With just four paydays to go, here’s how to get ahead with Christmas shopping
THE kids are only just going back to school but shoppers are already turning their attention to Christmas.
John Lewis reported that searches for festive gifts on its website have doubled from this time last year.
Looks for wrapping paper are up by 466 per cent, stockings 250 per cent and crackers 400 per cent.
The department store believes the soaring figures are partly due to families needing to spread the cost.
With four paydays until Christmas, here’s Harriet Cooke’s guide to get ahead.
SEPTEMBER
TOMORROW: Stock up on discounted Christmas chocs.
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Morrisons shoppers with a More Card can get hold of two festive chocolate tubs, including Quality Street (600g), Heroes (550g) and Roses (550g), for £7, usually £5 each.
But hurry, as the deal ends on Tuesday.
Tesco Clubcard-holders can get 220g boxes of Quality Street for £3, down from £3.50, this month.
These also make great end-of-term pressies for teachers, meaning you can spread the cost of December.
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WEDNESDAY 6: Kids into Lego? Join the My John Lewis loyalty scheme to get 20 per cent off all Lego Star Wars, Harry Potter, Marvel, Avatar, Friends, City and Ninjago ranges until September 10.
FRIDAY 8: It is never too early to start picking up stocking fillers, secret Santa goodies and teacher gifts.
TK Maxx has already opened its Christmas shop online with gifts under £10.
There is almost 60 per cent off the Di Palamo Tuscan Dreams bath and body collection, which is down to £6.99.
SATURDAY 16: The 100-day countdown to Christmas begins now, so it is a good idea to plan any big presents.
For example, if you want to get your child a new iPad or phone, check what it has previously sold for on idealo.co.uk, clicking “price history”.
Work out its lowest ever cost and set up an alert so you can monitor when the price falls again.
MONDAY 25: Book ahead for train travel in the winter holidays, as festive fares typically go on sale three months beforehand.
Advance tickets can be half the cost of paying on the day of travel.
SATURDAY 30: Get in the habit of picking up stocking-filler gifts and Christmas books from charity shops.
If you are planning to do Elf on the Shelf, a tradition where a cheeky elf moves into your house and causes mischief, why not shake things up and have him bring festive books to your home instead?
OCTOBER
SUNDAY 1: Plan your Christmas food delivery.
Ocado is usually the first supermarket to release its slots around this time.
Priority is typically given to loyalty scheme members or people signed up to delivery plans, so if you have been meaning to take out a delivery pass with your regular supermarket, now is a good time to sign up.
TUESDAY 3: Keep an eye out for toy sales at supermarkets and shops to grab some early bargain gifts for the children.
Last year Tesco started its one on Oct 3, Morrisons on Oct 10 and Sainsbury’s on Oct 12.
TUESDAY 10: Amazon is set to hold one of its Prime Big Deal Days around this time, for Prime members only.
These events are great for discounts on beauty items and gadgets, and especially Amazon devices such as Echo Dots, Fire TV Sticks and Echo Buds.
SUNDAY 15: Never buy popular gifts at full price and especially not from Boots.
The store usually has an array of offers in the build-up to Christmas.
Around mid-October last year it held sales of up to 30 per cent off premium cosmetic brands such as Lancome and MAC.
Before that there was also a half-price “star gift” offer on Elizabeth Arden’s Eight Hour skin care set, reduced to £25.
WEDNESDAY 25: With two months to go, add 3-for-2 deals on festive goodies such as biscuits, nuts and crisps to your weekly groceries list to spread the cost of the big Christmas food shop.
MONDAY 30: Kids typically get their school photos taken at this time of year.
For a nice Christmas gift for the grandparents, pop in a frame and wrap it up for the big day.
Most photographers offer early-bird discounts of between ten and 25 per cent, so sort out which prints you need and return the form early.
NOVEMBER
WEDNESDAY 1: Pop to the shops to nab any unsold Halloween Haribo or Swizzels sweets at a discount to use as stocking fillers.
Mince pies bought now should still be fresh at Christmas, look for bargains that are under £1 a pack.
SATURDAY 4: Black Friday isn’t officially until the end of the month but retailers can kick off their sales as early as three weeks beforehand.
John Lewis deals began on this date last year, starting with up to 20 per cent off fragrances and hundreds of gadgets on offer.
FRIDAY 10: Mid-November is a good time for stocking up on booze, with supermarkets typically offering 1-litre bottles of Baileys for £10.
Sainsbury’s offered the deal from November 16 last year, down from £22, while Tesco did the same at the start of December.
Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Asda usually offer 25 per cent off six or more bottles of wine, sparkling wine or prosecco around now.
WEDNESDAY 15: DON’T leave it until the last minute to grab an advent calendar as the popular ones quickly sell out.
Last year the 90g Dairy Milk advent calendar was cheapest at Asda, Sainsbury’s and Tesco. Use trolley.co.uk to compare costs.
THURSDAY 23: Look out for Ikea’s real Christmas tree deal.
Previously it offered a £10 voucher to those who bought a £25 tree, which could be redeemed in January or February. Always a popular deal.
FRIDAY 24: It is Black Friday – the year’s biggest shopping day, with deals of up to 80 per cent off.
Last November an Amazon Echo Dot kids’ edition was £36.99 on Black Friday, but for much of December cost £62.99 – so it certainly pays to be organised.
Then look out for further deals on Monday 27, which is Cyber Monday.
DECEMBER
SATURDAY 2: Starting from the first Saturday of December and lasting two weeks, American Express cardholders can normally get £5 cashback for spending £15 or more at certain local businesses.
This includes clothes shops and hairdressers, after registering their Amex card with the Shop Small website.
THURSDAY 7: Look out for Boots offering its sought-after No7 Star gift set for half price.
The ten-piece skincare set is normally around £85, and worth around £138 if bought separately, but can sell for £41 around this time.
FRIDAY 8: Each year the festive food price wars start earlier.
At this time Aldi, Lidl and Sainsbury’s were offering sprouts, carrots, parsnips and potatoes for just 19p each last year.
TUESDAY 19: Get your Christmas cards in the post by today to take advantage of cheaper second-class stamps.
SUNDAY 24: Stores like M&S, Matalan, Next and Boots typically kick off their Boxing Day discounts online at this time, with store sales happening from December 26.
But there will still be bargains in the shops, especially on supermarket grub.
For free kids’ entertainment log on to noradsanta.org to watch Santa’s progress on Christmas Eve.
TUESDAY 26: Amazon usually launches its 24-hour Deals of the Day and one-off offers every five minutes on Boxing Day.
This is typically on gadgets such as Philips lightbulbs, Oral-B electric toothbrushes and Fitbits.
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Expect Argos to start its 50 per cent off sale on jewellery, homeware and gadgets now, too.
Don’t forget to grab discounted cards and wrapping paper for Christmas 2024.