Advent Calendars for grown ups - any thoughts?

Well I am looking at my M & S Advent Calendar as I type, and when I can haul my lazy self out of bed, I shall open No.1 with eager anticipation ?????

My daughter gave me a l'Occitane one last year - it was wonderful. A miniature toiletry item every day, lovely.

Pleased with what was in No.1, will not post what it is in case some of you also have the M & S Advent, do not want to spoil the surprise ?????

I always buy myself one. I love them.

I bought lovely old fashioned ones for our middle sized and little dgc and one for myself. When I was giving them out recently, our dsgs (almost 16) asked if he could have one.

I've had to buy myself a new one.

I have a chocolate one - I will enjoy my little treat every day!

I have also opened no 1 of my M&S one, very happy with it.
Absolutely no guilt at all or any other negative feelings.

Hello Annsixty, so nice to see you posting. Enjoy your advent calendar.

I have a Nativity one , a Star this morning a different way of doing it , but it builds up to a lovely Christmas Crib , the GC used to take turns opening the wee doors , but it is all mine now !

We’ve got a chocolate one and DH and I take it in turns to open it.

DH is very organised and buys lots when they first appear in the supermarket as all the grown up children and their partners love receiving them still. We mentioned stopping it one year and there was uproar!!

I have got one for my DS2 and DiL with, I think, a recipe each day, in a nice little tin. For DS1 and wife in America I sent one with a crime mystery to solve each day and a chocolate. For DH I have got a book of crime stories. The pages are not cut so that you have to tear them open day by day.

There are lots of lovely ideas online.

I bought one in Semichem yesterday, made by Airpure it's a candle (tea-light) for every day. They seem to be all Christmas scents so hopefully will be pleasant.
Great buy at only £3.99!
Wouldn't usually bother but couldn't resist candles.

Does anyone remember getting an advent calendar back in the 1950s? I certainly never had one but maybe my mum and dad couldn't afford one.
I'd be interested to know.

I am a late "50's" child and I always had an advent calendar, usually just pictures behind the little doors until 24th and then a chocolate.

I had one (bought by my granny) with lots of glitter on and Christmas themed pictures inside.

DanniRae - not the 50's but in the 60's, Christmassy or wintry pictures then the big window was the glittery nativity scene opened on 24th. I did not hear of chocolate advent calendars until I had my daughter in the seventies.

Everybody will hate me now but hey ho......I honestly think advent calendars for adults are a bit sad.

Lets stuff more and more into ourselves and create more and more packaging , it doesn't appeal to me. Surely at some point we have to stop it, the crackers, the calendars, the waste.

I have just opened the Cheese Advent calendar given to me by my Partner to find a nice little Wensleydale cheese with Cranberries waiting for me.
Delicious.

I paused to look at some of the contents of a toiletry one i saw in one of the supermarkets last week. It did look like it would be a lovely daily treat. I managed to resist hinting to DH while i worked out how much each door would cost to open

I know what you mean oldbatty but leave people to enjoy their treats.

I am leaving them, its not as if anybody is going to change their behaviour based on this conversation.

I just think the spend fest is totally out of control.

I only buy old fashioned ones, oldbatty with nothing inside - either for the children or myself.

My hubby has been to deliver the 4 Grand childrens Advent Calendars today and I did show him my Day 1 (lovely shower gel) from my M & S calendar this morning. He has been out and bought himself one, I asked if he had managed to get a half price one, but no, he has treated himself to a Lindt one, I shall sit doe eyed when he eats his little bunny or Santa. Then 40 year old Daughter moaned that I hadn’t bought her one!, when does it stop lol.

I'm coming out in support of oldbatty - another old curmudgeon here!
As I said on a similar thread this time last year, to me, advent and advent calendars are all about anticipation and looking forward to Christmas (not that I am religious). To treat myself to a little present every day would make the day itself less special to me.
Glad that others are getting a lot of enjoyment from them though!

My first Advent Calendar! I've never had one before though I've bought plenty for children and grandchildren. Today I had the best EVAH from my daughter. Holland and Barrett Herbal Tea Advent Calendar.☕️
I'm ridiculously pleased with it and shall enjoy the tea each day while thinking about Christmases past and planning Christmas present (and presents!).

Anything to brighten these dull December days is ok by me.