Starting Christmas shopping early can help you spread the cost

Do you prefer to get your Christmas shopping early or wait until the last minute? Well, starting early could be good for your wallet.

According to research by Savvy, nearly two-thirds of UK shoppers (64%) plan to start buying Christmas presents sooner rather than later so they can spread out the cost.

And many are hoping that Black Friday will bring some good savings.

In fact, more than half (51%) say they expect to do more of their Christmas shopping on Black Friday than they did last year.

Why starting early can be a good idea

We all know exactly when Christmas Day lands, so it’s not exactly a surprise expense.

That means there’s no real reason to rely on a single month’s pay packet to cover all your Christmas presents, especially when money’s already tight.

It’s the same with groceries.

When it comes to non-perishable Christmas food and drinks, such as chocolate, crisps and alcoholic beverages, it can make sense to start early.

And it also gives you more time to spot deals and take advantage of big discount days like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which are just around the corner.

Energy prices affecting Christmas shopping patterns

Alastair Lockhart, insight director at Savvy, believes these changes are partly a consequence of higher gas and electricity bills.

“Rising energy prices are biting into shoppers’ disposable incomes,” he commented.

“Consumers are determined to make the most of the festive season, but they’re becoming increasingly strategic about how and when they spend.”

But for many, steps such as hunting out good deals and carefully timing purchases will only go so far, as more than half (55%) say they’ll cut back on gifts this year.

Meanwhile, two-fifths plan to buy presents in the final weeks before Christmas as they’re hoping for festive sales and discounts.

Enjoy Christmas without worrying about money

Starting your Christmas shopping can be a really effective way to manage the cost of the festive season.

But it’s not the only one.

We’ve put together some ideas on how you can get your finances ready for Christmas, as well as tips on how to save money on food this Christmas.

With a bit of careful planning, you can actually enjoy the festive season, and make sure you don’t start 2027 with a big financial hangover.