Prompt's TechBlog

Having read last week that the average amount people are expected to spend on Christmas shopping this year is £392, I was not only shocked, but also disappointed that a self confessed shopaholic like myself could fall into the 'cheapskate' category.

I think it is ridiculous that we get sucked into this consumer frenzy each year, spending so much on unwanted gifts, even going so far as to get ourselves into debt...all because it's Christmas! So this weekend I went home and added up exactly how much I had spent on presents this year, and came to a grand total of £300. I didn't think I had spent nearly that amount, but clearly it all adds up.

The research I mentioned was conducted by KPMG. It also discovered that 21 per cent of female respondents had yet to start their Christmas shopping; well I'm ahead of the game there. Sadly, if you haven't finished (or started!) your Christmas shopping yet, you're probably going to spend more than the average. Perhaps you could just not start at all, or save your shopping for the sales and get double the amount for the same price?

Other responses also revealed that men expect to spend £424 on presents compared to the meagre £361 that women expect to spend. So not only have I spent less than the average, I have also spent less than most of my gender. I can only conclude that I am a cheapskate, or failing that an economical shopper who thinks Christmas is a rip off.