FOR millions of parents around the world the festive season comes with pure chaos – writing Christmas cards for teachers, forking out a fortune on advent calendars and finding the perfect gifts for the little ones.
But not everyone is giving in the pressure that so many of us feel to create the ultimate magical Christmas for our kids – and amongst them is mum-of-two Kirsty Ketley.
For Kirsty, mum to Ella, 11, and Leo, seven, the period around December is already chaotic – and expensive – as it is, and the never-ending trends, such as Elf on the Shelf, only make it more hectic.
Although Kirsty, from Surrey, does agree that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year for kids, the mum reckons the joy has been replaced by commercialism.
And the mum, better known to her 3.4k Instagram fans as Auntie K, is not wrong – despite many households finding themselves cash-strapped, the UK plans to spend £28.6 billion on Christmas gifts in 2024, up from £27.6 billion in 2023, a recent data by Finder revealed.
This works out to be a staggering spending of £596 each on Christmas gifts this year – or a little over than a third of their monthly income.
Far-flung from the days of opening a glittery cardboard door only to discover a picture of a candle or a bauble, advent calendars today are big business in the UK.
Shoppers and festive fans can choose form a huge variety of advent calendars, ranging from more basic ones filled with chocolate to posh beauty buys.
But Kirsty has managed to avoid getting suckered into this craze and avoids toy advent calendars – at all costs.
Chatting to Fabulous, the parenting expert explained: ”Advent calendars have become so big and elaborate that you can pretty much get an advent calendar for anything!
”For me though, I feel that anything more than sweets or chocolate is an expense that is not needed at an already costly time of the year.
”I would be happy with just a good old fashioned advent calendar where you reveal a festive pictures, but I’m not opposed to my kids having chocolate, but we have a homemade one, rather then shop– bought.
”This makes it cheaper and a better choice from an environmental perspective, as it’s reusable.”
Not just that, but the mum-of-two also reminded that the toy advent calendars are also like pressies – which, in her eyes, should be left for Christmas Day and not althroughout December.
Plus, Kirsty pointed out, there’s another drawback of the festive favourite on top of forking out a mini fortune.
”Also, calendars which require toys being built – like LEGO, add an extra few mins to an already tight morning.
Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how you can save money on your Christmas shopping.
Limit the amount of presents – buying presents for all your family and friends can cost a bomb.
Instead, why not organise a Secret Santa between your inner circles so you’re not having to buy multiple presents.
Plan ahead – if you’ve got the stamina and budget, it’s worth buying your Christmas presents for the following year in the January sales.
Make sure you shop around for the best deals by using price comparison sites so you’re not forking out more than you should though.
Buy in Boxing Day sales – some retailers start their main Christmas sales early so you can actually snap up a bargain before December 25.
Delivery may cost you a bit more, but it can be worth it if the savings are decent.
Shop via outlet stores – you can save loads of money shopping via outlet stores like Amazon Warehouse or Office Offcuts.
They work by selling returned or slightly damaged products at a discounted rate, but usually any wear and tear is minor.
”Getting the kids out the door on time is tricky enough, why make your morning harder?
”At least a sweet or chocolate can be eaten as they are on their way to school!,’ she chuckled.
The basic advent calendars is what Kirsty grew up with – and still likes to have in the family home now.
Come Christmas Day, when billions of people around the world finally gather together with their close ones, Kirsty has strict rules in place.
Although there are some fun ones, such as devouring chocolate before breakfast, one thing that doesn’t happen is being glued to the TV screens.
”This was an accidental rule after we realised one Christmas Day about eight years ago that the TV hadn’t been switched on, or asked to be put on, by our then three-year-old daughter.
”We decided to keep it as a rule an so far, it’s all positive and good,” the expert said, adding the family will instead play games well into the evening.
”We are always with extended family, too, so it means that they get up to catch up properly with the kids.
”It means no battles over who wants to watch what, or causing upset when the TV needs to be switched off. It makes the day a bit nicer for us all.”
The are also rules when it comes to gifts – stockings, for example, are from Santa but everything else is from the parents and other family members, which the kids do know.
The mum explained the family does it for two reasons – they deserve credit for the goodies they’ve spent their money on and it also helps to keep the kids’ expectations in check.
Does Kirsty consider herself to be The Grinch? No – as she’s all for adorable matching PJs, baking sweet treats, decorating the Christmas tree – and keeping the simplicity of Christmas.
