Once, Amanda Maze, a home health nurse and mother from Kentucky, found herself taking out loans to cover her family’s Christmas presents — a choice that led to a “vicious cycle” of year-round debt and payments. Today, she’s teaching her 500,000 TikTok followers that the holidays can be priceless, or at least more affordable. By sharing her own experiences of thrifting holiday decorations and budgeting gifts for her five children with her fiancé, Maze offers an alternative to the expensive traditions of the season.
“My goal is simply to help people realize that things in life are temporary,” Maze explained. “You don’t have to live a materialistic lifestyle.” She is among a growing group of TikTok creators who are focusing on budgeting tips for the holidays, hoping to ease the financial strain many face during this time of year.
For many, holidays like Christmas and Hanukkah are synonymous with lavish meals, intricate decorations, and extravagant gifts. While Americans are expected to spend over $17 billion more on gifts than last year, more than half of those surveyed in NerdWallet’s annual holiday spending report said they find holiday shopping stressful. The study also revealed that about 1 in 10 people may prioritize buying gifts over paying bills.
“People feel pressure to spend on gifts, sometimes at the expense of their other financial obligations,” said Sara Rathner, a personal finance expert at NerdWallet. Meanwhile, creator Kluemper is working to “de-influence” audiences against overspending on holiday traditions like home decorating.
“On social media, it’s often normalized to have a new Christmas aesthetic every year,” said Kluemper, who is the sole provider for her household. “But for most people, that’s just not realistic.” Sarah Falls, a mother from Darwin, Australia, also uses TikTok to share her struggles as a parent, including buying gifts on a budget. This holiday season, she documented how she is thrifting gifts for her three children with just a $150 budget, posting several hauls that have sparked both praise and criticism from her 25,000 followers. Some critics have expressed concern for Falls’ children, but she reassures them, saying, “My kids do not go without.”
“If you’re low on money or want to go the sustainable route, you have other options,” Falls said. “You don’t need to spend thousands for your kids to have a good Christmas.”
From a financial standpoint, Rathner stresses that it’s never too early to plan a holiday budget and start buying gifts. Without a plan, she says, overspending is almost inevitable.
“Before making your gift list and setting your budget, consider adjusting expectations with those you’ll be celebrating with,” Rathner advised, noting that many people struggle financially during the holidays but may not openly express it.
Kluemper agrees, emphasizing that thoughtful gifts are often the most appreciated. “It can suck the joy out of the season if you’re stressed about keeping up with others,” she said. “I hope people see how we handle it and realize that there will always be people with more, with newer things, but you can still be grateful for the season you’re in.”
0 Comments