Guides and ideas

Written for anyone making an advent calendar by hand, whether or not they ever use ours. No chocolate.

• How toWhat to write in an advent calendarTwenty-four short things to say, the four that are worth more than the rest, and what to do when you get to the eighteenth and run dry.October 2026Read →
• IdeasTwenty-four things to say to the person you live withWhat works, what doesn't, and twelve prompts for the hard part: finding twenty-four things to actually say.September 2026Read →
• IdeasTwelve things to put behind the doors instead of chocolateFor a partner, a child, a friend or someone far away — including the reverse advent calendar that sends everything to a food bank.September 2026Read →
• Buying adviceThe 10 best advent calendars for 2026Ten calendars worth giving a grown-up this year, with October 2026 prices — from Liberty's £285 beauty box to the M&S foodhall. Ours is number four, and marked as ours.October 2026Read →
• Buying adviceAre beauty advent calendars worth it?The contents-value maths, the repeated brands buyers are tired of, and the three cases where a £250 calendar is genuinely a brilliant gift.September 2026Read →