Woman says she's not getting anybody a Christmas present this year because she's skint
The festive period is undoubtedly one of the most expensive times of the year.
Christmas tree, presents, roast dinner, travel costs to see family, office party, secret Santa gifts, the list of things to purchase each year is seemingly endless.
And whilst most cost-of-living sufferers are trying to find clever ways of keeping their spending low this Yuletide one social media star is shutting down Christmas altogether.
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On a newly-posted video, the TikTok favourite - who goes by the username @ellsatthedisco - joked how her friends and family should expect nothing more than a lump of coal this year.
Explaining that she's absolutely not willing to give any gifts this year, Ells revealed she's suffering the consequences of the UK's financial crisis and is - in her own words - "skint".
"No one's getting a Christmas present from me this year and here's why," she comedically told viewers. "I'm skint mate, quite frankly.
"I'm not embarrassed to admit it either."
Ells - who hails from and lives in London - confessed that she doesn't earn in line with the ongoing cost of living crisis, and is struggling to make ends meet.
So, she certainly isn't in a position to splash out on costly gifts for her loved ones.
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"There's a lot of people in the same position and a lot of people who are worse off, which is heartbreaking," Ells went on.
"I keep seeing these extravagant gift guides - cashmere jumpers and pyjamas and gold pens that you just don't need anyway.
"But people are pressured into buying all of this stuff and end up in debt or really punish themselves that they can't afford all of these nice things to give out to people."
The social media youngster added that she feels daft worrying about affording Christmas party food when she's aware that others are struggling to pay for their weekly food shop.
"I think the ironic thing about Christmas is that it's supposed to be this really happy time and for a lot of people, it's not - for a lot of reasons," she explains.
"It could be because of money struggles or having a dysfunctional family where you don't see your mum or your dad and you're not spending it together.
"And people will ask you, 'when are you going home for Christmas' or 'who are you seeing over Christmas? Hope you have a great time with the family.' That can really trigger some people."
Ells went on to emphasise the need to 'remember that not everyone will have the same Christmas as you'.
"Just take this as your reminder that you can't give what you don't have, so there's no need to punish yourself and there's no need to give into these extravagant gift guides.
"Even my boyfriend will be getting a giant lump of coal on Christmas day - no, I'm joking… I will be the present, and that should be enough!"
Ells' social media admission has since gone viral online, with hundreds of viewers heaping praise onto her for being brutally honest at such a financially turbulent time.
"I find it [Christmas] so overwhelming honestly," another user confessed.
A second added: "Christmas is all commercialised anyways you can always make some Christmas cookies or something as a cheap alternative!!!"
"This is why I love handmade gifts too!!!!!" a third went on.
Another congratulated her honesty: "Well done on speaking up."
Topics: Money, Cost of Living, Christmas, Shopping
Rhianna Benson