More than 8.5m (17%) of adults won‘t swap presents with friends or family this Christmas, instead heading for the sales to maximise their festive spending. Around 7m have agreed with friends and relatives not to buy presents before December 25th, while 1.5m have decided to delay all Christmas celebrations until after the big day in order to attain the most value for money. The Christmas shopping study, commissioned by credit card company Capital One, reveals consumers are holding out for the sales to ensure they get the best festive deal possible. According to the findings, shoppers expect to spend an average of £456 on Christmas gifts this year but plan to shave a whopping £109 off their bill by playing a waiting game for sales and discounts on the high street and online. Not everyone is waiting until the last minute – 42%of adults are traditional and will get their shopping done before the big day and a cost conscious and organised 9% of consumers admit they started Christmas shopping before June this year with around 1.5m saying the 2014 festive season started for them at Christmas 2013. Vicky Mitchell, Chief Operating Officer at Capital One, said: “Consumers are expecting generous discounts from retailers this year and are planning ahead to ensure they can take full advantage. With many sales starting in advance of Christmas day, leaving shopping until that little bit later actually makes a lot of financial sense. With many families meeting up and exchanging gifts after Christmas, the sales can be a great way to give generously without breaking the bank.”
Top tips for savvy Christmas spending: Shop around – both in-store and online. Prices for the same products can vary significantly by retailer, so don‘t forget to compare prices Budget – it can be easy to over spend at Christmas, so work out your budget and stick to it Use money saving apps – if you have a smart phone, make use of money saving apps like RedLaser and HotUKDeals, which offer instant price comparisons and a constant flow of deals, voucher codes, freebies and savings Get cashback on your spending – whether that‘s through cashback sites or spending on a cashback credit card, earning while you spend is an easy way to save Flash sales – keep an eye out for flash sales and Christmas discounts that run for a limited period, particularly from department stores and larger retailers
Web couriers – if you‘re posting heavy parcels, consider discount web courier services to save money on postage