A mother-of-three from Leeds who spends less than £100 on Christmas presents for her children has revealed she faces a torrent of online abuse each year for her frugal festive approach.
Sticking to a budget amidst pressure
Sadie Farren, 28, sets herself a £200 Christmas limit not to spend it all, but to prevent overspending and potential debt. Last year, she spent just £80, and this year she plans to spend even less. She insists her children are perfectly content without mountains of expensive gifts.
"Having a budget helps me stay intentional rather than getting swept up in the pressure to overspend, which I think a lot of families feel at Christmas," Sadie explained. Her children's wish lists are modest, typically featuring books, LEGO, and craft items. The most expensive request this year is a £25 shared gymnastics bar and mat for her daughters.
Online backlash for second-hand gifts
When Sadie shared her budget-friendly strategy online, she was met with a wave of criticism. Trolls labelled her "stingy" and described her practice of buying second-hand presents from platforms like Vinted as "disgusting".
"The backlash was intense," she said. "Some people accused me of normalising spending too little on children, saying 'parents have all year to save', and I shouldn’t have had them if I couldn’t afford to spoil them at Christmas." Others made personal remarks about her appearance, claims she found laughable.
Despite the negativity, Sadie has received considerable support and remains undeterred. "The comments don’t bother me. My kids are happy, that’s all that matters," she stated firmly.
Why a simple Christmas works for her family
Sadie's commitment to a modest Christmas stems from past experience. "I’ve been in debt before trying to give them mountains of presents, and they often ended up overwhelmed and the toys forgotten," she admitted. She believes a stripped-back celebration leads to less stress, more family time, better finances, and a smaller environmental footprint.
"Keeping Christmas simple has made it more magical, not less. I think there’s too much pressure to keep up with trends and over-consumption," Sadie added. The family also donates old toys and clothes annually.
Top tips for festive bargain hunting
Sadie is a savvy shopper who employs several strategies to stay within her tight budget:
- Utilise resale apps: She primarily uses Vinted and has started using WhatNot. Filters for "brand new" items can find untouched gifts.
- Shop around and compare: She always checks in-store prices against online deals. The B&M app scanner can reveal discontinued items for as little as 10p.
- Explore charity shops: These can be a goldmine for brand-new, unwanted gifts.
- Consider the 'four-gift rule': Limiting presents to something they want, need, wear, and read helps curb overspending.
- Use browser extensions: Tools like Coupert automatically search for discount codes at online checkouts.
She cites an example where she bought a brand-new Minecraft LEGO set for £4 on Vinted, a fraction of its retail price. For Sadie, budgeting is not about restriction but about intelligent spending. "I won’t change how I parent or budget just because some people online have a negative opinion about it," she concluded.
