If you’re the type who often laments that you “can’t believe where the year has gone” and finds yourself far too busy to even think about Christmas until you walk into the mall one day and notice the crowds, the carols and the decorations, you’re not alone. For many people, Christmas shopping is something which is continually put off until the last minute every year, even though you promise yourself that you’re going to be more organised next time.
A recent survey by My Voucher Codes asked 2,358 British adults about their Christmas-shopping habits and the results may surprise you. 44% of those surveyed said that they would consider purchasing things for next Christmas in the Boxing Day sales, and the most popular items were gifts, decoration, cards, gift wrap, toys and festive clothing.
My Voucher Codes asked these people why they thought it was a good idea to start so early, and 70% of people said it was to save money. 40% wanted to feel organised in the New Year, and 20% of these early shoppers said it was so they could save time.
If you want to learn more about the survey’s results, check out the article here. Along with some more information about the survey, you’ll find tips for saving money and spreading out the cost of Christmas throughout the year. If you’re anything like me, the idea of fighting through the Boxing Day crowds when you’re still recovering from Christmas Day isn’t at all appealing, but there are plenty of other opportunities for sales throughout the year, especially on Cyber Monday, Black Friday, and when individual stores have big sales.
Another good idea (especially if you have friends and family who are difficult to buy for) is to consider getting them vouchers. Vouchers get a lot of flack as an “unthoughtful gift” but if you take some time to consider who you’re buying for, you may actually find that vouchers can be an appropriate gift that causes huge smiles on Christmas day.
Be sure to check out online voucher websites, or daily deal sites. Another option is to find out the favourite retailer of your loved one so you can buy them a voucher and let them choose their own gift in their own time.
One of the best things you can do if you’re hoping to avoid the stress of last-minute Christmas shopping, is create a list with all of the people you need to buy. This includes friends, family members, colleagues, your babysitter, and maybe a couple of boxes of chocolates for when people “pop in” over the Christmas holidays.
Super organised people may even want to create a spreadsheet. This allows you to keep track of who you’ve bought for, how much you’ve spent, and who you still need to buy for. You can even list potential gift ideas or write a few words about their hobbies or favourite stores so you can keep them in mind while you’re out shopping throughout the year.
