Sadie keeps the cost low with B&M bargains and second-hand gifts from Vinted
A mum who keeps Christmas costs under £100 for her three children says she faces a barrage of online abuse every year – simply for refusing to splash the cash. Sadie Farren sticks to a strict festive budget and often spends far less, insisting her kids are perfectly happy without piles of pricey presents.
The 28-year-old, from Leeds, said she gives herself a £200 limit every Christmas not to spend it all, but to stop her “going overboard” and ending up in debt. “Last year I only spent £80, and this year I’m actually spending slightly less, which has surprised me,” said Sadie.
“But my children haven’t asked for much at all. Their wish lists are mostly books, LEGO and crafts. The most expensive present on the list this year is a £25 shared gift for my girls – a gymnastics bar and mat.
“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.”
But when the mum-of-three shared her approach online, trolls piled in, some branding her “stingy” and even calling second-hand presents “disgusting”. Her video last year showing everything she bought for £80 went viral and triggered a wave of fury.
She said: “I’d managed to get them everything they asked for, and most of it came from Vinted. The backlash was intense, some people called me ‘stingy’ and 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 said buying second-hand gifts was ‘disgusting’. A few even commented on my appearance, saying I ‘clearly had enough money for food and getting my hair and nails done.’ That part actually made me laugh, as I rarely get them done, and when I do, it’s a DIY job.
“It was bizarre seeing strangers get that angry about how I spend my money on my kids at Christmas, though I will admit I did have a lot of positive comments too.”
Determined not to let the hate get to her, Sadie has stuck to her budget again this year and says the trolls won’t change a thing. She said: “The comments don’t bother me. My kids are happy, that’s all that matters.
“I’ve been in debt before trying to give them mountains of presents, and they often ended up overwhelmed and the toys forgotten. 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. For us, a stripped-back Christmas means less stress, more family time, better finances, and a smaller impact on the environment.
“We donate old toys and clothes every year, too. I won’t change how I parent or budget just because some people online have a negative opinion about it.”
Sadie also revealed how she bags bargains to stay within budget. She said: “I’m very deliberate with how I shop. I always look for deals and compare prices. If I see something in a store, I’ll check online to see if it’s cheaper.
“I use Vinted mainly, and recently I’ve started to use an app called WhatNot to find items my kids want. You can even filter Vinted to ‘brand new’ if you prefer gifts that haven’t been used. For me, budgeting isn’t about restriction, it’s just about being smart and not paying more than you need to.”
And for anyone hoping to cut costs, she shared her top money-saving hacks. Sadie added: “Shop around, check when sales are on, and always compare in-store prices to online ones. B&M is brilliant for bargains all year round – the app has a scanner, and you can sometimes find discontinued items for as little as 10p.
“An example for us is LEGO can be expensive in shops, but there are loads of brand-new, unopened sets on Vinted. I recently bought a Minecraft set for £4, which is a huge saving. Don’t underestimate charity shops either, so many brand-new, unopened items end up there after being unwanted gifts.
“Also, the ‘four-gift rule’ (want, need, wear, read) is a fantastic way to not overspend. And if you’re buying online, get an extension for your browser that searches for discount codes such as Coupert – it’s free to use and can help save a bit of extra money.”
