Nearly 'a third of Brits' start Christmas shopping early

Is it that time of the year already? Some consumers seem to think so, as nearly a third (32%) of British adults have already started their festive shopping, according to a survey.

The 100-day countdown to Christmas has begun, with 41% of the 2,000 people surveyed by American Express saying they’ve started preparing for Christmas earlier than previous years.

The annual study found a bid for savings is the main reason Brits are shopping in advance.

Four in 10 are stuffing their stockings with sales items to cut costs, while almost a third (31%) of people are making use of deals and offers.

As COVID-19 has had an impact on people’s finances throughout the year, the pandemic has also meant festive budgets are under the microscope.

While the majority (60%) plan to spend the same amount on Christmas compared with previous years, over a quarter (28%) will spend less. And 12% said they will splash out more this year.

People preparing for Christmas have spent an average of £69 ($88.80) each, with gifts topping the list of purchases (69%), followed by cards (33%) and wrapping paper (24%).

About 19% of those surveyed also said they had invested in jumpers and decorations.

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AmEx offers these top tips for saving on shopping ahead of the festive season:

Deals and offers – Stay up to date with the latest deals and offers by signing up to retailer newsletters and following your favourite brands on social media.

Get personal – Add a personal touch to your Christmas gifting this year by creating goody bags of your loved ones’ favourite items.

Earn points and rewards – Earn points on festive goods when spending by putting purchases on a card that earns points, rewards or cashback.

DIY decorations – Search online for creative ideas to make homemade decorations, whether it’s spraying some branches you’ve collected with gold glitter or getting the kids involved to make baubles for the tree, you can make your decorations unique and fun this year if you want a creative project.

Check rewards and points – Make sure to check how many rewards you have earned throughout the year on credit and charge cards, and consider putting these towards your Christmas shop to cut your costs.

Get friendly with your local retailers – Local retailers and shopkeepers offer a wealth of knowledge about popular presents and can help with finding that perfect gift. Check out your local high street for independent retailers and bespoke products.