Christmas comes early for North shoppers

Sep 27 2009 by Coreena Ford, Sunday Sun

“The bottom line is that shops are trying to be out there first . . . if one does it, another will join them,” he said.

“It’s not to help people during the credit crunch, it’s about competitive consumerism.

“Christmas is about joy and happiness, but by spreading it out over several months it becomes a drudgery. In a sense it’s a drain on you rather than leaving you enlivened.”

For the majority of workers who are paid monthly, there are now three pay days between now and Christmas. So, combined with a little budgeting and planning, the onslaught of festive stock could perhaps be a positive thing.

Economy expert Dinah Bennett, director of the Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning at Durham University, believes it could be beneficial, so long as we show some temperance.

She said: “A lot of people are starting to shop around early this year and it does make sense.

“From early on, you can make a list of who you need to buy for and get it on a weekly budget.

“You can budget for it better, the cost is spread out more and there won’t be the huge credit card bill in January that traditionally gives everyone a heart attack . . . instead, you spread the pain and you could actually make some savings.

“But my fear is that if you are shopping so far in advance, might you not just keep on buying?

“This could be a good thing, so long as you know when to stop.

“Parents also need to exercise some restraint. I hear horror stories every year of parents who want to spend £300 to £500 on their children, which is totally unnecessary and breeding a whole generation of mass consumers.”

One person who must be severely overworked amid the credit crunch is the man himself, Father Christmas, for whom Rev Evans feels a great amount of pity.

He added: “Santa Claus must be really busy having to make all these presents so early!”