‘I found a way to save £22 off one of the most fun advent calendars’

There are two types of people in the world – those who feel joyous to receive socks at Christmas and those who feel let down. I have always been in the former group, especially if there are fun and vibrant prints on offer.

However, no matter how eccentric socks are to brighten a dreary day, comfort is paramount. A surprising new advent calendar offers both and, thanks to a fresh deal, if shoppers purchase one in the next few days it can be obtained with a massive 38% discount on the usual price.

YouGov says a third of all individuals in the UK purchase an advent calendar each year, with Google Trends showing interest climbing steadily from late October as shoppers scramble to secure the best options. Last weekend’s payday saw many of us snap up some of the most sought-after ones before they sell out.

According to their respective sites, more than 1,700 people snapped up the LookFantastic beauty calendar in the last 48 hours, and hundreds of shoppers per hour were eyeing up John Lewis’ advent calendar, which offers more than £1,000 worth of beauty products for £235.

In line with the shopping peak, deals website TopCashback is offering a free £20 bonus to all shoppers who sign up as new members before 31 October and spend £20 on an advent calendar. This means that sock enthusiasts – yes, there are many of us – can effectively pick up Sockshop’s advent calendar packed with 25 pairs of bamboo beauties for £37.37, which works out at less than £1.50 a pair, a significant saving on the usual £59.99 price.

Sockshop has launched two separate versions of its Bamboo Sock Advent Calendar for Christmas 2025, and having unboxed the women’s version, it is top of my Christmas wishlist as the surprise treat I didn’t know I needed. Available in sizes 4-8 for women or 7-11 for men, each whimsically designed box includes 25 pairs of bamboo socks, reports the Mirror.

Bamboo has become a premium clothing staple for many over the last few years, as a soft, breathable fabric that regulates body temperature – helping cool down in the warm and warm up in the cold. I was so impressed the socks were bamboo and it quickly elevated this whole collection from a pile of novelty socks to the ultimate full drawer refresh with pairs you’ll be able to wash and wear throughout the year.

The socks have elasticated cuffs that sit nicely at the ankle without pinching, while the seams aren’t irritating at the toe. They’re a comfortable treat for the feet when you pull them on.

The collection boasts a splendid mix of fully festive options, alongside more year-round friendly (but still cheery and fun) colours and prints. After a week working through my favourite pairs (spoiler: I have no qualms about wearing snowman socks in October) I realised this was genuinely one of the more enjoyable advent calendars I’d ever had.

In contrast to beauty advent calendars where plenty of items have ended up forgotten at the bottom of a washbag until they are disposed of unused years later, this feels like a rare advent calendar where every item is usable. The main issue for me was my daughter swooping in and snatching several sparkly pairs before I could get everything into my sock drawer.

I am clearly not the only one smitten with this ingenious purchase either, with the calendar seemingly gaining a cult following. On the SockShop website, 74 shoppers have reviewed the calendar, awarding it an impressive 4.8 out of 5 stars. Shoppers commend the quirkiness, quality and practicality, with people both buying it as a self-care treat and as a gift for hard-to-buy for friends and family.

One satisfied customer shared: “The best solution to the old ‘What to give a man for Christmas’ problem that I’ve seen in a long time. Perfect for the man you don’t know that well – like the husband of a dear friend.

“The contents are practical enough to please him and the presentation is stylish and attractive enough to please her. It’s socks – but dressed up so well as to be a ‘proper’ gift. Delivery was quick and fuss free as well. Thoroughly recommend for an easy and satisfying gift.”

A reviewer from last year chimed in: “Honestly, my husband will not stop going on about how happy this makes him. He loves his daily socks and shows them off to everyone.”

Another shopper commented: “I bought one men’s and one women’s calendar. The only negative is that my husband would have preferred more bright colours for his and I probably would have preferred more muted colours in mine but that’s just personal preference.

“Socks are great quality, soft, light, stretchy and comfortable. Calendar is good value, I got mine in the sale as well, so it worked out at less than £1.50 a pair! It’s fun to open every day and put in a new pair of socks. All round win. Will probably purchase again.”

The TopCashback deal, available only this week, brings the Sockshop calendar down to the same price the reviewer paid, with each pair of bamboo socks costing £1.48. See below for how to claim them with the cashback:

• Sign up as a new member at TopCashback for free via this link
• Search for Sock Shop on the site, click through and buy the item normally. Get a £20 bonus from TopCashback when you spend £20 or more on an item.
• The cashback will track to the TopCashback ‘Earnings page’ within seven days of purchase.
• The £20 bonus is available for new members signing up between now until Friday, October 31 or until 5,000 signups have been claimed, whichever is sooner.