A mom who ended up in $3,762 worth of debt after Christmas now buys gifts second-hand from Facebook Marketplace and Vinted.
Katie Tradie, 30, racked up $3,762 worth of debt buying presents for Christmas and birthdays so vowed to cut back five years ago.
The mom-of-three now buys 90 percent of the gifts second-hand which means she’s been able to pay off her debt.
Tradie now uses Facebook Marketplace, Vinted, and charity shops to hunt for presents for her son, seven, and daughters – aged five and 19 months old.
So far this year she has found multiple Christmas outfits for all her children for a total of $37.63 on Vinted, a wooden treehouse for the baby for $18.81, and a Fifa game for $37.63.
Tradie, who runs a marketing agency, from Llanelli, Wales, said: “80 percent to 90 percent of my Christmas shopping is second-hand.
“Loads of stuff is selling for new on Vinted.
“I used to worry about Christmas. Since I have done it second-hand I don’t worry.”
Tradie already used pre-loved sites such as eBay, Vinted, and charity shops to buy most of her clothes and outfits for her children.
She decided to thrift her 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 on just my husband and son.
“I spent five years paying off $3759.99 of debt for Christmas and birthday presents.
“It really made me stop and think ‘is this what Christmas is about?’”
For the last five years, Tradie has bought pre-loved gifts – finding a doll’s house for $50.13 previously.
This year she has found Christmas outfits for her kids for a family holiday to Bluestone Resort on Vinted – costing just $37.60 in total.
Tradie said: “I’ve got the kids Santa costumes, reindeer onesies, leggings and Christmas jumpers.
“They are all from Zara, H&M, Next, and handmade ones.
“Instead of buying new every year I have been putting old ones on Vinted and using that money for these ones.
“If you do bundles 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 brand new Argos wooden treehouse for the baby for £15 from Vinted.
“I bought a family organ for $18.80 and I’m planning to play Christmas songs on it.”
She also found a Peter Rabbit jigsaw for $2.51 and a collectible Hornby train for $50.13 – which can cost $125.33 or more.
Tradie said: “I got a $12.53 bike for my daughter from Gumtree.
“The guy delivered it and said he had something good happen to him so I could have it for free.”
Tradie is also keeping an eye out for a second-hand BMX for her son.
She also finds her decorations in charity shops – finding tinsel and baubles for as little as 50p.
Tradie now budgets for around $376 to $501.33 for everything but always spends under that.
She said: “It’s fun.
“I love hunting for them. It adds to the gift experience.
“You’ve got to dig and dive but it’s so much more rewarding.
Tradie hopes to end the stigma around buying preloved and take the pressure off the need to buy new at Christmas.
She said: “It’s not normal to spend $188 on Christmas decorations.
“So many people are struggling.
“It makes people think they are not good enough when they see people doing massive hauls online and buying new.
“What the gift you really want to give them? A long healthy life or a few plastic toys that will end up in landfill?”
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