COUNT down to Christmas with a home-made advent ­calendar.

It will be cheaper than buying one of the fancy ones, more eco-friendly as you can use it year after year, plus it will pack a more personal punch.

Five ideas to make your own advent calendar with Lego, beauty treats or chocolate

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Five ideas to make your own advent calendar with Lego, beauty treats or chocolateCredit: Shutterstock

Get into the spirit with these adventurous ideas.

IT’S IN THE BAG: Make your own advent extravaganza, with red and white craft twine, £2, from The Works, and 24 envelopes or paper bags.

I like the Smiling Santa Gonk Bags from Truly SweetCandy at etsy.com, £2.99 for 25. Fasten the bags to the string with wooden pegs.

You can get 16 Christmas tree-shaped pegs from partyrama.co.uk, down from £2.99 to £1.49.

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FESTIVE FILLS: If you don’t have the time to start from scratch, you can buy containers to fill with personalised presents.

Some of the prettiest ones will also double up as decorations.

Check out Red Star or Christmas Stocking advent calendars, £15 and £16 from Hobbycraft.

Some of the prettiest ones will also double up as decorations.

ART ATTACK: Creative types can go to town on The Works plain wooden Christmas tree advent calendar, down from £18 to £13.

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Surprise the kids on December 1 or enlist their help to decorate it.

You can paint it, cover it with paper, stencil festive scenes or keep it simple.

TINY TREATS: When it comes to filling your calendar, anything goes. Of course kids love chocolate, but you can mix it up with other treats that won’t go to waste.

For Lego lovers you could buy a single kit and split it into individual parts, one per day in the right order. Mini beauty queens will love hair bobbles, lip balms and face packs.

SEND A MESSAGE: Instead of gifts, why not give a little inspiration instead? You could put little messages in each day.

These might be reminders of memories, motivational quotes, photos or funny jokes.

You could also make an activity advent calendar, with a suggestion for something you can do together each day, from festive baking to watching a film.

Deal of the day

Your kids will love this creative Lego Minecraft build, now reduced at Asda

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Your kids will love this creative Lego Minecraft build, now reduced at Asda

YOUNG builders will love the Lego Minecraft The Ice Castle building set, on sale for a cool £33 at Asda, down from £45.

SAVE: £12

Cheap treat

Enjoy saving while snacking with this 600g tub of Quality Streets from Sainsbury's

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Enjoy saving while snacking with this 600g tub of Quality Streets from Sainsbury’s

TUCK into a great saving on a Christmas treat – a 600g tub of Quality Street is down from £5 to £3.50 at Sainsbury’s.

SAVE: £1.50

What’s new?

KICK off the World Cup with a pizza deal, featuring two Chicago Town pizzas, two side dishes and a free football, all for £8.

With the offer, which starts on Monday at Iceland, you’ll save £6 on buying the priciest items individually.

Top shop

This luxe velvet draught excluder, from Graham and Greene, will help you beat the winter chills

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This luxe velvet draught excluder, from Graham and Greene, will help you beat the winter chills
Heat your home for less with Dunelm's budget draft exclude, £!4

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Heat your home for less with Dunelm’s budget draft exclude, £!4

BANISH winter chills and help your home stay toasty with the luxe velvet draught excluder, from Graham and Greene, £39.95.

To keep the heat for less, shop for Dunelm’s version, £14.

SAVE: £25.95

Leah’s little helper

MORRISONS has cut the prices of more than half the dishes on its café menu, including fish and chips, full breakfast and burgers.

It has also launched its Christmas menu, with a two-course meal for £9.99 or three-course for £11.99 from 11.30am to 3.30pm.

Shop and save

Smell your best with this Victoria’s Secrets body mist

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Smell your best with this Victoria’s Secrets body mist

TREAT someone special to Victoria’s Secrets body mists or lotions, at £15 each or two for £22 or four for £36 at victoriassecret.co.uk.

SAVE: £24 on four

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JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle

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Every month we’re giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers – whether you’re saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered.

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This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk

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