The Christmas Countdown Has Begun: One in Four Brits Have Already Started Shopping
Hello everyone. It may only be September, but now is a great time to start thinking about Christmas. Why? Because one in four people have already begun their holiday shopping! While some may think that's a tad early, there's a good reason behind it. According to a recent poll, 50 percent of adults have struggled to find in-demand presents in years gone by, with 30 percent missing out completely. This fear of missing out (FOMO) is driving many shoppers to start early to secure the gifts they want.
Early Bird Gets the… Presents?
The fear of selling out is a real concern, especially when it comes to popular items. Decorations, the latest tech gadgets, children’s advent calendars, and must-have toys are some of the items that shoppers are most worried about missing out on. But, it's not just about snagging the hottest items. A whopping 52% of early shoppers are looking to spread the cost of Christmas, making sure they don't feel the financial pinch closer to the big day.
Planning Ahead: How to Save for the Holidays
Getting prepared, and saving in advance can result in huge savings and be a great way to spread the cost too. So here’s some ideas to start saving yourself some cash ahead of the festive season.
Earning Extra
Taking on some side hustles on the run up to Christmas is a great way to boost your Christmas savings pot. There are so many brilliant side hustles, with a wide variety to suit all lifestyles. If you’d like to earn a small extra amount from the comfort of your sofa at home, then taking online surveys is a convenient way to do this. My favourite survey apps are Attapoll, Qmee and Eureka.
Doing online surveys will not make your fortune, but it is a great way to earn extra without even stepping out of your front door, and those small amounts soon add up.
A second, and very easy way to earn a little extra is to use receipt scanning apps, my favourites are Shoppix and Amazon Shopper Panel, again this will not make your fortune, but they will add a little extra to your Amazon account, or bank account to top up the savings.
Another great side hustle is mystery shopping, there are many many apps and websites that you can mystery shop on, my favourites are Roamler, Shepper, Smart Spotter, Field Agent and Product Tube. Jobs on these apps can pay anywhere from £1 to £35, or sometimes more!
If you were to pick up a £5 job every week from now, you’d have £70 of extra earnings before Christmas!
Voucher Codes Savings
Voucher codes is an app and website that not only has guaranteed discount codes, but also has ‘windfall offers’.
These windfall offers are an absolutely fantastic way to begin your Christmas shopping. A recent windfall offer I took advantage of was ‘Get a £15 Amazon voucher when you spend £20 or more at ESPA skincare’. I used this offer to get a gift from ESPA, and with the Amazon voucher, I will purchase another gift! A great way to make huge savings on gifting.
Free Prints
If you buy for a loved one that enjoys a sentimental gift, then the Freeprints and Free Photobooks apps could be a great way to get them a gift on a budget.
Using these apps you can get 45 free prints per month, and one free photo book too, just pay postage costs. If you start this month, you can claim these brilliant albums and photo prints 4 times before Christmas!
The apps often offer extra bonus freebies too such as mugs, or cards, so keep an eye on the apps for those popping up.
Asda Cash Pot
Asda has a Christmas saver cash pot option on the Asda rewards app, you can transfer a minimum of £1 from your usual cash pot to the Christmas saver one. This money can then be used to turn into vouchers to spend across George and Asda between November 8th and December 31st, perfect for the Christmas food shop!
Shop Your House
If you’re unsure what’s in your house, now is a great time to search your cupboards, lofts, sheds and anywhere else you may store Christmas items.
Lots of us are guilty of buying things in the sale in previous years, popping them away and forgetting. So now is a great time to check what you have, before being tempted to buy things you may not need in the supermarkets during the run up to Christmas.
Last year I made a list after Christmas, to remind myself that I already have items such as wrapping paper and cards ready to be used and therefore don’t need to buy too much this year. And don’t forget to check for Christmas clothing too, if you put away jumpers and pyjamas last year, remember to check if they still fit. If you do need to buy new items, consider buying them in a bigger size than needed, so it lasts them for two years instead of just one.
I hope you enjoy this weeks tips. Moneysavingamy.
