Advent calendar too, putting an item into our local food bank box every day in December. But I’m going to enjoy my M & S treats as well.

I have to admit that the idea of a small indulgence every cold December morning is appealing. Maybe they shouldn't call them Advent calendars. They are lovely but don't have any relevance to Advent.

Good point annsixty - just because we are going to enjoy our little treats every day in December with our advent calendars doesn't mean we aren't mindful of others less fortunate. I too give to various charities at Christmas (and all year too).
Everyone on here seems to have the M&S calendar - does anyone have the Boots No7 one? (So we can compare notes!)

With regard to advent calandars a friend sent me a link on Reverse Advent calendars! You simply decide the theme and put 24 items, say, women’s necessary toiletries for example , in a box and donate it to a homeless shelter or refuge of some sort etc. I shall be doing this alongside a traditional advent calendar I always give .

Now this thread has got me interested in Advent Calenders. DH usually buys me a chocolate bearing one but I'm upping the ante now and asking for a gin one!!

DH and I have bought Hotel Chocolat calendars. My sister often sends a marzipan one from Germany too. GC get Lego ones, hopefully different each year.
I don't feel guilty about the little indulgence as DH and I do not exchange Christmas gifts and the money we would have spent is donated to charity.

So inspired by this thread was I that I have just sent my GS a gingerbread one from JL. He is struggling with school a little bit and I thought it would help him countdown the days to the holidays.

I have just had an e-mail from M&S to say my Calendar is on its .
Oh how excited am I!!
I shall have to be very firm with myself and hide it until Dec 1st.

Way!!

you could persuade me

Now, don't you have to buy £35 worth of goods first (not food?)
I spent £42 the other day on clothes (birthday present) and no-one mentioned the gift box, so they are not pushing it as a sales gimmick at our local store.