Early start to Christmas pays off

IF you haven’t started your Christmas shopping yet, you’re a minority.

While many shoppers complain about festive season decorations popping up in stores several months early, new research by Beyond Bank Australia has found that 20 per cent start their Christmas shopping during the mid-year sales and another 42 per cent start by the end of October.

Beyond Bank’s general manager of customer experience, Nick May, said shoppers were becoming more savvy.

“Most of us are watching our money very carefully and would rather spread the spending out over two or three months rather than one big blow,” he said.

“People are becoming more and more conscious of being time poor — so those that are more organised are avoiding the last-minute rush and starting shopping well in advance.”

Beyond Bank’s research also found that women take charge of Christmas shopping in 92 per cent of households.

“Women probably don’t trust men to do it right! That’s certainly been my personal experience,” Mr May said.

“In the battle of the sexes, women win hands down on this and most of us men are probably best left to cook the BBQ on Christmas Day – in my household I’m not even trusted with that.”

Aimee Iannone, 35, does all the Christmas shopping for her household.

“My husband is shocking when it comes to Christmas shopping – I even organise my own present,” she said.

“I’ve tried to give him a bit of responsibility before, saying ‘get this for your mum’, but it didn’t happen and it stressed me out.”

Mrs Iannone also starts Christmas shopping early.

“I started a month ago – I’ve found in the past when I have left it to the last minute I didn’t have a lot of money left. You tend to go a bit over in the excitement of Christmas,” she said.

“I have started putting aside $100 a week since the middle of this year so I can have that money there.”

Mozo director Kirsty Lamont said starting early could help consumers save money.

She said social deal sites could be a quality source of discounts.

“In a two-minute browse of one discount site, Mozo found up to

66 per cent off a dozen bottles of Chardonnay, which had an original price of $159,” she said.

“Take the time to review supermarket specials catalogues well ahead of the festive season, and shop for your Christmas essentials when they pop up on sale.”