Wrap it up soon for peace of mind later

As much as most people will despise me mentioning the C word in the second week of October, but shopping in recent weeks shows how close the big day actually is.

Christmas may still be more than two months away, but when you visit the shopping centres and supermarkets in the Black Country it shows that it is literally creeping closer and closer and the festive season will be here before we know it.

Boots are already offering their three for two gift selection; Clintons and Card Factory are pushing the Christmas cards and gift wrap in your face, not to mention the Advent Calendars and Quality Street selection boxes adorning the supermarket aisle.

Selfridges in London even opened their Christmas shop 145 days before Christmas!

I love Christmas and everything that comes with it.

I have been on the Christmas countdown since I returned from my summer holiday in August and it is most literally the wonderful time of year, in my eyes.

I have been driving my other half crazy with a constant countdown and eagerness to shop all things Christmas.

(I still haven’t persuaded him it’s already the perfect time to watch Elf – but I’m working on it.)

I can also see where everyone’s frustrations comes from – we are still weeks away from Halloween and Bonfire Night, and the clocks haven’t even gone back yet, allowing for those long, dark winter nights. But I do think they are being a bit of a Ebenezer Scrooge.

The way I see it, for the majority of people – there’s only two to three pay days left to get those long lists of gifts for friends and family.

And no one likes that mad last minute dash in the days leading up to Christmas Day when the shelves are empty and all you can find for your dad is a Chocolate Santa and a pair of socks.

I read recently that some 8.6 million Brits had started their festive shopping by September, according to a survey by American Express – and why the hell not!

I am sure everyone has fallen into that trap where they convince themselves they will shop early and get all the best gifts but end up leaving it to the last minute – I know I have in the past.

I can hang on till October, November, December, oh wait it’s the week before Christmas and I’m still at work all week. Oops.

This year I made a promise to myself that I would start shopping early and I have – I’m desperately saving to buy my very first home, so didn’t want to be delving into my savings when money was short because I had left it all to the last minute. I shopped the end of summer sales and picked up some bargain gifts. Spotted the perfect present for my aunt? Bought it. Put it in the cupboard. Ticked off the list.

I’ve made a good early start and I’m already breathing a sigh of relief. Early Christmas shopping does have its merits.

Oh, and it is 78 days to Christmas if you were wondering – and that means only 77 shopping days!