Many people find Christmas shopping to be an exciting way to get into the festive spirit, while others find it to be the most stressful time of the year. According to a survey, the average Christmas shopping trip sees £658 spent on gifts, 28 stores visited, and eight presents bought for oneself. Planning ahead for Christmas shopping can help avoid the crowds, but a significant portion of shoppers leave their present-buying until the day before.
The research, commissioned by experiential spirits store The Bar At Home, surveyed 2,000 over 25s who celebrate the festive season. It found that shoppers typically go on four sprees each year, excluding online shopping. Each trip results in an average spend of £164.50 on seven gifts for others and two for themselves. While a third of men wait until December to start their Christmas shopping, 77 percent of women begin in November or earlier. Despite efforts to start earlier each year, many shoppers struggle to avoid last-minute gift buying.
The research also revealed that 42 percent of shopping trips are successful, although 27 percent find it difficult to buy for others. Nearly half of the respondents prefer to shop in physical stores rather than online, viewing it as part of the festive experience. Those who shop in stores believe that they can find better and more unique presents by physically seeing the item and potentially discovering something they weren’t initially looking for. In addition, almost half of shoppers prefer to go Christmas shopping alone, but some enjoy taking their partner along, often bribing them with promises of food or gifts.
More than a third of respondents see Christmas shopping as an experience that includes food and drink breaks, rather than just a task. Many shoppers have turned their Christmas shopping trips into day trips to other cities, such as London, Manchester, and Birmingham. Despite describing themselves as thoughtful and organized gift buyers, some shoppers admit to being indecisive when purchasing gifts. The goal for experiential stores like The Bar At Home is to provide customers with the opportunity to explore, taste, and personalize their gifts, turning every shopping trip into a festive experience.
To save money on Christmas shopping, consumer reporter Sam Walker suggests limiting the number of presents by organizing a Secret Santa among friends and family. Planning ahead by buying Christmas presents in the January sales can also save money. Shopping around for the best deals using price comparison sites and buying in Boxing Day sales can help reduce costs. Shopping at outlet stores like Amazon Warehouse or Office Offcuts can also provide discounted rates on returned or slightly damaged products. Joining groups like Sun Money Chats and Tips on Facebook can offer additional money-saving tips and advice.
