Five tips to help make your own advent calendars and avoid hefty prices in shops
AN advent calendar makes the countdown to Christmas all the more thrilling.
But these festive staples seem to get fancier and more expensive each year.
Rather than forking out, invest in a reusable calendar that you can tailor year after year. Here’s how . . .
A-DOOR-ABLE: Get a felt or material reusable calendar with a pouch for each day.
A red one is currently down from £13 to £6.50 at Hobbycraft.
Another option is calendars with little drawers for each day.
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A Christmas tree-shaped wood calendar is on sale at £8 from Hobbycraft, which you can paint and personalise.
CHOC A LOT: Go the traditional route and fill your calendar with chocolates.
A 24-piece box of Ferrero Rocher is currently on offer for £6 at Tesco with a Clubcard.
You could also try a 290g box of Cadbury Heroes, £3, from Poundland — each box has approximately 30 chocs so enough to fill a calendar with a couple left over.
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Or a 290g box of Cadbury Roses is £3 at Tesco with a Clubcard.
LEGO LOVE: Lego is perfect for putting into advent calendars. You could buy a small set and break it down into 24 pieces so that each day the model gradually builds up.
Try a build-your-own Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle, £6.60, from Amazon — there are 67 pieces, so you can put two or three pieces in each door.
SECOND-HAND SAVIOUR: Raid your local charity shop or selling sites for small toys that your children would love.
A quick scan of Facebook Marketplace brought up a bag of 30 small dinosaurs listed for £5 which would make a prehistoric fan smile.
YOU BEAUTY!: Instead of splashing out big cash for a beauty advent calendar, get a Splash 24-set of mini nail varnishes in different colours, £16.99, from Amazon.
- All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.
Deal of the day
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Cheap treat
TURN your bath into a relaxing winter wonderland soak with this snowdrift bomb, £5.50, from Lush.
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GIVE your regular G&T a seasonal twist with Gordon’s sugar plum gin, £14, new in at Asda.
Top swap
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Leah's little helper
FOR every 100g Lindt Teddy sold from Friday, the company will donate £1 to NSPCC to support Childline.
You can pick up one from Tesco for £3 with a Clubcard or £3.50 without.
Shop and save
PARTY season means sequins. This jumper does the job and is down from £34.99 to £21 at H&M.
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