Thriftmas: A Creative Holiday Budget
Jade Wagler, a mother of four from Pennsylvania, is drawing attention this holiday season for committing to a $100 budget, which she dubbed “Thriftmas.” In a TikTok video that went viral on November 7, she posed the question, “I budgeted $100 for Christmas for my four kids. Is that insane?”
Wagler explained that her family prefers to avoid debt during the holidays, choosing instead to prioritize experiences over material gifts. “It’s almost impossible to get both because everything is so expensive. And we would rather travel. So what we are doing this year is ‘Thriftmas,'” she elaborated.
The video garnered more than 155,000 likes and over 3,000 shares. During an appearance on “Fox & Friends First,” she expressed her gratitude for the reach of her message, saying, “I’m so happy that it reached so many people this year because I know it’s content that can help a lot of people.”
To keep costs down, Wagler suggests checking out local thrift store sales and paying attention to color-coded price tags for discounts. “Oftentimes you can find them for 50% off or for $1 instead of the original listing price,” she noted.
In her video, she showcased various thrift store treasures she scored for her kids, including alphabet toys, a musical jewelry box, educational games, and even a unicorn hoodie, all for a total of $14.50. This leaves her with $85.50 intact for additional purchases.
While many viewers praised her approach to fighting overconsumption, some critiqued her frugality and suggested spreading gift purchases throughout the year instead. “I was doing well with that,” she acknowledged about the feedback, but added, “I’m also human, so the amount of negative comments I received started to affect me.” She found it tough to see unkindness, especially considering her family’s circumstances over the past year.
Wagler mentioned that her 4-year-old son has undergone two surgeries, which has impacted their financial situation. Therefore, this year, they’re aiming for a more modest but meaningful holiday season.
