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Original poster

Can't afford the Tooth Fairy

149 replies

OfAllTheDaysToday · 14/09/2022 17:48

I am not looking for handouts, just want someone to tell me what a w*nk parent I am. I get paid in 12 days' time. Have had an unexpected £400 drop in income this month, and dd (5)'s tooth fell out today. I don't have £2 to put under her pillow. Heck, I don't even have 50p to put under her pillow! She is so excited, and it's her second tooth so she knows the "going rate". I have a £10 Aldi gift card to cover the next 12 days, and have not been able to pay my non-priority bills, so next month will be super expensive trying to play catch up. I'm claiming everything I'm entitled to, but don't receive maintenance for the dc's. I feel like I've royally messed up, and my new higher direct debit for energy starts on payday too. I don't feel like I'll ever catch up again. Just feel utterly rubbish.

OP posts:
ForestofD · 14/09/2022 19:26

I cut a very small but long strip of paper, then wrote a note from the tooth fairy and wrapped it around the tooth. The writing was tiny and I did lots of spelling mistakes. My DD was so delighted and couldn't stop giggling at the spelling mistakes and upside down letters. We decided the upside down letters were because her wings were making her fly in circle while she was trying to write. She said the £2 was 'tooo hevey' to carry so she brought a smaller 'golde coin' (£1) as some 'tresure' for her. She also said her tooth was 'nice and clean becoz she likes the cleanest ones the bestest'

Floydthebarber · 14/09/2022 19:26

I have before crept into dds room and took a pound from her moneybox to then put under her pillow, both when I haven't had that spare pound and once when i forgot! It's the excitement of finding something, not the amount of money.

iwasgonnasay · 14/09/2022 19:33

Kids love the drama and stories more than the money. They don't care about the coin at that age they just care about the magic of a fairy coming into their room for their tooth! I'd leave an extravagant story from the tooth fairy so they can tell all their friends about the tooth fairy losing her purse as she flew over London or something - my mum did something similar for me when I lost my "lost" tooth and thought she wouldn't come - she made a tiny writing sheet the size of a quarter of a post it and sharpened a pencil to within an inch of its life to be able to write clear tiny script to say she'd found my tooth and not to worry etc she even made the worlds smallest envelope for the letter!
To this day I remember everything about that, EXCEPT what coin she actually left me 😊

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Pittapatcat · 14/09/2022 19:35

My parent used to leave a tiny note with tiny writing from the tooth fairy hidden in a little box. It was soooo exciting to get a message. You could make it special with no money : )

PenYGore · 14/09/2022 19:50

Tooth Fairy needs to write her a letter saying that she's struggling with the cost of living, and sending lots of fairy love to a special girl. Have you got any sequins or glitter to put in the letter? That's what I'd have done if things were tight. I made the mistake of letting the Tooth Fairy write to my youngest DC. She has kept the letters and has long forgotten whether there was a coin with them.

Original poster
OfAllTheDaysToday · 14/09/2022 19:55

Can I just say how wonderful you all are; you have all made me believe the magic too. Thank you so much for all your kind words and lovely replies, they have really, really lifted me.

We have a full freezer and full cupboards; I always pay the rent then stock up with food before paying any other bills, and so we can definitely manage until payday (although the ice cream will be gone by then, haha!).

You are all truly lovely, thank you xxx

OP posts:
FidgetWonkham · 14/09/2022 19:58

I read something yesterday that I thought was a lovely idea. To make or print ‘Tooth Fairy’ money that can be exchanged for real money later. Much more special!

I was terrible at remembering to do the tooth fairy duty. Their dad used to do it mostly or sometimes the tooth fairy didn’t come the first night because it was her ‘night off’ 🤣

MNHQ
ImaniMumsnet · 14/09/2022 19:59

Hi everyone,

We've had a number of reports from people concerned about this thread so, as we usually do in these circs, we're putting our heads round the door with some important reminders.

Right now we can't see any evidence to indicate that the OP isn't above board – if we did, we'd remove the thread straight away. But the truth is that, sadly, we at MNHQ can't know with 100% certainty that any poster is genuine, no matter who they are or how long they have been here. As frustrating as it is, we're not able to vouch for anyone here.

So we always ask users to remember that not everyone on the internet is who they say they are – and remind folk not to give more to another poster, either financially (in cash or gifts) or emotionally (in time or care and support) than they'd be prepared to lose if things went wrong.
Though, we strongly advise against parting with any cash or giving away your personal details, and if you receive a PM which makes you uneasy - report it to us and we’ll take a look.

We've compiled some useful links posted by Mumsnetters into a financials webguide www.mumsnet.com/articles/financial-issues-guide OP so that people experiencing difficulties can find all the relevant information in one place. We hope it can provide some help OP.

Sorry to hijack your thread – we really hope you get it all sorted soon. Wishing you all the best..

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 14/09/2022 19:59

LadyEloise1 · 14/09/2022 17:57

Do that.
But remember to pay the money back.

