In monetary terms, being a parent is not too dissimilar to assembling all your money into a neat pile, then blowing it up with dynamite.

Kids - wonderful though they are - are expensive, and they just love STUFF. Especially when it's being promoted by someone they hero-worship.

Now, as the festive financial void fast approaches, parents are feeling the pinch.

So it's not hard to see why YouTube darling Zoella has come under fire for her advent calendar.

(Image: Birmingham Mail)

The prolific and influential fashion and beauty vlogger, who has a massive fan following of pre-teens, teens (and probably even an adult or two) recently released a £50 12 Days Of Christmas calendar.

So, what treasures does it contain?

Firstly, it only has 12 doors, putting a lot of pressure on those 12 gifts to be good value for money.

12 Days Of Christmas kicks off on December 25, allowing Zoella fans to get a treat each day up until Friday 5 January, 2018.

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The Boots website gushes that it includes, "12 amazing and exclusive treats, from beautifully scented candles to stunning accessories, stationery, baking goodies and other special surprises".

The reality is, for £50 you get stationery, including a notepad, stickers, a pencil case, a pen, two miniature candles, cookie cutters, a room spray and some confetti.

Yes, behind day two there is literally just a pinch of confetti - and there's been a backlash.

Someone's even gone and done the maths.

Of course, there are die-hard fans who are nevertheless excited about the prospect of opening the calendar.

But to offer some perspective, Greggs' offers vouchers and discounts and Marks & Spencer's cult calendar is filled with goodies worth £250.

So, when compared to some of the other seasonal calendar offerings, Zoella's does seem a little lacklustre, especially when you consider the price and her infuence.

A spokesperson for Zoella Lifestyle said:

"Zoe is incredibly proud of the Christmas collection and excited to see it in store.

"However, the pricing and in store promotional strategy of the collection, including the calendar, is at the control of third parties and is not set by Zoe."