Despite our best intentions, many of us will not be as organised as we’d like this Christmas. More than a third of us are expected to leave our shopping until the last minute, according to research by M&S Bank, which asked 2,000 Britons about their festive purchasing.
Being disorganised is not the only reason why we leave our shopping so late. Many retailers slash prices in the week before Christmas, in order to entice customers to spend more. But is there any value in leaving your shopping late? And what are your rights if an item isn’t delivered on time or the recipient is dissatisfied with the present? We explain how you can get the most from last-minute Christmas shopping.
How late can I leave it?
Christmas Day falls on a Saturday this year, and many shops will likely be doing brisk trade on Christmas Eve. So technically there is nothing to stop you leaving your shopping until the day before – although you could find this a stressful experience as shops are likely to be busy and you may have lots to buy. Of course, leaving it so late may not be so easy if you are staying with friends or family and have already arrived for the festivities.
Be aware that the last posting date for Royal Mail and other couriers is 23 December if you want to guarantee a gift will arrive by Christmas Eve. Deliveries do not take place on Christmas Day, so you will have to choose a next-day delivery option if posting on 23rd. Royal Mail and all the major couriers offer this service, but they are encouraging people to post items as early as possible to avoid any chance of gifts not arriving on time.
On its website, Royal Mail advises: “Please post items and gifts for Christmas early. Ongoing Covid restrictions, reduced air and freight capacity, high volumes and winter weather conditions are all impacting transportation and local delivery.”
Am I likely to save money by leaving it last-minute?
Leaving your shopping to the last minute can put you at risk of unnecessary impulse buys. But with many shops starting the traditional post-Christmas sales before the big day, there’s also the potential to save money. Using data from its own website, online retailer Prezzybox says those who shop last minute spend 6 per cent less on average than those who shop in November, as many brands and suppliers cut prices close to Christmas.
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If you have time to visit stores on Christmas Eve, you may pick up some bargains. Major retailers including John Lewis, the Body Shop, Boots, Next and Argos have all started their sales on 24 December in the past few years – offering up to 50 per cent off selected items. You’ll also find that supermarkets will be keen to shift stock – particularly stocking fillers, treats and Christmas cards.
James Andrews, senior personal finance editor at money.co.uk, adds: “The good news is that while Black Friday is the highest-profile of the winter sales, it’s not the only one – several retailers run major discounts to shift their unsold stock right before Christmas. So it’s still possible to get a good deal in the days leading up to 25 December.”
Last orders: Post dates
Final Christmas posting dates; Royal Mail: 2nd class: Saturday 18 December 1st class: Tuesday 21 December Special delivery guaranteed: Thursday 23 December DPD: 23 December DHL: 23 December Parcel Force: 23 December Amazon: 23 December Hermes: 22 December
What if the gift is not right?
If you’ve received a present that isn’t quite what you were after, you’ll probably need a receipt to return it. Check if a gift receipt has been included with the present. A gift receipt shows proof of purchase but without displaying the price.
Many retailers offer extended returns policies over Christmas, meaning you have until late January to return an item – even if it was bought in October or November. Normally, retailers limit returns to within 28 days. Physical retailers are not legally obliged to accept returns unless the item is faulty, but many will accept returns as a gesture of goodwill. Items bought online can be returned for any reason within 28 days.
If you want to exchange an item for something else from the same retailer – perhaps because it is the wrong size – then this should be easy enough to do with a gift receipt. But if you want the money back to buy something elsewhere, be aware that a cash refund will only go to the original credit or debit card that was used to buy the gift. So you’ll need the person who gave the gift to be with you, or aware that you are requesting a refund.
If the gift was bought with cash, you are unlikely to receive cash back unless you have a full receipt. Instead, you are likely to receive a credit note or vouchers to spend in-store.
‘People really appreciate it’
Imogen Tinkler, lives in Whitstable, Kent, with her husband Duncan and two daughters
Imogen Tinkler makes food gifts for friends and loved ones, to reduce the stress of shopping and the chances of unwanted items going to waste
Imogen makes food gifts for friends and loved ones, to reduce the stress of shopping and the chances of unwanted items going to waste.
Imogen makes Christmas hampers filled with marmalade, wild garlic oil, a cocktail mixer (wild gorse flower this year), sloe gin, red cabbage pickle and a trio of chutneys. These are made from what she finds foraging in her local surroundings.
“For children we make a marshmallow kit for them to use with their parents, along with flowers and chocolate. They love unwrapping it and having it with their parents. It feels really different,” Imogen says.
“We did this originally as we were low on money but now we do it because people really appreciate it. For me, the best part about Christmas is choosing and decorating the tree, making wreaths, and enjoying homemade food and comforts.
“Once my brother-in-law handed out presents on Christmas Day from the local petrol station. None of us were quite sure what to say.”
Imogen gives tips on how to make food using local ingredients at her website Bangers and Balls.
