London leads Christmas spending as capital spends over £900 in preparation for festive season

London leads Christmas spending

Londoners are planning on spending more than £930 in preparation for Christmas this year, more than any other region in the country. The biggest spend Londoners will make is on food, expected to spend an average of £352 on ingredients for Christmas lunch, festive snacks and nibbles, and all their drinks (both alcoholic and not) for the festive period.

Those living in Greater London are also expected to spend around £306 on Christmas decorations for both inside and outside their homes, including a Christmas tree, door wreaths, and table decorations and centrepieces. Other expenses include board games (£72), Christmas crackers and party favours (£66) and tableware for serving guests (£72).

Following London in the big spender stakes are Northern Ireland and those in the North East. Christmas planning in Northern Ireland is expected to cost £800 on average, while in the North East, spend will average £768 across food, decorations and party supplies.

Those living in Yorkshire & the Humber are expected to spend the least on Christmas prep this year, an average of £562 in total. This includes an average spend of £157 on Christmas decorations, £261 on festive food and drinks, and £143 on things like craft supplies and tableware.

Spending on Christmas gifts

Christmas gifts are an additional spend for many Brits, with the average amount spent depending on the relationship with the recipient. Gifts for children set parents back an average of £97 per child, while parents will see between £54 (fathers) and £60 (mothers) spent on them in return.

Partners and spouses will spend an average of £82 on one another, while our beloved pets will receive gifts worth around £35 from their human guardians - more than many will spend on their extended family and work colleagues, with aunties and uncles receiving gifts valued at around £34 while our work pals will have the least spent on them - an average of £32.

More than half (54%) of those surveyed said they always buy back-up gifts for those unexpected guests, spending an average of around £63 on miscellaneous gifts.

Of the findings, Jessica Myers, chief customer officer at The Very Group comments: “We know that our customers love Christmas, however we understand that Christmas can have its manic moments! From finding the perfect gifts for loved ones to getting those roast potatoes just right, the pressure is on. That’s why we’re here to help make Christmas sparkle a little brighter.

“With our huge range of products and helpful inspiration, we’re making it easier than ever for everyone to enjoy the festive season – whether you’re hosting a gathering or simply looking forward to some well-earned rest.”

For more information on the UK’s Christmas Conundrums, visit: https://www.very.co.uk/biggest-christmas-conundrums.page