The Premature Christmas Cheer
Even though we haven't celebrated Halloween yet - there are many shops out there suffering from premature decoration, and I'm sure you heard a festive tune or two whilst out shopping, It comes as no surprise that Christmas is just around the corner.
With less than 100 days left until we get to play the ultimate Christmas game of Whamageddon, and sit around to watch the finale of Gavin and Stacey and of course the King's Speech, we have got to get the decorations, food and presents.
This will no doubt, strike fear into the hearts of many of us, those on a tight budget or have fussy people to buy for. At least the shops are doing their bit by getting the Christmas stock out early and giving the buying public a choice of what to buy ahead of any possible deadlines.
So are you a slow but surely present buyer, who gets most of the presents throughout the year or a cautious shopper who will start around now or bargain buying last-minute maverick who starts on or after the last Friday before the big day, or better still Christmas Eve?
Please comment below on your current Christmas present buying situation, Have you got all or most of it done?
Also if you have any bargain tips and tricks to get your hands on the best buys out there, we would love to hear from you.
Another hot topic is 'how early is too early to be sending Christmas cards' to family and friends? Are you an 'earlier is best' approach as in, you're one of the first to send cards, or do you wait until the last minute to send yours out to make sure you get them all done at the same time?
Have your say! With less than 100 days to go have you started your Christmas shopping? Leave a comment below.
Saving Money, Spreading the Cheer, and Avoiding a Post-Holiday Hangover
SAVING for Christmas can be a huge task, with the festive season costing Brits more and more every year. In fact, research by comparison sit MoneySuperMarket found that the average cost of Christmas rose to £1,811.70 per household last year.
She added: “By planning ahead, we’re not only securing gifts we know our loved ones will want but also ensuring a much more stress-free festive season – something we can all aspire to.”
Stedman recommends subscribing to online retailers so you receive alerts when products are restocked or discounted leading up to December. The trend expert also advised having a backup gift up your sleeve just in case the product is completely sold out.
Dani Whitehead, chief marketing officer at Loqbox, said to avoid a “post-holiday financial hangover” you should sit down and budget every family visit, activity, travel costs and team nights out before writing down how many people need presents from you.
Whitehead suggested setting up a standing order to a small, regular account each payday from this month on. She added: “Many banks offer ‘round-up’ features, where the spare change from your purchases is added to savings – perfect for boosting your festive fund over time without even noticing.
“Make sure that your savings come out on or just after your payday – that way you’ve set aside money for Christmas before you’re tempted to spend it on anything else.”
She also warned against leaving it until the last minute not only for stress-related reasons but to avoid being stung at the checkout, as well as dodging long queues.
With more than three months to go, Whitehead suggests chipping away at your food shop and being careful of buy, now pay later cards.
“Try spreading the cost by picking up non-perishable items each time you shop between now and December. If you can, look into local food co-ops or markets for great deals on fresh produce and consider making food from scratch to cut costs”, she said.
The ever-growing popularity of the yet-to-be-regulated buy now, pay later (BNPL) accounts means millions more will be splitting payments into 2025 this Christmas.
But, Whitehead warned: “BNPL schemes might seem like a convenient way to spread costs, but they can lead to overspending if not managed well. If you’re using BNPL, be sure you can make the repayments on time, or you risk late fees or damaging your credit score. Set clear limits and include them in your budget.”
Meanwhile, loyalty schemes in Supermarkets can not only save you money on specially discounted items but reward you for parting ways with your money there.
Whitehead added: “Remember, every little bit helps. Look for cashback offers when shopping, and you could also even find ways of earning a little extra throughout the year.”
However, chasing Christmas discounts at supermarkets is not the preferred method of Paul Carlson, managing partner of Law Firm Velocity.
He said: “Supermarket savings schemes are great, but I prefer cash-back credit cards for flexibility. They give me rewards without being tied down to one store. Just don’t overspend just to earn rewards — that’s usually where many of us get stuck.
“I’ve seen people get burned by relying too much on Christmas-saving stamps. They think they’re saving money, but if you can’t use them when needed, it’s just a waste of funds. If you must, stock up on vouchers starting in September. By the time December rolls around, you’ll have saved enough to cover your entire grocery bill for the holidays.”
