One in four have already started their Christmas shopping: survey

One in four people have already started their Christmas shopping – because they are worried about selling items.

With today (September 16) marking the 100th day of Christmas, a survey of 2,000 adults found that 50 per cent have struggled to get the presents they wanted in years past – and 30 per cent have missed out entirely.

As a result, 38 percent feel anxious until they’ve bagged the item and 36 percent are left feeling exhausted thinking about what to buy.

But of these early adopters, 36 percent have already purchased the ultimate gift for an adult.

Items shoppers are most worried about selling include decorations (36 percent), the latest tech products (32 percent), children’s advent calendars (29 percent) and must-have Christmas toys (29 percent).

The research was commissioned by cashback and rewards firm Rakuten [https://www.rakuten.co.uk/]and its buying and trends expert, Alex Stedman, said: “There are many factors encouraging FOSO – a fear of selling.

“From missing out in the past to seeing a product become increasingly popular on social media – many worry that they may not be able to get their perfect gift.”

“And it’s easy to see why, over the years we’ve seen many sought-after items like beauty advent calendars, and items like game consoles turn into gold dust and create panic.”

In addition to avoiding sales, many are starting the season early to spread the cost (52 percent).

Others want better bargains by starting their shopping as early as possible (45 percent) or simply because they love Christmas (26 percent).

Smart approaches to holiday shopping also include maximizing loyalty points earned during the year (25 percent).

And 15 per cent are using money earned from cashback websites – of these 43 per cent are saving their cashback specifically to put toward Christmas.

With another 40 percent buying items as soon as possible, so the money earned is in their account by December.

The research, which was carried out via OnePoll.com, also found that the average Yuletide budget is set to be £626 this year.

Alex Stedman from Rakuten added: “By planning ahead, we’re not only providing gifts we know our loved ones will love, but also ensuring a much more stress-free festive season – something we can all aspire to.

“Furthermore, by maximizing offers and cashback offers, we can expand our spending power, adding even more festive magic to the occasion.”

TOP TIPS FROM SHOPPING EXPERTS TO AVOID MISSING OUT CHRISTMAS

1. Subscribe: If an item is sold out, don’t panic. Many retailers offer alerts when it’s back in stock, and with 100 days until Christmas, you’ll likely have time to grab it.

2. Capitalize: Monitor for deals. Often these happen before December, so register on retailer sites and be ready to grab a bargain when they do.

3. Maximize: Use a cashback shopping platform to earn cashback on offers and sales, maximizing your holiday funds.

4. Organize: If the fear of missing out is too great, have a backup gift in mind. Often the recipient has no idea what you have planned! And they will be fine if it changes. This reduces stress and ensures you have options.