A mum who used to spend over £1,000 on presents for her family at Christmas has said she refuses to do so this year - because she believes the holiday season causes nothing but stress and "credit card debt".
Heidi Ondrak, 51, is keen to save money amid the cost of living crisis and has said the first thing to go will be the £50 per person she often spends on Christmas presents. In fact, the only people Heidi will be buying presents for at all will be her two children - Daisy, 13, and Archie, 15 - who will receive a few packages consisting of items found in charity shops or at car boot sales.
The mum-of-two, from Plymouth, said she made her decision after realising that the gift-giving element of the holiday season is "all a big marketing construct", as she insisted Christmas is "not about consumption or greed" so buying presents shouldn't be a necessity.
She said: "The gifting tradition is insane, I don't need anything, and neither do most adults. What's the point of the stress and racking up credit cards and debt just for one day of the year?
"I am not religious and Santa isn't real, it's all a big marketing construct to make us feel compelled to spend money. It's not worth bankrupting yourself for one day.
"Christmas is not about consumption and greed, marketing just has us believe that and our kids are targeted. I refuse to spend my money playing into this any longer."
Heidi confessed she used to spend £1,000 on gifts for her children alone, but while they will still be getting some second-hand presents this year, she's slashed their budget down to £200.
The mum plans on buying clothes from charity shops and refurbished electronics from online retailers, as well as items she finds at car boot sales that she thinks her teenagers will love.
She added: "If I had very small kids I would get toys at the car boot and sterilise them. Kids grow out of stuff really quickly so it's usually in mint condition.
"My kids want clothes and electronics, I'll buy refurbished tablets and phones online and clothes. I will let them have a budget, if and when I find things at the charity shop that is boxed or new with tags I will pop that away for Christmas.
"I usually get bags and tops for my daughter, while my son wants protein and gym-related things and very often I have found unopened protein powder in date at the boot sale too, so I will keep an eye out.
"Just explain how budgets work to your children as they get older. As for younger kids, just buy fancy boxes and recycle toys and games from charity shops, Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace and markets."
As well as saving money on presents, Heidi will also keep her costs low by ditching the Christmas turkey in favour of a cheaper alternative, and will do most of her cooking in an air fryer so she doesn't have to use her oven.
Sharing her tips for a low-cost Christmas, she said: "Pool together with another family; previous years, me and my friend pooled our resources and our families ate together.
"Buy cheaper meat, turkey is so overrated, get a chicken, it can be cooked in the air fryer, and the veg is cheap. There is no need to go mad, top plates up with extra roasters, don’t go mad with tons of desserts, make a meal plan and stick to it and always shop with a list.
"I ate out the last few years at about £75 a head but will cook at home this year and as no one really likes turkey I will buy a chicken.
"Wrapping paper can be repurposed if it’s been saved from last year. What I do throughout the year is buy neutral wrapping paper for birthdays and use the same roll at Christmas.
"My decorations will be reused from previous years and the tree lights won't go on unless they are battery-operated."
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