While I haven't purchased the calendar myself, looking at the contents I have to agree. There are 12 products inside, which should translate to an average price of $5.50 per piece, but several people have shared price comparisons proving that even at retail cost, you could buy equivalents to everything inside for well under that. British retailer Poundland even posted a picture on Twitter of equivalent products available in their store for just £1 each, and vlogger Those Rosie Days took up their challenge to find and purchase their bargain version of Zoella's calendar.
After watching Rosie's video, it occurred to me that you might be able to do a similar challenge at IKEA; they sell products in many of the same categories as those in the Zoella calendar, and they're usually bargain-priced. Yet in my experience IKEA's products are also pretty good in quality, and their Scandinavian aesthetic is right on trend for this Christmas. So, I challenged myself to find products for a DIY Zoella-style advent calendar at IKEA, and here's the result!
(Note that I browsed online, so I can't vouch for the particular quality of these products. All images by IKEA.)
Day 1: Ceramic Ornament / Vinter 2017 Glass Ornament Set, $4.99
The ceramic ornament in Zoella's calendar is flat and round, and says "Merry and Bright" in metallic lettering. While IKEA has tons of Christmas ornaments, I thought these flat glass ones had the most similar shape and aesthetic--but you get three here instead of just one.
Day 2: Star Confetti / Särdal Light Chain
and Stråla Snowflake Decorations, $2.99 each
Days 3 and 10: Star and Gingerbread Cookie Cutters /
Bakglad Cookie Cutter Set, $3.99
Day 4: Sticker Set / Vinter 2017 Stickers, $2.49
Day 5: Zip Pouch / Förfina Accessory Bag, $3.99
This
IKEA pouch is plainer than Zoella's ivory patterned version, but the bright red is festive, and
its bigger size and multiple pockets exceed the functionality of
Zoella's.
Day 6: Festive Cookie Candle / Vinter 2017 Candle #1, $1.99
Day 7: Christmas Clementine Room Spray / Dofta Potpourri, $1.99
Day 8: Rose Gold Pen / Måla Gel Pen Set, $3.99
Zoella's shiny rose gold pen is nice-looking if simple.
However, you can get eight gel pens from IKEA that includes actual gold
and silver metallic ink among other colors, so while the look of the
pens themselves is pretty basic, their output is pretty nice.
Day 9: Green Pom-Pom Bag Charm / Vinter 2017 Heart Decorations, $3.99
IKEA
doesn't sell fashion accessories, so I knew this would be a tough one
to match. Admittedly these plush heart decorations aren't pom-poms, which
are apparently the hot thing to attach to your handbag. But they're
about the right size, soft and squishy, and you could easily attach them
to your bag's zipper or strap if you wanted to. Plus there are three of
them!
Day 11: "Notes" Notebook / Eklog Notebook Set, $3.99
Zoella's
calendar comes with a tiny paperback notebook, but you can get three of
a larger size from IKEA--in a similar green and gold color scheme to
boot--for much cheaper.
Day 12: Christmas Clementine Candle / Vinter 2017 Candle #2, $1.99
GRAND TOTAL: $39.38
TOTAL DAYS: 12
TOTAL ITEMS: 26*
IKEA COST PER ITEM: $1.51
ZOELLA COST PER ITEM: $5.50
TOTAL SAVINGS: $25.62
SAVINGS PER ITEM: $3.99
* Counting stickers and light set as one item each
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