<< Most Recent Articles

Brits set for very merry Christmas

There is good news for Britons this party season, as the cost of having fun has fallen.

Research by Egg found that the costs associated with fun have remained virtually static over the past decade, while the cost of living has increased by 30 per cent.

This means that "savvy shoppers can have a very Merry Christmas without breaking the bank", according to Alison Wright from Egg.

Shoppers this year would be advised to forget the normal 'fail safe' presents such as books and instead splash out on trendier items, like iPods.

The cost of audio-visual equipment has fallen by 11 per cent over the past 12 months, while books and newspapers are over six per cent more expensive.

Chart CDs represent the biggest bargains for buyers, with prices down by nearly a quarter over the year.

However, with CD price rises of 14 per cent over the autumn, shoppers are advised to wait for those last minute reductions in the run up to the 25th.

Ms Wright said: "'Fun is cheap' is good news for Christmas shoppers. But not everything is as inexpensive as it might be.

"If you're buying presents, it makes sense to wait and see how much will be discounted. We'd urge people to be money-smart in the shops."

Click here to see how much you could borrow with Lombard Direct.

06/12/2006 09:48:11

Most Recent Articles