Superdrug
Written: Monday, November 23, 2009COST OF CHRISTMAS
The average family of four will spend a whopping #1,695 on Christmas this year, a study revealed yesterday (Fri).
Presents alone will cost a total of #606 while a staggering #321 will be spent on food and drinks.
People will shell out #125 on decorations for the home, Christmas tree, garden and dinner tables and a further #22 on cards, wrapping paper and postage.
Christmas parties will also cost a small fortune - around #137 - including #130 on new party outfits, #32 on party accessories such as handbags and jewellery, #15 on make-up and #15.08 on perfume or aftershave.
The study of 3,000 British families commissioned by Superdrug showed six in ten will put the worries of the recession behind them in the festive season.
But it's not all about spending more in order to have a good time - 85 per cent agree that you don't need to spend a lot of money to have a good time at Christmas.
Steve Jebson of Superdrug said: ''The British are great at keeping a stiff upper lip and refusing to let the doom and gloom of the recession affect their festive cheer.
''We are one of the hardest working nations in Europe, so even though the economic climate might not be at its best at the moment, we deserve to spend the money we do have on enjoying ourselves.
''The recession has shown everyone that saving money is better than spending money.
''Whether it's buying three gifts and getting one of them free, picking up a fragrance gift set at half the normal price simply keeping an eye out for a fantastic deal we've become a nation of bargain hunters which isn't a bad thing to be whatever the state of the economy.''
The poll also revealed half of all British families chose to be more careful last Christmas so they weren't out of pocket in January.
And four in 10 families were forced to cut back on their festive spending habits last year due to the credit crunch.
