I’m not buying my little girl, one, any Christmas presents this year – and instead I’m using the money for a family holiday to India

• Matilda Hannah, 24, from Stoke-on-Trent, is not buying her daughter, one, gifts
• READ MORE: Why I refuse to buy my husband and children ANY gifts this Christmas (…and doting grannies and aunties can’t either!)

A mother has revealed how she will not be buying her little girl any Christmas presents this year – and will instead be spending the money on a holiday.

Matilda Hannah, 24, from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, doesn’t want to get her one-year-old Penelope something ‘for the sake of it’. She and partner Ben, 24, are also not buying each other presents.

Consultant Matilda said they will instead use the £2,000 they have saved to go to Goa, India, for Christmas – along with Penelope.

Matilda said her daughter is still using her birthday presents, so buying something new ‘seems daft’.

It comes after Dinah Van Tulleken and her husband revealed why they had also decided to not buy Christmas presents this year for their two children, aged six and three.

Matilda Hannah (pictured with her family), 24, from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, doesn’t want to get her one-year-old Penelope something ‘for the sake of it’. She and partner Ben, 24, are also not buying each other presents 

It comes after Dinah Van Tulleken and her husband (pictured alongside their children) revealed why they had also decided to not buy Christmas presents this year for their two children, aged six and three 

She said: ‘We were thinking about what to get her for Christmas and thought “This is silly to buy stuff for the sake of it”.

READ MORE: Why I refuse to buy ANY gifts this Christmas (…and doting grannies and aunties can’t either!) 

‘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.’

Prior to having Penelope, Ben, who works away, and Matilda, have always spent Christmas Day driving around to their families.

Last year, Penelope was only two months old, so they found it easy to do the same thing with a young baby.

But now Penelope is one years old, the pair have decided to do things differently.

Matilda said: ‘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 family spent close to £1,000 on Penelope’s first birthday party and presents and realised it would cost them around £2,000 for Christmas gifts for themselves and her.

Instead, the couple are joining Ben’s parents and flying out to Goa on December 18.

Matilda is looking forward to some proper family time as Ben works away 80 per cent of the time.

She said: ‘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. As a parent I always want to focus on experience over material gifts.’

Matilda had to let her family down when they decided to go abroad – and cancelled pre-made plans.

She said: ‘In a big family you can never please everyone. We had to cancel plans and back out gracefully. They were disappointed at first but they’re supportive. I promised I wouldn’t do it every year.’ 

Matilda said Penelope (pictured by a Christmas tree) is too young to remember or understand Christmas. ‘She wouldn’t have a Scooby doo,’ she said

Instead of gifts, Matilda (pictured), Ben and Penelope are joining Ben’s parents and flying out to Goa on December 18

Matilda said Penelope is too young to remember or understand Christmas.

‘She wouldn’t have a Scooby doo,’ she said. ‘It will be a normal day – lounging in the sunshine. 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.

She said: ‘My mum took me on a flight to Ibiza when I was six weeks old – I don’t remember but I always tell everyone. It’s overwhelming for them with all the presents. We know what’s right for our family.’

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