How can I protect myself against scams?
The impulsivity and frantic rush of Christmas shopping can make shoppers more likely to fall for a scam. Perhaps you have paid for an item that never arrives or is a fake.
Another common scam is for you to receive a text or email purporting to be from Royal Mail or another courier saying there has been a problem with a delivery. Scammers will then ask for card details and other personal information to rearrange the “delivery”. To avoid losing money to fraud, pay attention to the email address and contact information of so-called companies asking for financial and personal information.
“Don’t click links in SMS messages, especially if they say you have limited time to respond, as this is a common tactic scammers use to pressure you. Check the URL of the link to make sure it matches the company website address. Do not call the number provided and under no circumstances hand over personal information such as your card details,” says Tom Gaffney, a security consultant at cyber security firm F-Secure.
Be wary of paying for an item – new or secondhand – through a bank transfer. If you’re buying directly from someone, perhaps on Facebook marketplace, use services such as PayPal to do the transactions. Use PayPal’s “paying for goods or service” feature, as using the “paying friends and family option” means PayPal will not reimburse payments if the item never arrives or you are not happy with it.
‘I keep presents in a wicker basket hidden at home’
Stacey Pritchard, a mother from Liverpool
Stacey aims to save money each year by shopping in the post-Christmas or January sales. She will either give these gifts to family as a “delayed Christmas present”, or save them until the following Christmas.
“I keep all the presents in a wicker basket. I call it the present box, although these days it gets a bit full by the time Christmas rolls around and I have to start hiding some presents around the house.
“On occasion this has resulted in a few lost presents. But they turn up eventually and I use them for birthdays instead.
“My son is a tech junky at 10 years old, so his presents tend to be quite expensive. This is one of the main reasons I shop early for everyone else, to allow me to budget throughout the year.”
Stacey adds that her local Asda often does sales around Christmas time, and she always keeps an eye out for bargains – particularly when books are on sale. One year she bought around 25 books for less than £6, which included a David Williams children’s book set for £1.50.
“Home Bargains and Boots can also be great places to do last-minute shopping. This year I’ve picked up a Soap and Glory set from Home Bargains that was reduced from £50 to £5, and I’ve bought a Marc Jacobs perfume set from Boots for £10.”
What’s the best way to pay for a gift?
Paying with a credit or debit card offers more ways of getting your money back if the item is faulty or not what you expected.
Credit cards come with the added protection of “section 75”. This means purchases valued at between £100 and £30,000 are protected if there’s a problem and you want your money back. You don’t have to pay the full amount on credit card – even paying a small deposit will cover you for the whole transaction.
Credit cards mean you will always have protection even if the company goes bust or turns out to be fraudulent. Mr Andrews from money.co.uk adds: “When it comes to what you use to buy presents, purchases made on credit cards give you extra protection. If there’s a breakdown in the supply chain and you’re not able to get a refund, you can claim the full cost of your items back from your credit card company under Section 75, as long the purchase value is between £100 and £30,000.
“Just make sure you pay off the cost inside the interest-free period if possible, to avoid having interest added on top of the cost of the presents themselves.”
Debit cards have a chargeback scheme where you can get a refund if something goes wrong with your purchase – perhaps because it’s faulty or doesn’t arrive. The card provider will go directly to the retailer’s bank, and withdraw the money back into your bank account.
The chargeback scheme is voluntary, although most banks will follow through with a claim. Credit cards can also use chargeback, which can be useful if the item you bought isn’t covered by section 75 – for example, if it cost less than £100.
‘I shop late, but I put lots of thought into gifts’
Janet Oganah, a website owner who lives in London
Janet was a family law barrister for seven years and used to leave her Christmas shopping to the last minute every year. She now runs Janet’s List, a website that helps people discover and buy products from brands owned by women of colour in the UK.
Janet says she still often leaves her shopping to the last-minute every year, partly because she has friends and family abroad and often travels to see them after Christmas. Her brother lives in the UK, and the rest of Janet’s family are in South Africa and Kenya – where Janet was born and raised.
“Despite being a last-minute shopper, I put lots of thought into buying gifts and I hope my loved ones would agree. My sister loves fashion as much as I do so I know that is a safe bet – although her style is edgier than mine.
“We have a thing called ‘yes or never’ where I send her a picture of something that is a bit out there and it’s either a hell yes or a NEVER. I try to remember her ‘yeses’ and pick something for her based on that. I once got her a new Diane Von Furstenberg dress for less than £50 at the regular fashion sale run by the charity Smart Works.
“Handbags or shoes never go amiss for my mum, and my dad loves reading. I once got him a calligraphy set which he enjoyed – he has lovely handwriting.
“Of course I start by picking gifts from the brands in my shop, where we have some amazing products that have been created by women of colour. As the founder of a female black-owned brand, it is important for me to support others in a similar position.”
