The holiday season can feel like controlled chaos, especially for families juggling multiple celebrations, dozens of relatives, and an avalanche of wrapping paper. It’s the time of year when kids practically need a suitcase just to haul home all their new toys. And for one Ohio grandmother, that’s exactly the problem, which is why she’s now making headlines for publicly announcing that she won’t be buying Christmas gifts for her grandchildren.
In a now-viral TikTok posted by @tammie_time_, the Ohio grandma explains that her grandkids are surrounded by a huge, enthusiastic family. Between nine grandparents and a long list of aunts and uncles, these kids are already drowning in toys, gadgets, plushies, and whatever else is trending this year. So instead of adding to the holiday pileup, she’s sticking to a rule she put in place a while back: no physical gifts from Grandma.
But she’s not doing it to be the Grinch. In fact, her approach might be the complete opposite. The video kicks off with her saying, “Another Christmas is right around the corner, where I will not be buying gifts for my grandchildren. You think you hate me, don’t you?” It’s a dramatic opening and extremely effective because it immediately sets the stage for what she reveals next.
Ohio Grandma Skips Out On Christmas Gifts And Invests In The Kids’ Futures Instead
She continues, “I talked to my son and I told him I’m not going to be the one to buy gifts. I’m going to invest for them instead.” While everyone else is scrambling for toys that will break by February, this Ohio grandma is quietly building long-term financial stability for her grandkids. She explains that she deposits a set amount of money into their accounts every month, and on big occasions, holidays and birthdays, she drops in a bonus contribution.
Sure, it’s not a shiny new toy under the tree, but the idea is bigger than Christmas morning excitement. She says her goal is to give her grandkids a better start in adulthood than she had. And honestly? That’s a pretty thoughtful and surprisingly modern take on gift-giving.
She closes the TikTok with, “So, you thought you hated me. Maybe not so much anymore.” Social media users immediately weighed in, and for once, the internet wasn’t fighting. Many applauded her for thinking ahead and prioritizing the kids’ futures instead of contributing to the seasonal toy overload.
TikTok Is Loving It!
“This is the best gift you could give. Please no more toys!” one person commented. “I wish someone would have done this for me,” another stated. “We begged grandparents to do this, but they insisted on buying clutter every year,” a third person wrote. “What a great idea. Kids have too much so they get overwhelmed,” a fourth comment read.
Whether you agree with her or not, one thing is clear: this Ohio grandmother is playing the long game. And when those grandkids grow up and realize they have a financial cushion waiting for them, chances are they’ll be pretty thankful she chose investments over action figures.
Kendra Quinn 
Kenna Raye 
