I’m not buying my one-year-old Christmas presents – I’m spending £2k for a holiday instead… she won’t remember anyway
A MUM has admitted she isn't buying her one-year-old Christmas presents because she won't remember them anyway.
Matilda Hannah, 24, has vowed not to fork out on her daughter Penelope just "for the sake of it" this festive period and would rather splash £2,000 on a holiday instead.
This year, the consultant is swapping wintry Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs, for sunny beaches in Goa with her partner Ben, 24, and their baby girl.
Jetting off just one week before the big day, the family are headed to meet relatives out there and will not be giving or receiving any gifts.
Matilda said: "We were thinking about what to get [Penelope] for Christmas and thought 'this is silly to buy stuff for the sake of it'.
"Ben's mum and dad go away so we thought 'why don't we go out and meet them'.
"It's about spending time together. It's a time of year about family. We have our own family now - we can be selfish.
"We always travelled between parents for lunch and dinner.
"It's really lovely but really hard when you have a young toddler getting them in the car."
The decision to change-up their Christmas day plans comes after the couple spent £1,000 on Penelope's first birthday party and presents.
Matilda added: "By the time we've bought all the Christmas presents and food shop it costs the same as what we've spent on the holiday.
"We spent £1k for the birthday party and presents.
"Christmas would have been £500 on gifts for her, and then £500 each with drinks and meals.
"That money has gone towards the holiday.
"As a parent I always want to focus on experience over material gifts."
Despite the exciting exotic Christmas day plans, Matilda said she has had to let down some family members who were "disappointed" - but Penelope is too young to understand anyway.
She said: "[Penelope] doesn't know what's going on anyway. She wouldn't have a Scooby doo.
"It will be a normal day - lounging in the sunshine.
Read more on The Sun
"I won't need to dress up - no wearing itchy sequin tops. I quite like changing it up and doing something different."
Next year Matilda is looking at potentially taking her family to Canada and paying for ski lessons for Penelope's present.
