It's no secret that people spend a lot of money at Christmas – but one mum has made a big confession.
Whitney Ainscough splurges up to £10,000 on gifts, even though she's been on benefits. The mum said her daughter Cora, 11, son Addison, six, and second son Adley, two, will receive around 10 "big" presents each in addition to little ones too.
For most of the year, the 30-year-old got by on benefits of just under £1,200 a month. But she isn't worrying about saving the pennies – in fact, she's decided not to spend her time worrying about the cost of living crisis.
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Even though she was on Universal Credit until early September, she started raking in some extra money by working as a TikTok influencer. This is why she's been able to splash the cash on the festive gifts.
She's aware her decision will annoy some people, but she doesn't mind. The mum doesn't care what people think as she's "proud" to make her kids happy at Christmas.
Her children deserve to be spoiled, and she wants them to have nice things to open on the big day.
Whitney told The Sun: "I don't care what the trolls think. I’m a benefits mum, living in a council house who's spending thousands on her kids for Christmas and I’m proud.
"I am spoiling my kids because they deserve it. My daughter wants a £1,200 solid gold bracelet, my son wants a top-of-the-range VR gaming kit and the latest iPhone and iPad.
"I’ve saved my benefits. It’s been a hard year. We deserve posh presents. I told the kids they can have whatever they want."
The mum – who previously spoke out about how Cora was told off at school in her first week for wearing £100 Vivienne Westwood ballet flats instead of standard school shoes – thinks she may home "Britain’s most spoilt brood". Even though she's not currently claiming benefits, she isn't bothered that she did for most of the year.
At the time she said she was legally entitled to it, and she worked at a chemist before that for years. She claims she only packed it in due to childcare costs, so she has done her bit to work.
Whitney, who lives in a council house, said even though she spoils the kids she doesn't spend a lot on herself. She just wants to make sure the little ones are happy.
And, when it came to indulging in the solid gold bracelet, she said it wasn't a waste of money.
"She’s been asking for it all year and I know it will be an investment for her," Whitney added. "She loves fancy things and she’s a good girl who is kind and polite."
The mum has also bought her £160 Ugg Boots, designer clothes, a new laptop and perfume and makeup. So far this year Cora has already bagged a £230 Michael Kors handbag and £170 Adidas Pro trainers.
Meanwhile, Addison will receive a Meta Quest 3 VR headset for £470, as well as a £330 Nintendo Switch OLED. She also plans to take Adley to Peppa Pig World for two nights, and she is thinking of getting him an iPhone too.
Whitney, who describes herself as a "Bad Mum" on social media, boasts 220,000 TikTok followers and 59,000 Facebook fans. Her partner, painter Joel Christopher, 32, will get slightly less flashy gifts, but he admits he sometimes thinks she spends too much on the kids.
The mum said: "I am budgeting around £2,000 per child and that doesn't include their day trips. It’s going to be huge. I really don’t care what people think of me.
"It’s honestly water off a duck’s back. I love my kids and I want them to have the best. To me that means giving them presents they want. That might not be every mum’s choice – fair enough. But it is for me."
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