M & S Beauty Advent Calendar

I didn't treat myself to M&S advent calendar last year but just had the Boots one. This year, because I can afford it, I have treated myself to both. The items I don't want, I shall give away. I have also treated myself to a Cadbury's advent calendar. This year, most of my money has gone on food. We didn't have a holiday this year so these are treats to myself.

I’ve just been given a jigsaw advent calendar. Every day there is a small section of puzzle in a box to do. I think it’s a great idea and I can reuse it every year.

Can’t wait to get mine, lots of useful products , many travel sized too. What I don’t want I’ll give to the food bank as a little extra for Christmas parcels, someone will love a unexpected treat .

I hate to say it but by budgeting

Jaxjacky

I’ve just got a £3 card one from the newsagent, I’ll enjoy opening the windows.

That's lovely, as it should be in my opinion. The prices of some are obscene.
Enjoy 🎄

Just had a look at the John Lewis one, I would use everything in that!! That’s my Xmas order sent to my husband!!

I totally agree with you , the whole idea of an advent calendar is lost and I also feel the prices of some totally ridiculous! How can people afford them ?!?

I will get on to it as soon as I have eaten my lunch.
I did laugh at your Advent Candle comment 🤣

Don’t leave it too late, Gypsyqueen, as they do sell out. I’ve just ordered another for my DDIL’s birthday - it’s after Christmas, but I think she’ll love it.

I’ve only once had an Advent candle - I nodded off after I’d lit it on the first of December and when I woke up I was halfway through the month.

It doesn’t take much to set some people off does it? I find it quite peculiar that such a small pleasure for some ignites a fury in others. How we each spend our money is quite an individual choice. I am widowed and get by on a small pension (not yet old enough for my state pension) with not much to spare for luxuries. Despite this, I donate to three charities each month and don’t feel pious for doing so. I do it because they mean a lot to me and to my late husband.
I would like to say a big thank you to GrannyGravy13 for letting us all know about the M&S Advent Calendar and to say that I will be purchasing it, along with some underwear and a thermal top, later. Last year I treated myself to a Galaxy Advent Calendar and felt quite flat when I opened the door each day. Please don’t judge me.
I would also like to add that, as I do every year, I will be lighting an Advent Candle too.

I got a lego type one for elder son as he is a collector, other son wanted just a 'normal chocolate one' so i got him cadburys. I also gave choc one to one of GS's and a toys one to a little GD and i might get a dairy free one for other GC.And STILL iv not spent as much as the Ritals one😅

I also have goodies from the last two calendars AmberSpyglass.. I’ve wrapped them up and will have a ‘lucky dip ‘ for the ladies in the family. Will still be happy for DH to buy me another one tho.

I hope my eldest DD doesnt get wind of the pandora one- shes a big fan of theirs! 😅

I had treated myself to M&S one in past but was'nt that impressed-then a couple of years to the expensive Rituals one- but last years i ended up giving most of the contents away- so this year have only got a tea advent calendar at £13 from Boots.And i'm looking forward to trying a different flavoured tea each day.

I have 2, one for myself and one for DD and GD to share.
Saved buying my items especially until now.

Out of curiosity I looked on ebay and sure enough there were 28 already up for sale.
Looking on sold items one has sold for £90! My local M&S had 900, there's still 570 left. (I like facts and figures)

I have had a home-made Advent Calendar since I was one year old, my father always made one for us both. Different one every year that was suitable for our ages. Each Day the pretty paper had clues written on it as to what we would find around the house and where. It was absolutely wonderful and one of the things I missed most when I left home at 19 years old. The theme in each parcel we found was the same in each parcel. for. that current year. How hems have struggled with idea, but never appeared to. My father was magic, he used to write speeches and songs for friends, families and few others by request, so always wrote speeches for any celebration we had within the family and used to read them beautifully too. He was a romantic a heart so my mother was a lucky lady too.

I'm with you there Maddyone

Bought it yesterday

No guilt

I still have things from a beauty advent calendar I got two years ago, so I definitely don’t need a new one!

I have a friend who has just brought a Pandora Advent calendar for £350 which she claims is an absolute bargain because the contents are worth so much more (£550) She has already opened all of the little bags and shown us the contents which if I’m honest didn’t really inspire me but she seems very happy with her purchase.

I remember the excitement of opening our advent calendar as children, it was a card nativity scene, just pictures behind the doors but we enjoyed running down stairs to open them, taking it in turns as we only had one between us.

Never thought of myself as pious raffia but if you say so .. maybe you ve all got more money but the amounts quoted seem totally out of proportion to the whole concept of these calandars
I don’t find Advent calendars at all distasteful Bella but the thought of spending large sums of money on them I do I think the idea of a advent calendar was all about the opening of the doors leading up to the big day and is exciting for children but it’s now been taken over by expensive sounding daily gifts
But as you ve all pointed out I m judgemental, pious and over the top in my views
It’s all new to me everyone I know has an ordinary Advent calendar mainly for their kids but now I ll go and stand in the corner and as we re still in October I ll forget about it for a while

I always get the JL advent calendar! I love it! The fact that ‘half the world can’t feed itself’ won’t be cured by me not buying an advent calendar! Where would it end? Don’t buy shoes…some people have no
legs? Hope that hair short isn’t too itchy…

I’ve just ordered mine and am more than happy with the purchase. £340 worth of products for £45 is a great deal and the few things I won’t use will be passed on to my DDs and DDIL. I needed new winter boots anyway so feel it would have been daft not to add this to the order.

A bit pious Bluebelle, I am away in a country with alot of poverty, we have decided to give our spending money to people in the service industry who are bussed in from very poor area's and work hard for little pay. I don't want to patronise these lovely people but know they need the money. However I will buy a guilt free Mark's advent calendar and enjoy it.
I help where I can but will refuse to feel guilty or ashamed for having my treat.

I wouldn't feel guilty about buying it, I bought their summer bag on offer some nice stuff in it too.

I understand the feeling of distaste, commercialism conflated with a religious festival, which was important in my Catholic upbringing, but I also think beating oneself up over treats, we all like them and sometimes I think that sounds parsimonious to suggest otherwise. Retail has to capitalise I understand that,but I do hate the way Christmas here has become all about consumerism. Sounds a bit contradictory but sometimes I do long for the rather more low key Christmases of my childhood. Nostalgia possibly !