A mum-of-two has revealed her clever way of spreading out Christmas costs to stay within a low budget: prepping for the holidays in January.
Elesia Hayes has barely finished festive celebrations before she is looking ahead to the following year.
The 23-year-old says that being on a tight budget means she likes to spread the cost of Christmas gifts out as much as possible.
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This means that as early as March this year, she was already wrapping gifts for this December.
“I can’t afford to buy in bulk,” the mum-of-two, from Bolton, Greater Manchester, told What’s The Jam.
“I have a low income, and I find that spreading the costs [helps].
“I spend my child benefits on presents, and it builds up to a good amount by Christmas.
“I’m usually finished around August, but if I see things I like after that then I’ll pick it up.”
Elesia, a single mum, estimates she spends around £300-£500 per child each year – which, between January and August, balances out at around £100 per month on gifts.
Her efforts come complete with a Christmas Eve box for her son Jaxon, five, and her three-year-old daughter Olivia to enjoy ahead of the big day.
And their haul of gifts to open on Christmas morning is equally as impressive, with the mum able to nab bargains by shopping early.
Elesia said: “It’s cheaper because I manage to pick up deals in the Prime day sales on Amazon and the toy events at shops like Asda, Tesco, and Argos.
“It just saves me struggling in the month when I spread out the cost.”
The thrifty mum lays out stacks of presents under their tree, all beautifully gift-wrapped months in advance.
This year, she has the lot sorted, with piles of toys wrapped in Disney, Marvel and standard festive paper.
Her little ones will enjoy goodies including Fisher-Price interactive stuffed animals and branded action figures, as well as a kindle for Jaxon.
Elesia said: “It’s important to me to give my children the best Christmas and gifts because I haven’t always [had that myself].
“I want them to have the best childhood, with occasions to remember.”
While the mum makes a point of celebrating the holiday for her children’s sake, she sadly had a stillbirth in 2020.
She gave birth to daughter Myla on 29 December, shortly after Christmas.
The mum said: “I used to love Christmas, but since losing my little girl, I don’t like it anymore.
“It’s always a hard time leading up to Christmas and New Year, knowing I should be preparing for three children.
“I honour Myla by getting balloons made, and we get her a cake and candles that my children blow out.
“We talk about Myla, especially around Christmas and her birthday, and we go to her graveside to have a picnic with her when the weather is nice.”
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