When Christmas comes around, most parents break out into a cold sweat at the thought of mounting bills – but one money-savvy mum has cheated the system.
With 80 gifts already wrapped, single mum-of-three, Char Chandler, can rest easy this festive season.
She first started buying festive treats seven months ago and already has 80 gifts purchased and wrapped, hidden around her house.
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The 37-year-old, from Greater Manchester, has also taken advantage of bulk buying and yellow stick discounts to score Christmas essentials and food for her Boxing Day buffet, all safely stored in her freezer and cupboards.
Char – who is mum to Harley, 16, Evie, 14, and seven-year-old Myles – relies on child maintenance for her youngest but supports her eldest children solo.
With a low income, the content creator says spreading the cost throughout the year makes Christmas far easier to manage.
But although it gives her peace of mind, many people take issue with her preparedness, with the mum getting “a lot of hate” and awful comments from strangers.
“Christmas is the best time of the year – some people may feel it’s over-hyped, but I don’t,” Char told What’s The Jam.
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“I receive a lot of hate; people say I’m ‘sick’, ‘need help’ or that my children will hate me.
“They say I’m taking away the fun and have ruined Christmas for everyone.
“I’ve just tried to develop a thick skin and realise not everyone will agree with you, and I’m not in a financial position to do things any other way.
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“When I was growing up, I watched my mum struggle.
“Even though she worked her magic and I always woke up to Christmas gifts, I could see the panic in the build-up.
“So, now I buy presents early to spread the cost and take advantage of sales, before prices rise again come winter.
“While others battle over toys or the last Turkey on the shelf, I use the money I’ve saved throughout the year for fun and relaxing festive activities with the kids.
“And for every bad comment, I get thousands more in support of what I do.
“The presents are kept hidden from the children inside locked metal cupboards.
“My two older children know about the early Christmas preparations, but my youngest has no clue.
“I like to know that, as a single mum, I have all areas covered.”
Char has spent £1,500 on gifts so far – which equates to around £4 per day – and expects to purchase the final few bits by the end of October.
As for the food, she’s splashed out an extra £800 for snacks, dry food goods and buffet freezer goodies, and she estimates
She estimates to have saved £1,000 in the sales, going to toy events, utilising Amazon deal days and scouring yellow sticker shelves, as well as bulk buying.
The mum shops first thing in the morning after the school run, when the shelves have been restocked, and her favourite supermarket is Tesco.
Char said: “Tesco is my go-to supermarket [for food].
“For Christmas decor, wrapping paper and gift bags, The Range, Home Bargains and B&M are the best places to shop on a budget.”
Being organised has become even more important after Char suffered health problems over the past two years and spent time in hospital this year.
She wraps presents as soon as she buys them because joint problems make tackling them all at once difficult.
She said: “The previous two years I’ve had health problems.
“And this year I’ve been in hospital quite a bit, so sorting things out and being prepared is a huge must for me, so I’m prepared in case I end up in hospital again.
“I have rheumatoid arthritis, and my hands get worse in the colder months, and my body seizes up, so I can’t sit for long periods of time.
“I’ve wrapped around 80 presents so far, and that’s for my children, plus family and friends.
“I feel such relief that the majority is out of the way, as it gives me more time to spend with my family.
“I love giving my full attention to the children during December.
“This year, we’re going to have breakfast with Santa and visit The Snowman Live Orchestra.
“I hope that there will be enough money for us to go to Lapland Manchester, too.
“None of it would be possible if I hadn’t started buying so early in the year.
“I have lists for everything but seeing things get ticked off makes me feel good.”
Char has also planned a nice gift for herself.
To kick off the festivities, the mum is heading to London with a friend at the start of December to stay at the Ritz.
She added: “That’s where our Christmas will really start.
“I’ve saved for this two-day trip for a long time and finally get to go.”
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