It’s Lauren’s daughter Poppy’s second Christmas this year (Picture: Jam Press)

A savvy mum has revealed how she saves hundreds of pounds at Christmas by shopping in charity shops – branding expensive spending as ‘silly’.

Lauren, 24, a waitress, recently revealed how she cuts back by only shopping secondhand for her one-year-old daughter, Polly, spending just £40 on the little one’s festive gifts this year.

As bills continue to soar, the mum-of-one and her fiancé Sam, 26, knew they needed to find innovative ways to chop down on costs.

‘What is the point of bankrupting yourself over and over again?’ Lauren said.

‘I buy secondhand at Christmas for my daughter as it’s a fraction of the price; she gets more and it is better for the environment.’

At Polly’s young age, she’s not even aware her presents are pre-loved, with Lauren saying ‘all she sees under the tree are the wrapped-up gifts.’

She continued: ‘She doesn’t know nor care whether they are brand new! She will play with them just the same.

‘Children get bored of a new toy in five minutes and grow out of clothes so quickly – not to mention they get ruined.

‘Purchasing from charity shops and other parents helps them too, your money is going to really make a difference not just fall into the endless pot of big companies.’

As well as charity shops Lauren recommends buying from other parents online, who offer bundles like this one she snapped up for just £10 (Picture: Jam Press)

Lauren, from the UK, is now hoping to encourage other parents to stop buying new items.

She said: ‘I think it’s silly when people spend ridiculous amounts.

‘Toys and clothes are so expensive brand new, upwards of £20 for one toy that they will play with for a day and then forget about.

‘I understand wanting to spoil your children with lovely presents and gifts, and I want to do that as well. And I do, but at a fraction of the cost.’

‘To a child, all that matters is that they have something to open on Christmas Day.’

Lauren and her fiance Sam have kept to a strict budget this festive season (Picture: Jam Press)

As well as shopping in charity shops, Lauren also buys her gifts from Facebook Marketplace and Vinted, with some of the items still having labels on them.

She advises: ‘Facebook Marketplace is brilliant and often do clothing/toy bundles.

‘Vinted is also fabulous and often has brand new clothes and toys at less than half the price they would usually be. You also support other parents/charities.’

Particularly given how the cost of living crisis has hit families across the country, Lauren also feels people should not be embarrassed about shopping secondhand.

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She added: ‘There is absolutely no shame in shopping secondhand for your children at Christmas and birthdays.

‘Your children will be grateful for the gifts regardless! Please don’t cripple yourself trying to afford hundreds of presents at ridiculous prices.’

Thanks to her pre-owned finds, Lauren says she’s no longer ‘worried about the cost of Christmas’.

‘Buying second hand has helped massively,’ she said.

‘I am not worried about the cost of Christmas now, and I know my daughter is going to have a wonderful day with lots of lovely presents to open – without breaking the bank!’

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Lauren thinks spending loads on presents is ‘silly’.