IT can be hard enough finding enough money to cover the six-week summer holidays.
But cash-strapped parents are then also faced with the prospect of having to fork out for presents for their kids’ teachers and teaching assistants to mark the end of the school year.
And while some mums and dads go all out with the presents, others are searching for budget-friendly ways to put together the gifts.
So it’s no wonder one mum has been praised for sharing her “cheap and cheerful thank you gifts”.
The woman took to the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group on Facebook to post a picture of the presents all wrapped up and ready to go.
She wrote alongside it: “Bought multi pack of doughnuts from Asda and then individually wrapped into cute bags for their teachers.
“And bought some for the staff room for everyone to share too.”
To make the gifts even cuter, the clear plastic bags featured drawings of animals on the front – from rabbits to bears and cats.
She was quickly bombarded with questions as to where she’d picked up the bags from.
To which she replied: “The bags were from Temu a while back.
“I’ve used them in my daughter’s nursery lunch box over past few months… but I think you may be able to get them from Amazon too.”
Other people in the comments section praised the mum for sharing the gift suggestion, with one writing: “Cute idea!”
“Clever idea, keeps the cost down,” another added.
“Genius! Thanks for sharing,” a third commented.
“Fantastic idea, not something that will be thrown to the back of the cupboard and forgotten about,” someone else said.
“I’m going down the edible route too!” another said.
“Gonna make cupcakes in red with thank you toppers.”
“Amazing idea. Love this!” someone else said.
They then added that: ” People shouldn’t feel pushed into buying expensive gifts, to keep in line or in keeping with the other parents…
“My friend is a teacher, they feel embarrassed receiving the gifts.
“They would be pleased with a handwritten ‘thank you’ note.
“Maybe it is time to scale this all back?”
IF you are wondering whether or not to buy your child's teacher an end-of-year gift, look no further...
As the summer holidays fast approach, Fabulous Senior Digital Writer and mum-of-two Sarah Bull weighs in on whether you should feel obliged to buy your kids’ teachers a present to mark the end of term.
Sarah said: “It can be pricey trying to keep the kids entertained during six weeks off school.
“But before the end of term, parents all over the country are also trying to budget for gifts for their kids’ teachers too.
“With teachers, teaching assistants, SEN specialists and other beloved staff members to buy for, it can be an expensive business.
“And while lots of schools actively discourage parents from spending their money on end-of-term presents for teachers, I consider it an obligation.
“After all – I know how tough my kids can be at home, and their teachers have to keep them in check for the majority of the day – so don’t they deserve a token of appreciation?
“I also wouldn’t want my children to feel left out when their friends arrive at school armed with pressies for their teachers.
“While some parents go all out with gifts, with alcohol and flowers popular choices, I’ll be doing my best to stay at the £5 mark for each of the four staff members I’ll be buying for.
“And with some fab options in stores like Poundland, Home Bargains and B&M, it should be easy for me to stick to my budget.”
And the mum’s doughnut idea even received a seal of approval from teachers themselves.
“I love this idea!! As school staff myself this would make me so happy!!” one wrote.
As another added: “Perfect gift, coming from someone who works at a school!”
You can get a pack of 12 iced doughnuts in Asda for £3.45, while similar bags are £1.29 for 50 on Temu.
So you can make 12 of the doughnut gift bags for just 26p each.
