Sarah Falls wanted to be clever this Christmas. The mother of three set a budget of $97 to spend on gifts for her children.
Instead of hitting department stores, the Northern Territory mum has been browsing thrift stores for gifts for her children, aged four, two and seven months.
When she shared her bargains on TikTok, she was overwhelmed by the criticism of what she knows to be a clever and environmentally conscious piece of work.
“It’s not dirty, or less than, it’s responsible and a great way to save money,” Sarah says exclusively. Kidspot.
“People have to change their mentality. Buying second hand and reducing the number of items in the landfill makes sense to me.â€
Mom bookmarks “Sed, Bonds” and “Smiggle” items.
In previous years, Sara has spent more than $647 on gifts; this year it is $52
This is the first Christmas mum almost exclusively buys presents from charity shops such as The Salvos and Vinnies.
“Instead of adding them to the landfill and wearing them out a lot, I get them good quality used items that I can add to their toy rotation,” she says.
“Saving money in this economy is a bonus.”
In her eight-video series on TikTok, Sara shares her first shopping finds.
Among her hauls are a wooden tool kit for $2.60, Christmas books and shirts for $0.65, a Bento lunch box for $3.25, a Smiggle school bag for $5.20 and clothes from Bonds , Seed, Myer and Cotton On Kids for under $3.25.
She also scored Adidas Gazelle for $4.55 and a Nana Huchy doll for $1.30, which is usually $39.
“One misconception is that it’s only for certain people.”
The mum says she hoped her videos would inspire others to shop at charity shops and change the stigma around pre-loved toys and clothes.
But many comments accused her of gifting her children with “dirty” items.
“Having that view of saving and repurposing items that other people don’t want anymore is a little strange to me,” she says.
“Considering that everything can be washed and sanitized, it is environmentally responsible and a great way to save money.
“A big misconception is that it’s only for a certain group of people with a certain income,” adds Sarah. “Grocery stores are for everyone and it’s important to use them. The money goes to help others.”Â
“You sink into consumerism.”
The mother was also criticized as “cruel” for wearing expensive clothes while buying second-hand for her children. She responded by saying that the saving was more “thoughtful”.
“It feels special to me to spend anything on thrift items that are unique, they’re thoughtful, I’m not just walking into a retail store and pulling things off the shelves, I’m taking my time, I’m taking my time effort,” she says.
“You have to go several times a week, for months. While walking into a store you are drawn to consumerism and end up walking away with more “less meaning” gifts.
It just “makes sense” for her to buy used – especially when little ones go through clothes so quickly.
“I don’t feel guilty about my kids ‘ruining’ the outfit because I know it’s been used by two families and it’s not too expensive,” she says.
There’s a big present that Sara is buying new for her children; a wooden playground for her mother’s house, to which many family members are contributing.
“I hope people take away the fact that Christmas doesn’t have to be this big event that we spend thousands of dollars on, gifts can be meaningful without being new.
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Image Source : nypost.com