Overview

• Early buyers typically believe they save about £120 by purchasing gifts before mid-December, according to the Opinium survey for TopCashback.
• The most common start window is November 16–30, followed by November 1–15, indicating a late‑November kick-off for many households.
• By the 100‑day mark in mid‑September, 59% of celebrants had not started shopping, yet 78% have begun by one month before Christmas.
• One in six people say they still have not done the majority of their shopping by the week before Christmas, while 13% shop throughout the year, including 17% of women versus 9% of men.
• Shoppers most often pay from disposable income (40%), with credit cards (18%), general savings (15%) and dedicated Christmas pots (13%) also used, as experts recommend budgeting tools, savings pots and loyalty points.