A mum-of-seven has revealed how she’s doing the Christmas season on a tight budget.
Sharing her clever tips and tricks, Tess Giddings, 36, from Bournemouth, is shopping for cold meats for her Christmas Day roast this year and found bargains on Facebook.
The mother of Jacob, 18, Savannah, 16, Amiah, 14, Zion, 12, Nevaeh, nine, and twins Hezekiah and Levi, seven, like most parents, is looking for ways to get more bang for your buck this Christmas.
And Tess has revealed how she managed to do it for less than £800, including Christmas dinner for £25 and without buying gifts for her relatives.
The digital content creator said: “I think a big expense for many is the dreaded Christmas food shop.”
‘People think they have to make a huge expense during that three-day period.
‘I have friends who would easily make around £400; It’s crazy.
‘We don’t make a specific food purchase as such and we make sure we never go over our usual weekly budget.
Mum-of-seven Tess Giddings, 36, from Bournemouth, revealed how she is spending the festive season on a tight budget (Tess with husband Christopher, children Jacob, Savannah, Amiah, Zion, Nevaeh and the twins, Hezekiah and Levi)
Tess said Christmas dinner doesn’t have to cost a fortune – nine of them cost £25. They buy £10 worth of sliced cold cuts, rather than a whole turkey, and £10 worth of vegetables, with £5 spent on pudding.
‘A Christmas dinner doesn’t have to cost a fortune; For nine of us, it costs £25.
‘We normally buy £10 worth of sliced cold cuts, rather than a whole turkey, and £10 worth of vegetables, of which we spend £5 on pudding.
“Obviously, we buy treats like a tin of chocolates and some other snacks, but it doesn’t have to be a huge expense for just one day.”
If other members of the family come to stay, they “say goodbye” by having a barbecue and instead receive a takeaway, contributing £20 towards the feast each.
When it comes to gifts, she keeps things simple and only buys for her children and husband.
She said: “I don’t get anything for my close friends, my parents, my siblings or my in-laws, because it’s a waste of money.”
“I’ll give them a symbolic gift, like a box of candy, but in my opinion, it’s more about the kids.
“And our families have agreed with us in recent years that shopping is a hassle and an unnecessary expense for everyone, including adults.”
Tess often makes headlines for her clever tips and tricks and this year she is shopping for cold meats for the Christmas Day roast and found bargains on Facebook.
Tess with her husband, Christopher, their children, Jacob, Savannah, Amiah, Zion, Nevaeh and the twins.
Tess’s large brood, like most children, always asks for something high-end and trendy from Santa.
But to avoid a big credit card bill, the mother looks for bargains.
The 36-year-old said: “One of the best ways I have found to save money is by buying second-hand as there is no shame in buying second-hand.”
‘I’ve saved a lot of money by searching Facebook Marketplace, Vinted and eBay, for example.
‘Last Christmas one of my sons wanted a specific Xbox, which cost £380 new.
‘I managed to get one for £115, still boxed with all the packaging, on Facebook Marketplace.
“The same goes for things like bikes. I’ve never paid more than £35 for a used one in immaculate condition, which sells new for over £100.
‘For children, stocking fillers are from AliExpress or Temu, which cost no more than 10p each.
Tess says it’s important for parents to remember not to push themselves to the limit and to stop comparing their lives to those on social media.
Tess’s large brood, like most children, always asks for something high-end and trendy from Santa. But to avoid a big credit card bill, the mother looks for bargains.
Tess saves up to £100 each month all year round, so when Christmas rolls around, she doesn’t have to spend money on her overall budget or savings fund.
Tess Shops for Great Gifts for Kids on Facebook Marketplace for a Fraction of the Price
Zion playing with his Nintendo Switch bought for £50 on Facebook Marketplace
The twins, Hezekiah and Levi, riding second-hand bicycles.
The mum even found this lovely dollhouse for £2 on Facebook Marketplace.
The family have kept the same tree for 18 years, which costs just £11 second-hand on eBay, and a single packet of new ornaments in recent years costs £2 in a charity shop.
If other members of the family come to stay, they “say goodbye” by having a barbecue and order takeaway instead, contributing £20 towards the feast each (last year they got Chinese takeaway).
And I always resell the children’s clothes and shoes when they no longer fit.
“I once bought a pair of Nike trainers for £7 on Vinted and resold them for £25, so it’s a win-win really.”
Tess saves up to £100 each month all year round, so when Christmas rolls around, she doesn’t have to spend money on her overall budget or savings fund.
She said: “I’ve always been very smart when it comes to buying gifts and sticking to a budget.”
‘People tend to get carried away with Christmas and it often becomes a competition.
‘I also think the more you buy for kids, the less they will appreciate it.
‘I used to be guilty of overbuying, but they were just opening them and then moving on to the next one.
“Now we tend to limit ourselves to one main gift and a couple of smaller gifts.”
Tess with her husband, Christopher, their children, Jacob, Savannah, Amiah, Zion, Nevaeh and twins, Hezekiah and Levi.
Tess says to stick to the basics and even has enough left over to donate to the less fortunate during the holidays.
The glamorous mother of seven often shares snaps from family vacations and her daily life.
The beauty often shares snapshots of her busy life on her social media pages.
Tess said there’s nothing right or wrong about how to celebrate the holidays, but for her family she tries to keep it traditional because it’s about spending quality family time.
And they don’t just scrimp and save on food and gifts.
The family have kept the same tree for 18 years, which costs just £11 second-hand on eBay, and a single packet of new ornaments in recent years costs £2 in a charity shop.
Tess says it’s important for parents to remember not to push themselves to the limit and to stop comparing their lives to those on social media.
For them, they stick to the basics and even have enough left over to give back to the less fortunate.
He added: “Christmas puts a huge financial strain on parents, especially with ever-growing trends such as Elf on a Shelf and Christmas Eve boxes.”
‘To each their own, and there’s nothing right or wrong about how to celebrate the holiday, but for us I try to keep it traditional. It’s about spending quality family time.
‘I also give food to the homeless, and recently discovered that my eldest son has been using his hard-earned wages to do the same, which makes me very proud.
“It’s not always about what’s under the tree, but who’s around it.”