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Over the top advent calendars

(149 Posts)
GrandmaKT Sat 11-Nov-17 17:30:54

I am horrified by this new idea of really expensive advent calendars that everyone is trying to flog now. I was in M&S today and they were having a big promotion on advent calendars filled with toiletries "worth £250" which you could buy for "only" £35" if you spent so much in store. Boots and Debenhams are promoting similar.
A quick look on Amazon shows calendars filled with alcohol miniatures ranging from£900(!) to £100, calendars with beer, candles, nail varnish, toys....everyone is jumping on the bandwaggon.
It seems to me that these things actually de-value Christmas Day. Part of the excitement is the anticipation - if we are deluged with gifts every day throughout December what will be special about Xmas?
IMHO, Advent calendars should be just for kids and have a little chocolate at the most in them!
Rant over!

GrannyGravy13 Sun 12-Nov-17 13:20:34

Have bought myself the M & S one, I have got the youngest Grandson a playmobile one and look forward to seeing his face when he gets a little gift each day. Older Grandchildren and Children have chocolate advents from Thorntons (at least I know the chocolate will be nice) It is Christmas after all, and as long as it stays in December I shall ,are the most of all it has to offer????

Grannyknot Sun 12-Nov-17 13:20:16

I bought an Advent Calender for my daughter's cats ... blush. It has paw shaped cat treats - who could resist?! smile

SueDoku Sun 12-Nov-17 13:16:50

I've been asked to get a 'traditional' (i.e. non-chocolate) advent calendar for one DGC this year - it's been a real job to find one at a reasonable price, and it's still cost more than twice as much as one with chocs in... As they say, 'Go figure'..!! hmm

Bellanonna Sun 12-Nov-17 13:09:53

My iPad likes cats! Sorry Felice

Bellanonna Sun 12-Nov-17 13:09:25

Just your own, feline. Everyone’s own post is that colour.

felice Sun 12-Nov-17 13:06:29

Not sure why my post have a lilac background ????

felice Sun 12-Nov-17 13:05:51

I have bought a Lego one for DGS 20€ for 24 little lego sets.
It will also double up as his gift from St Nicolas at the beginning of December, he loves Lego and it will be added to the collection after Christmas.
He has a traditional one with the pictures behind the windows which came from Germany when he was born.

lilihu Sun 12-Nov-17 12:51:58

If people have the money to spare and will use the contents, they should buy them.
However, none of these are ADVENT calendars. They really have nothing to do with Advent. I doubt that 80% of purchasers know what Advent actually is. It’s an example of sellers trying to push their products in a different package but hijacking a religious term in order to market them.
The original pictorial calendars were designed for children and provided an inexpensive treat which helped to tell the Christmas story.
These calendars, whether filled with quality treats or useless tat, are nothing to with Advent.
They should be relabelled as December treat calendars.

Imperfect27 Sun 12-Nov-17 12:40:02

Each to their own. I love keeping Advent as a time of quiet reflection and enjoy all the traditions of preparing for Christmas. We do not put a tree up until the last weekend before Christmas - always have a real one and keep it up until twelfth night so don't want to get it too early, but during Advent, bit by bit, I put decorations on windowsills and build up tea-lights. Since meeting DH(2) we have bought each other chocolate Advent calendars ... never used to, but I do love the indulgence of a little treat every day.

WilmaKnickersfit Sun 12-Nov-17 12:26:20

I like the idea of advent calendars like the M&S one because it gives you a chance to try out new products for far less than normal.

Lots of good reasons to buy them on this thread.

If you don't like them, don't buy. The shops are full of stuff we don't like all year round.

yogagran Sun 12-Nov-17 12:05:16

I've got a Hotel Chocolat advent calendar which has got two truffles for every day in December. Not expensive and a tasty daily treat for DH and me

tessagee Sun 12-Nov-17 12:01:05

I try (not very successfully) to be a bit more prayerful during Advent but must admit that I just don't 'get' Advent calendars and don't buy them for my GCs

Bathsheba Sun 12-Nov-17 11:34:10

Well I did it! There were a couple of things I couldn't get in town yesterday, so I went online and ordered them..... together with the advent calendar tchsmile
There are some things I probably won't make use of, but my daughter will, and some of them could make nice little 'extra' gifts.

Legs55 Sun 12-Nov-17 11:30:01

I would have liked the Boots No7 one this year but Breakdown cover for car is due (same price) you can guess what won, yes my car, maybe next yeargrin

CardiffJaguar Sun 12-Nov-17 11:27:24

A retailer's bandwagon; anything to get you to buy. If you want it then OK, but it does devalue all the ones without such "attractions".

radicalnan Sun 12-Nov-17 10:30:15

I just don't buy stuff i don't want and save being horrified for child abuse and acid attacks and the real horrors of this world. Cardboard filled with toot............just ignore it.

Jennylynn Sun 12-Nov-17 10:24:55

It’s a commercial racket that people get sucked into. I’m even anti chocolate advent calendars. I remember when it was a joy to find a star or a nativity scene behind the window.

Coco51 Sun 12-Nov-17 10:09:37

When my first grandsons were born I made an Advent Calendat out of an old denim curtain. I punch-needled a Father Christmas face then knitted pockets with intarsia numbers, and each pocket had a little knitted tree ornament and filled with a chocolate coin for each day It comes out every year and is now 15 years old and still going strong. But my, how much more the chocolate coins cost now!

Alidoll Sun 12-Nov-17 10:04:22

Don’t like, don’t buy - simple.

Being “horrified” though is a bit melodramatic. hmm

inishowen Sun 12-Nov-17 09:44:24

I saw a toiletries Advent calendar in Lidl for £20. I actually thought it would be a lovely gift for a teenage girl. Tesco have a strange Advent calendar which is a little box of cereal each day. It's £4.

annifrance Sun 12-Nov-17 09:32:40

My DS bought his 9yr old a Smuggle AC at £25. madness!

Best present once was F&M box of 1/4 bottles of champagne.

Sheilasue Sun 12-Nov-17 09:30:10

Only buy for my gd. Think they are just for children. I have one though that was thrown in the rubbish bin from the school where I worked so I rescued that it’s so sweet with pockets and little felt figures which you place on the Christmas tree above. My gd is now 17 still loves it

DanniRae Sun 12-Nov-17 09:19:42

Definitely go back and get a M&S advent calendar Bathsheba - if you can't treat yourself at Christmas when can you?? grin

Cambia Sun 12-Nov-17 09:17:56

Bought it last year and really enjoyed my little treat each day. Really good value, still using some items and have bought it again this year. Bought my Mum one as a Xmas present and she is thrilled.

Enjoy the little treats in life! For £1.45 a day it is well worth the money.

Bathsheba Sat 11-Nov-17 23:17:42

I was offered one of the M&S advent calendars today, but I didn't buy one, probably because my DH was there because I didn't think I would make enough use of it. But now I'm cross with myself and wish I'd gone for it. Might have to go and spend some more in there. And this time I'll go on my own grin