A MUM has revealed how she will save thousands of pounds on Christmas this year – by not buying anyone gifts.
Heidi Ondrak, 51, from the UK, used to spend thousands of Christmas but amid the cost of living crisis has decided to ditch shopping all together.
Branding Christmas as a 'big marketing construct', the mum will "never again" spend her hard-earned cash on gifts for family members.
The mum admitted she used to splash out 350 on gifts per person – but won't be doing it this year.
The only exception is her two children, Daisy, 13 and Archie, 15, who will receive a few packages but nothing new; all the gifts will be bought at charity shops or car boot sales.
"The gifting tradition is insane, I don’t need anything, neither do most adults," Heidi told NeedToKnow.online.
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"What's the point of the stress and racking up credit cards and debt just for one day of the year?"
She continued: "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 used to spend £1,000 on her children alone, but this year given them both a budget of £200 and they'll be bought second-hand.
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She added that if her kids were younger she'd buy toys at the car boot sale and sterilise them.
Heidi added: "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."
The money-saving mum also offered some tips for other families looking to save money this Christmas.
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She revealed: "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, 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.
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"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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