Four cheap ways to make reusable DIY advent calendar for the kids and save cash
EXCITED children will start counting down to Christmas this weekend.
Advent calendars have become ever more elaborate and expensive in recent years.
But you can save some cash and waste with a reusable DIY version for your little ones . . .
AB FABRIC: Buy a fabric advent calendar that can be refilled year after year with gifts of your choosing.
It’s a great way to mix up gifts for children if you don’t want them eating chocolate and sugar every day.
Hobbycraft sells a fabric stocking advent calendar, now on sale at £5, which also doubles as a fab festive decoration.
Or there is a wooden tree advent peg garland which can be used to hang small stockings or even envelopes with treats.
SWEET TREATS: To fill calendars, you can buy large bags of sharing sweets such as Maoam for £1.25 from Poundland.
Or look for bags of individually wrapped sweets such as Chooee Cheery Fruttys, £1, from the store.
Aldi sells bags of mini chocolate Christmas puddings or sprouts, 95p each.
Or there are packs of mini chocolate bears and snowmen, each containing 25, for £3.29 from the supermarket.
TOY JOY: Bypass the sweets for a 50-piece bucket of dinosaurs — £10 from Sainsbury’s — ideal if you have two DIY advent calendars to make.
A 25-piece pack of cars and trucks is also available on Amazon for £10.62.
Or head to your local charity shop and find toy bundles to fill different doors.
Many will group small toys into affordable bundles.
GET CRAFTY: If you’re feeling creative, you could make small gifts to go in the calendar, such as salt dough decorations or shapes that can be painted.
Just mix 250g of plain flour with 125g of salt and 125ml of water until it forms a dough.
Bake for three hours at 50C until it becomes hard.
- All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.
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