Thrifty Mum Creates £45 Lucky Dip Advent Calendar Using B&M, Poundland and Aldi
- Hayley Pitt, 34, wanted to create a unique advent calendar for her three kids without spending a fortune
- She found a free box and packing chips on Facebook Marketplace
- She individually wrapped toys, sweets and chocolate from B&M, Home Bargains, Poundland and Aldi
- The idea means her three kids’ advent calendars cost £45 instead of £150
Buying every member of the family advent calendars is another expense in an already pricey month.
But one mum came up with a genius idea to make counting down to Christmas extra special - and best of all, it cost just £45.
Hayley Pitt, 34, a mum of three from South Derbyshire, decided to create a lucky dip advent calendar for her three kids instead of a traditional toy advent calendar, which can typically cost up to £50.
She found a large box and packing chips for free on Facebook Marketplace, and filled it up with individually wrapped gifts she found at B&M, Home Bargains, Poundland and Aldi.
The idea cost her £45 rather than spending £150 on advent calendars for all her kids.
Hayley told money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk: "The idea to create a huge lucky dip advent calendar came to me as my late grandmother used to make up a Christmas lucky dip for myself and my siblings as I was growing up.
"Each time we would visit over Christmas we would all be allowed to pick out a gift.
"I have purchased toy advent calenders in the past and they can work out to be pretty expensive, especially when you have more than one child.
"So, I thought I would come up with my own idea this year for my children and came up with this!
"I looked around Facebook Marketplace and found a free very large box and some packing chips.
"I wrapped the box in Christmas wrapping paper, wrapped each individual gift and labelled them with who it is for.
"My kids will each have a lucky dip each day in the run-up to Christmas and the first gift they pick out with their name on will be their advent gift for that day.
"Each time I went shopping in the run-up to Christmas I would buy a couple of things to go into the lucky dip box advent calendar.
"I would get them from shops such as B&M, Home Bargains, Poundland and Aldi.
"With buying the little gifts every so often I didn't really notice the expenditure.
"I also bought things in multi-packs so as I could open them and separate them between my children.
"The idea cost me approximately £45 as I purchased toys, chocolate and sweets and individually wrapped them.
"I have bought my children toy calendars in the past and I know that these can be quite expensive - up to £50 each.
"I have been able to spend the money that one would cost and make this advent calendar lucky dip box for that price between all my children.
"With this option, you can also mix it up a little between toys, chocolates and sweets so the kids can have the best of both options.
"The bargain shops do their own version of things such as Lego and small figures too and adding a few of these in makes for a good surprise.
"Also, if your kids are a little older, small token gifts can be found in the bargain shops for them too, such as charging cables, face masks and so on.
"It was nice to be able to personalise the gifts to my children's tastes and pick things that I know they will love.
"I surprised my children with it yesterday and they are over the moon and so excited to get their first gift on the 1st December!”
Tom Church, co-founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, comments: “Christmas is what you make it, and Hayley’s kids are super lucky that their mum is going the extra mile to make December festive for them.
“The lucky dip advent calendar is a great idea and will be an exciting activity to do every day in the run-up to Christmas.
“As Hayley’s idea proves, you don’t need to spend a fortune to make the festive season special.
“Using Facebook Marketplace, B&M, Home Bargains, Poundland and Aldi, she’s created a fantastic advent calendar for under £50!”
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This is a fantastic idea! I will absolutely do this next year!! Might even do a fun one for the adults! 
Well done Hayley! Your children are lucky to have you, it's clear how much you care about their happiness. X