Brits spend £250-500 on Christmas presents
Thursday, 9 December 2010 2:48 PM
Over a third of us spend between £250 and £500 on Christmas presents and yet we expose ourselves to opportunistic burglary by storing them all in one place, new research has suggested.
A study conducted by One Poll and released by Confused.com found that seven per cent of Brits spend £50-100 on gifts, 18 per cent blow more than £500, but the majority - 37 per cent - spend £250-500.
The results also revealed that Northern Ireland's residents shell out more for Christmas presents than any other region in the UK, spending an average of £298, while East Anglians come in a Scrooge-ish 12th, spending £201 (see below for full results).
The research found the most common hiding place for gifts was under the bed, with behind the wardrobe coming a close second. However, experts warn that keeping lots of presents all in one place, particularly if that place is visible from outside, makes your home an attractive prospect for thieves.
Ex-burglar turned home security expert Michael Fraser reckons there are simple steps homeowners should take to make burglars' tasks a lot trickier. "The living room is a popular room for burglars, so I would advise people not to put presents under the Christmas tree until the last possible moment," he says. "Closing the curtains can also help."
Fraser adds that keeping front hedges at a low height, and thus providing less cover, is a good idea, as is keeping suitcases in the loft so thieves don’t have an easy means of carrying their haul away.
But no matter how careful you are, unfortunately burglary is a very real threat during the festive season. While the cover on 90 per cent of home insurance policies is increased over the Christmas period, it's worth double-checking that you have adequate protection.
Here are the full results of the research:
Total amount spent on Christmas gifts in the UK
£50-100 = 7 per cent
£100-150 = 16 per cent
£150-250 = 20 per cent
£250-500 = 37 per cent
£500+ = 18 per cent
Most generous regions in the UK for Christmas present spending
1. Northern Ireland (£298)
2. North East (£283)
3. Scotland (£254)
4. South West (£247)
5. West Midlands (£243)
6. Wales (£242)
7. London (£237)
8. North West (£230)
9. Yorkshire (£229)
10. East Midlands (£210)
11. South East (£210)
12. East Anglia (£201)
Top ten most likely hiding places for Christmas gifts
1. Under the bed (34 per cent)
2. Behind the wardrobe (30 per cent)
3. The attic/loft (19 per cent)
4. Sock drawer (16 per cent)
5. The office (11 per cent)
6. Garage (8 per cent)
7. Other (7 per cent)