When it comes to credit cards, Rachel Springall, finance expert at Moneyfactscompare.co.uk suggested you check your credit score before you make any applications for a loan or credit card.
Springall said: “Managing debts and spreading the cost of any large purchases due to the festive spend is wise. It is vital consumers keep up with their repayments and switch deals if they are being charged interest if they can, but if they are struggling, then credit cards can permit a drop in monthly repayments down to the minimum requirement, but this should only really be done as a temporary measure.”
One lifeline is to opt for a 0% purchase credit card, which can offer shoppers, in some cases, up to two years to pay back the outstanding balance.
She added: “Some of the longest interest-free balance transfer offers carry higher transfer fees, but there are still some fee-free offers for borrowers to consider instead.
“Those borrowers who do not have an interest-free offer on their current deal must ensure they clear their balance before they incur interest. This is essential is someone is using a cashback credit card for example, as any interest charged would wipe out any gains.”
Elsewhere, Whitehead said one way of managing Christmas is by getting creative.
She said: “Not all gifts need to come from a shop. Homemade presents often carry more sentiment, and making DIY decorations can turn into a family tradition.
“Big families can quickly find themselves drowning in present buying. Of course, it’s normal to want to treat the kids, but why not do a Secret Santa with a set price limit for the rest of the family? Having one person to focus on allows you to pick something special that they’re going to love.”
As well as saving and spending wisely in the run-up to Christmas, one way of affording the festive period is by bulking up your funds with a side hustle.
She added: “Do you have clothes or other items that you no longer need that could go on selling platforms like Vinted or Facebook Marketplace? Maybe there are a few presents you received last year that you could regift? Make them work towards this year’s Christmas fund”.
Spreading the Christmas Cheer: 5 Top Tips from The Sun's Money Team
Being super organised with Christmas and having an idea of expenses helps spread the cost and takes some of the pressure off the big day.
I will be doing stockings for my two children as usual this year and have already started collecting things that can be used as fillers - I simply buy as and when I see suitable bargains.
I am also looking at buying a toy advent calendar and taking out the gifts to use as fillers which is a great way to make some savings.
Hampers are a great gift for hard-to-buy family members. And making your own is far cheaper than ready made.
I take advantage of deals and offers in the supermarkets now to stockpile items and tailor to the tastes of the chosen recipient.
I save all my supermarket points throughout the year to use around Christmas. I always check if cashback is available before buying anything – both through my bank account and through sites such as Topcashback.
I’ll be looking on Vinted for Christmas outfits and jumpers. Last year, I bought a fab sequin dress from M&S perfect to wear on the day for just £5 through the app.
The Christmas Shopping Debate: Is It Too Early?
While most of us love the Christmas season, for many it is a time of dread and worry. During the run-up to the festivities, the idea of making sure that you have bought everything that you need is daunting enough, even without the realisation that many of us have only three or four pay days until the big day.
Even though we haven't celebrated Halloween yet - there are many shops out there suffering from premature decoration, and I'm sure you heard a festive tune or two whilst out shopping, It comes as no surprise that Christmas is just around the corner.
With less than 100 days left until we get to play the ultimate Christmas game of Whamageddon, and sit around to watch the finale of Gavin and Stacey and of course the King's Speech, we have got to get the decorations, food and presents.
This will no doubt, strike fear into the hearts of many of us, those on a tight budget or have fussy people to buy for. At least the shops are doing their bit by getting the Christmas stock out early and giving the buying public a choice of what to buy ahead of any possible deadlines.
So are you a slow but surely present buyer, who gets most of the presents throughout the year or a cautious shopper who will start around now or bargain buying last-minute maverick who starts on or after the last Friday before the big day, or better still Christmas Eve?
Please comment below on your current Christmas present buying situation, Have you got all or most of it done?
Also if you have any bargain tips and tricks to get your hands on the best buys out there, we would love to hear from you.
Another hot topic is 'how early is too early to be sending Christmas cards' to family and friends? Are you an 'earlier is best' approach as in, you're one of the first to send cards, or do you wait until the last minute to send yours out to make sure you get them all done at the same time?
Have your say! With less than 100 days to go have you started your Christmas shopping? Leave a comment below.
