‘I’d slightly get nails performed than lay our a fortune on Xmas – my children get charity store toys’
Liv Poole has been buying presents for her two kids from charity shops and has saved up to £300 this year, but she faces criticism from other parents for prioritising nail appointments
Mum judged after buying her kids Xmas presents from charity shops
A mum has revealed how she’s slashed her children’s present budget by hunting for bargains in charity shops. But while most penny-pinching parents would earn praise for such thrifty tactics, Liv Poole sometimes faces backlash from critics who question her priorities when she treats herself to professional manicures.
The 26-year-old, from Manchester, documents her treasure-hunting adventures across social media platforms. In recent years, the mother of two has uncovered incredible deals for her youngsters, aged two and four. Her charity shop hauls have included sought-after Peppa Pig merchandise, a retro Fisher-Price animal farm complete with all the figurines, and an assortment of Bluey collectables.
Liv reckons she’s cut costs by up to £300 this year alone, with individual toys costing as little as 80p – and there’s a compelling reason behind her frugal approach to material purchases.
She explained: “This has helped me save hundreds for Christmas, meaning I’m able to spend more on memories rather than spend it all on toys that they show no interest in after a couple of months.”
Her decision to embrace pre-loved presents stems from an annual spring clear-out ritual in March or April, when she discovered that “the majority of presents they got given for Christmas haven’t been played with more than once”.
Previously splashing out “hundreds of pounds” on items that ended up gathering dust, she realised a complete strategy overhaul was essential.
Liv recently documented a charity shop expedition where she hunted for toys, books, and other treasures, revealing that she faces criticism for purchasing “secondhand presents” for her little ones.
Trolls seem pretty peeved by the matter – especially as the mum still spends money on herself. She explained: “They believe presents should be brand new, and judge me for having my nails done when I’m showing my second-hand presents.
“People just frown upon charity shops still, even for toys when they use them for a couple of weeks”.
Fortunately, Liv refuses to be put off by judgmental parents who slate her approach. She’s even shared her top tips for bagging brilliant bargains when charity shopping for children.
She revealed: “I feel like you just can’t go wrong with a teddy because you can just put it in the washing machine and it’s literally brand new.
“Kids’ books as well – in charity shops they range [in price], but usually they’re around the 50p mark. And again, you just can’t go wrong. They’re £5 in actual shops now.
“I picked up these wellies – they literally still have the price tag inside from Marks and Spencer for £17, and I got them for £2.
“The best deals I’ve gotten are probably the Peppa Princess Castle for 80p, and the Bluey swimming pool with all figures for £3”. Her golden rule? “Go to charity shops frequently” because they “put new stuff out every day” and you “never know what you will find”.
Liv also suggests having a proper “root” around in boxes and on shelves, as “there is always stuff hidden”.
The thrifty mum pops into her local charity shop two or three times weekly to ensure she snaps up the finest bargains and doesn’t let anything slip through her fingers.
Liv revealed that whilst some are quick to criticise, many others have rallied behind her choice after she opened up about it online.
She explained: “The reaction has been a lot better than I originally expected. At first, I was nervous to post as people can be very judgmental on social media.
“People are supportive and have the same views as I do about the overconsumption each year we get pulled into, prices are rising for toys, and unfortunately, not everyone is in a position to spend hundreds of pounds on each child.
“It has made me feel very happy knowing that there are people out there watching my videos and going searching in charity shops for presents for their kids”.
