Alternative Advent Calendars

As December draws ever closer, we look at the best alternative advent calendars for 2015 to mix it up in your family this year.

 

For kids

Ditch the choccies and go for one of the LEGO advent calendars available at John Lewis for £19.99.

There are a couple of designs available but our pick is this LEGO City version, complete with 24 gifts to unlock each day. The figure collection includes everything from Santa himself to a snowman.

You can also fold out the advent calendar box to create a Christmas scene just in time for the 25th.



 

For teenagers

Teenagers are a species all to their own – some still love a good chocolate advent calendar where as others (typically boys) feel far too grown up, yet still have a grunt if they don't get anything.

This year, opt for these Advent Calendar bags available at NotOnTheHighStreet.com for £8. Each bag is large enough to pop in a small gift each day based on what your teenager loves, or you could be mean and fill with a packet of crisps each day!
 

For beauty lovers

This year there is an abundance of beauty advent calendars available as the retailers cotton on to how much adults love advent calendars as much as kids. Ranging from £25 to £220, there’s something for every budget.

Our pick of the bunch is this No7 advent calendar from Boots.com. Including everything from skincare products to bathing soaks, it’s worth £148 separately but costs just £38 – a true bargain for all your thrifters.
 

For bakers

If your other half is feeling inspired after another series of the Great British Bake Off, what better advent calendar could you get than this Bake It Yourself version. Costing just £23.50, it comes complete with everything need to bake up a batch of tasty biscuits (24 in total of course).

After baking the biscuits you can decorate them using the sprinkles and icing included, before dressing them up in fancy bags. The cookie cutters can be used year after year, making this an advent calendar that keeps on giving.
 

For couples

Couples are notoriously hard to buy for, but if they like a drink then it's time to create a bespoke advent calendar they're bound to love.

Pick up 24 bags (or you could use gift wrap if easier) and place inside a selection of miniatures. These could be anything from miniature spirits to mini wine bottles which the couple can enjoy together each evening in the run up to Christmas.





 

For scrooges

We all have a scrooge in our life who just doesn’t like to get into the Christmas spirit – or at least plays a pretty good game at not being interested.

This handmade countdown to Christmas toilet paper available at Etsy for £4.94 is an advent calendar they can't escape. As the cost isn't huge they also won't be able to complain you've spent the Christmas budget on an expensive calendar.