A mom who ended up $3,762 in debt after Christmas now buys second-hand gifts from Facebook Marketplace and Vinted.
Katie Tradie, 30, racked up $3,762 worth of gifts to buy Christmas and birthday debt, so she vowed to cut back five years ago.
The mother-of-three now buys 90 per cent of her gifts second-hand which means she has been able to pay off her debt.
Tradie now uses Facebook Marketplace, Vinted and charity shops to find gifts for her son, seven, and daughters – aged five and 19 months.
So far this year she’s found multiple Christmas outfits for all her kids for a total of $37.63 on Vinted, a baby tree house for $18.81 and a FIFA game for $37.63.
Tradie, who runs a marketing agency, from Llanelli, Wales, said: “80 per cent to 90 per cent of my Christmas shopping is second hand.
“Lots of things are being sold for newbies on Vinted.
“I used to worry about Christmas. Since I got it second hand, I don’t worry.”
Tradie already used favorite sites like eBay, Vinted and thrift stores to buy most of her clothes and outfits for her children.
She decided to save her own Christmas too – after seeing how much she and her partner Adam Tradie, 36, [ON NOV 5TH]a building inspector, were spending on gifts.
Tradie said, “I remember one year I spent $626.66 just for my husband and son.
“I spent five years paying off $3,759.99 in Christmas and birthday gift debt.
“It really made me stop and think ‘is this what Christmas is all about?'”
For the past five years, Tradie has shopped for favorite gifts — finding a dollhouse for $50.13 before.
This year she’s found Christmas outfits for her kids for a family holiday at the Bluestone Resort on Vinted – costing just $37.60 in total.
Tradie said: “I have Santa suits for the kids, new clothes, leggings and Christmas jumpers.
“They are all from Zara, H&M, Next and handmade.
“Instead of buying new ones every year, I’ve put the old ones on Vinted and used that money for these.
“If you package, it saves you on postage.”
Tradie has already started buying gifts for her kids — finding a Nintendo Switch FIFA game on Facebook Marketplace for $37.60 — which costs $50.13 to $62.67 new.
She said: “I got a new Argos wooden baby house for £15 from Vinted.
“I bought a family organ for $18.80 and I’m planning to play Christmas carols on it.”
She also found a Peter Rabbit jigsaw for $2.51 and a Hornby collectible train for $50.13 – which could cost $125.33 or more.
Tradie said: “I got a $12.53 bike for my daughter from Gumtree.
“The guy handed it over and said something good had happened to him, so I can take it for free.”
Tradie is also looking after a second hand BMX for her son.
She also finds her decorations in charity shops – finding tinsel and tinsel for just 50p.
Tradie now budgets for about $376 to $501.33 for everything, but always spends under that.
She said: “It’s a pleasure.
“I like to shoot for them. It adds to the gift experience.
“You have to dig and dive, but it’s so much more rewarding.
Tradie hopes to end the stigma around buying favorites and take the pressure off having to buy new at Christmas.
She said: “It’s not normal to spend $188 on Christmas decorations.
“A lot of people are struggling.
“It makes people think they’re not good enough when they see people doing bulk shipping online and buying new.
“What is the gift you want to give them? A long healthy life or some plastic toys that will end up in the landfill?”
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