CHOCS away! The Covid woes have made me think outside the box for 2020 Christmas gifts.
I’m hoping doing so will save me money, keep me occupied and bring a smile to someone’s face.
While kids love selection boxes, you often don’t get that much in them and end up paying a premium for the festive box the chocolates come in.
But, if you DIY one, you can pack it “choc” full (geddit?).
Here’s what you’ll need . . .
BOX OF TRICKS: Card Factory has a large Christmas box for £4.99, but B&M has a range of Christmas boxes starting at just £1.49.
I like the large polar bear & penguin box for £2. It even comes with a bow and tag.
Another option is wrapping Christmas paper around an old shoebox.
SAVE: £2.99
BOW-TIFUL: To make it feel more like a gift, poke two holes in the box lid and tie a ribbon through it. The cheapest I have found is £1 at Hobbycraft.
But you can make your own by cutting up an old tie or hair scarf.
SAVE: £1 on ribbon
CHOC STARS: Shop around for chocolate. Cadbury’s 200g Dairy Milk bar is £1.50 at Sainsbury’s. Asda and B&M have 110g Galaxy bars for £1 and Poundland’s £1 Twin Peaks is a great dupe for Toblerone, £3.50 at Sainsbury’s.
Don’t forget chocolate coins! At 50p a bag, Wilko has the cheapest I’ve found.
SAVE: £2.50 on Toblerone
SWEET DEAL: I’ll also be shopping at Tesco — its own-brand fruit pastilles are 75p for 250g. The Rowntree’s ones are £1 for 150g.
You can also nab two packs of Swizzels Loadsa Sweets for £1.50 at B&M. They are 89p each, so you will save 28p.
SAVE: 28p on Swizzels sweets
JUST GLUE IT: For a professional look, stick your goodies to the inside of the box. Wilko has glue dots for £1, and a pack of four double-sided tape from The Works is £1, down from £2.49.
SAVE: £1.49 on tape
- All prices correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers are subject to availability
Deal of the day
FILL the freezer for a fiver at The Co-Op with Birds Eye crispy chicken, chicken burgers, crispy fish fingers, Alphabites, mixed vegetables and a box of Rowntree’s fruit pastille ice lollies all for £5.
SAVE: £4.90
Cheap treat
TESCO Clubcard holders can get Quality Street Praline Truffles for £2.50 – that is half-price – when scanning their card at the checkout.
SAVE: £2.50
