I think there's been a quite cultural change that is less geared towards things anyway rather than it actually being about money and personal finances.

I must admit you can usually save a fortune in January if you are prepared to wait that long.
That being said it's great to get a christmas pressy

I usually spend about £500.00 on the kids each Christmas plus about £150.00 each on mum and Dad. I am certainly cutting back this year but instead of getting loads of nice pressies buying fewer better pressies.

I won't be donating anything to the retail sector's Christmas push. If there are any no strings attached freebies that take my fancy then I will grab them with both hands satisfied in the knowledge that the retail sector has spent money on me.

With the difficult financial year the UK has experienced and rumours that we are at the end of the recession, are consumers going to spend more or less than normal this Christmas?