It’s finally time! 🎄

Every year, it seems that we spend more and more on Christmas gifts and, according to a YouGov survey from 2022, the average person spends around £300 on presents. So with that in mind, let’s try to get a headstart on the Christmas shopping, help to get organised and take away a bit of the stress that comes with the holiday season:

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1. Make A List

First things first, get a list together. Write down each person you are going to buy for, an individual budget and then gift ideas and websites/shops you can get those gifts from. Getting an idea of gifts and prices now is a great place to start, you can get an idea of how much you are going to spend and also if those gifts are actually fitting in with your budget. By doing this, who can start to figure out how you can spread out the cost rather than leaving it all to the last minute. 

It’s so important to get an idea of prices before the sales to know if you are actually getting a good deal or not. Make sure you look at as many different websites/retailers as you can to really search around for the best discounts and deals. The good thing with starting your preparation this early is that you don’t need to be in a big rush - you can take your time and wait for those bigger discounts to come around. 

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PRICE CHECKER WEBSITES:

You can use websites like CamelCamelCamel and Price Runner to track the prices of items that you'd like to purchase.

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2. Use Discounts and Vouchers

Speaking of discounts, there is usually a discount code out there somewhere no matter what time of year it is. If you’re a student, or part of the Blue Light scheme (emergency services workers) then be sure to check your apps before making a purchase. If neither of those apply to you, check with your employer as you may have access to a perks scheme that offers discounts at various places.

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DISCOUNT CODE WEBSITES/EXTENSIONS:

You can add extensions like Honey and Pouch to your Chrome browser which will automatically apply relevant discount codes to your basket at checkout. Also visit Voucher Codes and MyVoucherCodes for the latest discount codes to use at your favourite retailers.

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Remember, Christmas isn’t about how much you spend. You can buy whatever gifts you want to, as long as you feel comfortable and you can afford to. Try not to get pulled into the trap of leaning on lines of credit to pay off ridiculously expensive gifts just because that is what you have seen on social media. Look into supporting small businesses, think about handmade gifts or ways that you can spend quality time with the ones you love. 

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Shop wisely, do your research and get organised! You’ll thank yourself when December rolls around and you’ve got your ducks (or reindeers) in a row!