Otherwise the Tooth Fairy's dad comes round and knocks all your teeth out. Shock

Han99 · 14/09/2022 19:59

OfAllTheDaysToday · 14/09/2022 17:48

I am not looking for handouts, just want someone to tell me what a w*nk parent I am. I get paid in 12 days' time. Have had an unexpected £400 drop in income this month, and dd (5)'s tooth fell out today. I don't have £2 to put under her pillow. Heck, I don't even have 50p to put under her pillow! She is so excited, and it's her second tooth so she knows the "going rate". I have a £10 Aldi gift card to cover the next 12 days, and have not been able to pay my non-priority bills, so next month will be super expensive trying to play catch up. I'm claiming everything I'm entitled to, but don't receive maintenance for the dc's. I feel like I've royally messed up, and my new higher direct debit for energy starts on payday too. I don't feel like I'll ever catch up again. Just feel utterly rubbish.

Flour mixed with glitter as magic dust, some pebbles / shells if you have any wrapped in some tissue paper and a hand written letter from the tooth fairy saying she has forgotten her purse as she is still in training and she will bring some money when she is next on your street for another little girl or boys tooth. At that age it's more about the magic of it all. X

Han99 · 14/09/2022 20:03

MomwasCasual · 14/09/2022 18:20

You're not a wank parent at all.

Wank parents have their youngest child run into their bedroom first in the morning, thoroughly crestfallen and puzzled, clutching the same tooth they had put under their pillow the night before.

😬

Ha yes, the tooth fairy got stuck in traffic once or twice at our house!!

FireSideCat · 14/09/2022 20:04

NorthFaceofthelaundrypile · 14/09/2022 17:52

I have recycled Tooth Fairy money from DC’s piggy bank more than once!
Is that a possibility?
Or maybe a lovely hand written Tooth Fairy letter… might be even more magical!

Indeed, we've all done it OP, it'll be fine!

Qwaszx · 14/09/2022 20:11

I never had spare cash.

Our tooth family was very understanding. 😁 She collected the tooth, leaving a note saying it was taken for inspection, then the next week (or when the fairy remembered) a certificate for a quality tooth, then later cleaning instructions, I seem to recall leaving the next tube of family toothpaste once. It was all fun and went on for ages. Kids were really engaged, especially the time the tooth fairy had left a note with reception at the dentist during a check up.😂

It doesn't have to be money. But it can be lots of fun. 😁

dingbat56 · 14/09/2022 20:15

Do you have any old costume jewellery ..‘jewels ‘ from costume jewellery might make a cute alternative.. and you could swap them for money wheh you next have spare

OhRiRi · 14/09/2022 20:16

Could the tooth fairy leave a note to say that she has transferred £1 to your account for her to buy some sweets next time you go shopping?

Either that or tooth fairy has covid and isn't allowed out without 2 negative tests. That should buy you 12 days

Goldfishjones · 14/09/2022 20:20

I once had to nip next door to borrow 50p for the tooth fairy because I didn't have any change. They were delighted to help! Sorry you're in this situation, please don't feel bad.

Bunnynames101 · 14/09/2022 20:21

When I was a kid my dad fell asleep before me and so the tooth was still there and no money when I woke up in the morning.

My quick thinking mother told my a little boy the next road over had fallen off his bike and knocked out so many teeth that the tooth fairy couldn't carry them all and that she'd asked my mum if she could pick my tooth up the next night.

I was told the truth once I was old enough to realise the lie.

butterfly990 · 14/09/2022 20:21

We always seemed to get the "apprentice" tooth fairy at our house. She was rubbish at either collecting the tooth or leaving the coin.

Often I would have to "help" find the coin in the morning ( it was in my hand after forgetting to put it out the night before).

TankFlyBoss · 14/09/2022 20:22

Have you got any pretend play money? Or some silver foil and you could make some really shiny special tooth fairy coins

Willbe2under2 · 14/09/2022 20:23

MrsFionaCharming · 14/09/2022 18:43

Tell her that the tooth fairy isn’t currently working out of respect for the Queen. It certainly won’t be the weirdest public service to have been halted.

😁😁😁

Thekormachameleon · 14/09/2022 20:26

Message me your PayPal and I'll send you a couple of quid for the little one

Fisifoofoo · 14/09/2022 20:29

Good luck, I hope you got sorted.

One morning many years ago I hurriedly popped a £1 coin from the kitchen side under my son’s pillow after forgetting the night before.

He woke up and told me the tooth fairy didn’t leave it, I asked why, and he said “because that’s the special one that I found and left on the kitchen side yesterday” 😱

So I said maybe the tooth fairy thought it was SO special they’d swapped it so they could leave it for him - and he bought it!

I quickly left a different £1 in the kitchen in its place 😂

30hourschildcare · 14/09/2022 20:29

This thread has made me very emotional!

When my DD was 5 I could of convinced her a 10p was worth more than it was. I'd go for that!

AlbertaAnnie · 14/09/2022 20:33

My son lost a tooth unexpectedly before bed and I had no change - the tooth fairy left him a euro that time as she hadn’t had time to go to the money exchange since collecting teeth in Holland 😜
honestly kids are adaptable and believe whatever - do you have some sweets/ a biscuit with a note that the most special children get treats not change or similar?
hope things get a bit easier for you soon ❤️

FlipFlopShopInHawaii · 14/09/2022 20:34

@Qwaszx I love all those ideas!

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