'I'm child-free, but my bank statement says otherwise'

"Other people's kids are starting to cost me a fortune.” 

A woman says she may be child-free, but her bank account tells a very different story. 

Her gift list each year keeps growing as her friends expand their families; building her quiet resentment with every present she’s forced to wrap.

She’s taken to a mums' forum to ask if her frustration is valid.  

“I need to vent. I don’t have children,” her post begins.  

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“That’s now eight I’m buying for, with more on the way." 

But while she remains kid-free, she does have a small army of tots who call her Aunty.

“I do have a goddaughter who’s eight, and I buy for her every birthday and Christmas. I’ve been friends with her mum for many years, but I only see them a couple of times a year,” she explains.

It got to the point where she was only seeing her friend when dropping off gifts. Now, she waits until they catch up over lunch to hand them over. 

“I have another friend who has two kids. I buy for them every Christmas and birthday too,” she shares.

But what really surprised her? Learning her two mum friends had a no-gift pact.

“I assumed they bought for each other’s kids (the three of us are good friends with each other). But they’re not. They’ve got an agreement not to,” she revealed. 

On top of that, she has two nieces, another two goddaughters, and a close cousin who’s just had a baby.

“My cousin has always been very good to my nieces and bought them gifts It’s established and expected that the cousins will buy for the children in the family,” she shared. 

“Which I don’t begrudge.”  

It’s just a lot of strain on her credit card. 

“That’s now eight children I’m buying for, with more on the way,” she stresses. 

Being the fun aunty is great, but she admits she’s reaching her limit.

“I love spoiling my nieces and if anything their mother probably wishes I’d stop, but am I being unreasonable to be starting to resent the cost of buying for the others?” she asked.  

Turns out being the fun aunt comes at a cost. Image: iStock

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"Perhaps you shouldn't have agreed to be a Godparent to so many children?” 

Commenters weighed in with a mix of empathy and advice.

“The dreaded gift giving. I would stop gifting all of them in 2026, if not sooner. Let the parents know now that financially it’s grown to be too much,” one commenter advised. 

Another criticised: “I get what you are saying, but perhaps you shouldn't have agreed to be a Godparent to so many children?” 

“The expectation of a Godparent is to love, support and guide the child. Gifts are not expected," a third person added. 

The poster says things just keep shifting as more babies enter the fold.

“As I say, when my cousin was childless she and her sister always spoiled my sister’s children. That expectation has been set and a token gift would look cheap,” she said.

“It’s just a bit of a whinge really, but it’s starting to cost a fortune.” 

If love could pay for presents, she’d be a millionaire. Sadly, it can’t.

Originally published as 'I'm child-free, but my bank statement says otherwise'