Outraged Viewers Shame Mom-Of-6 On Benefits Who Spends Over $2,000 On Christmas Presents

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A Mom-of-six on benefits was blasted by viewers of  the UK’s “This Morning show” , after she defended her decision to spend £2,000 on Christmas presents!

Claire Young, who was signed off work in 2012 due to disability, receives about £850-a-week in benefits.  The Mom explained that she saves £50-a-week throughout the year so she can treat her six children, aged 12 and under.

The Mom appeared on This Morning to defend her spending habits, arguing that she should be allowed to decide how she wants to spend her money.

Presenters Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby also spoke to a single mother Emma Tapping, from the Isle of Man, who has bought 300 Christmas presents for her three children. This Mom first made headlines in 2015 when a photo of her gift haul went viral.

Outraged viewers took to Twitter to blast both of these Moms, claiming that they were ‘setting a bad example’ for their kids – and were losing the true meaning of Christmas.

Commenting on Emma’s spending, one woman tweeted: ‘Why doesn’t she donate some of those presents to the less fortunate! Ridiculous!’ 

Another wrote: ‘That pile of presents is just ridiculous. Something missing in her life. Of course her kids don’t appreciate it. They expect it.’

Others argued that Claire should be saving more of her money that she receives in benefits.

‘If you’re on benefits, why spend £2,000 on kids? Stupid,’ one wrote.

Claire, whose children are all under the age of 10 explained how she could not work because she suffered from both ME and fibromyalgia. Her partner gave up his career as a tradesman three years ago to become her full-time carer.

They now receive a combination of housing benefits, cash credits and Personal Independence Payment (PIP), with payments averaging £850-a-week.

Claire explained that she is able to afford her Christmas because she starts saving at the start of the year.

‘I start in January, I save all the year through,’ she said. ‘I put £50 into a pot every week. Throughout the year if I have it to dip into.’

The Mom-of-six defended the notion that her spending was excessive, saying: ‘Christmas is only once a year and that’s how I see it. Yes we’re on benefits but that shouldn’t stop the children from having gifts… [They get] 11 [gifts] each. Some of those presents could cost a £1.’

Claire explained that she ‘didn’t like’ being on benefits, adding: ‘If I could go to work right now, I would do. If just because I’m on benefits does that mean my children shouldn’t have Christmas?

She explained she doesn’t ‘drink, smoke or go out every weekend’ and instead sets aside the money for her kids.

She added: ‘I don’t tell people how to spend their money so they shouldn’t tell me how to spend my money.

Phillip and Holly also spoke to Mom-of-three Emma Tapping, who appeared on video link in front of her Christmas tree that is piled high with presents.

She became an online hit two years ago when a photo of another massive haul of Christmas presents went viral.

The working Mom defended her lavishness, saying that she started buying in January and slowly built up the gifts over the year.

‘I work hard for my money, I work all year round for my money,’ she said. ‘Why would I be slogging my guts out all year if I can’t treat my kids at Christmas?’

Emma estimated that she’s spent some £2000 on gifts for children Mia, 15, Ella, 11 and Tatun, three.

She said: ‘I don’t spoil them throughout the year. If they want something they have to do chores and buy it themselves.

‘If they break their phones for example, they don’t just get a new one from me. They get stuff they need but they don’t get spoiled. Christmas has always been a big day for me and I like to carry that on. I don’t really care what people think.

‘I work and I work hard. I have two jobs. I think to myself ‘it’s my money and they are my kids’. If I want to spoil them at Christmas, I’m going to do it and nobody is going to change my mind.’ 

However, the Mom was widely criticised by viewers, who claimed she was ‘spoiling’ her children.

One wrote: ‘That pile of presents is obscene.’ Another tweeted: ‘That’s an obscene amount of gifts. Give them to kids that don’t even get one present let alone 300!’

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