While Christmas should be a time for celebration and joy, Christmas shopping is proving to be a major source of anxiety for many Brits, particularly those in Cardiff, which has been named the most stressful place for Christmas shopping in the UK.
The new research, from Northerner, highlights a significant level of stress ahead of the festive season, with more than half of Brits (54%) saying they find the annual Christmas shop stressful. This is even more true for Millennials, with 58% admitting to feeling particularly stressed by the thought of gift giving. Christmas shopping stress is not limited to one gender, with 55% of women saying they feel stressed about Christmas shopping compared with 53% of men.
A clear coping mechanism revealed in the survey was completing shopping extra early to reduce stress levels, which a huge 60% of Brits plan to do this year. To avoid extra stress, 54% also plan to complete all their Christmas shopping online, taking away added pressures such as finding parking, long queues, and seeing their gift ideas out of stock.
The survey also revealed the most high-stress areas for shoppers across the UK, and it’s clear some major shopping destinations are actually adding fuel to the stress-filled fire, with Cardiff, Nottingham, and Manchester found to be the worst!
The top 10 most stressful cities for Christmas shopping are:
- Cardiff 63%
- Nottingham 59%
- Manchester 58%
- Norwich 58%
- Leeds 57%
- Belfast 56%
- Edinburgh 55%
- Plymouth 54%
- Southampton 54%
- Brighton 54%
Markus Lindblad, Head of External Affairs at online retailer Northerner, said: “Christmas shopping is clearly a stressful task for many people. While some locations appear to cause more stress than others, there are plenty of ways UK shoppers can have a stress-free Christmas experience. Firstly, online shopping has been highlighted as a way to reduce high-street stress, with most gifts available at the touch of a button. You can shop online and still help the high street by ordering online for collection. However, if you prefer to shop in person but worry about the challenges, the key is to be organised. Have a plan of the shops you need to visit and what you’re looking for, speak to a member of staff straight away and seek their guidance. Avoid busy times where possible and get your shopping completed early, making sure to check the store offers an extended returns policy for Christmas – just in case!”