It’s now jingle tills all the way to Christmas. Gill Oliver takes a look at our festive spending habits

Welcome to Black Friday. Don’t worry, despite the macabre-sounding name, this isn’t some sort of whacky occult mass hypnosis event, where you slap a hex on someone who’s annoyed you or spin a love-spell.

In non-marketing speak, it’s the day of the year on which most people start their Christmas shopping.

Never heard of it?

Actually, you have a point because it’s something (else) that has come over here from the USA, along with crayfish, grey squirrels and Kim Kardashian.

Over on the other side of the Atlantic, Thanksgiving is the third Thursday in November and the day after that is dubbed Black Friday.

The “black” comes from “being in the black”, as opposed to “being the red”, so in other words, it’s the point in the year when shops start making a profit. Still with me?

Here’s where it gets really interesting, because it’s when shops all around Oxfordshire, the rest of the UK and online start discounting.

According to trade journal Retail Week, Tesco expects sales today to be bigger than on Boxing Day for the first time ever, and has slashed prices by up to 70 per cent.

Others didn’t bother waiting that long: I had an email at the beginning of the week from Amazon which urged me “Don’t wait for Black Friday. Shop now”.

Just in case you miss Black Friday, don’t worry, there are plenty more clichéd, jargon-laden opportunities ahead.

In two days’ time, on December 1, we will be experiencing Cyber Monday.

That’s when most of us rush to order gifts and treats via t’internet and it adds up to a massive online spend.

If all this talk about the commercial side of Christmas is making you queasy, never fear. December 2 is #GivingTuesday, when we are all encouraged to give something, whether that’s time, money or publicity, to charities and voluntary organisations.

In the UK, the campaign is coordinated by The Charities Aid Foundation and software firm Blackbaud and is splashed across Twitter, Facebook and elsewhere, under the #GivingTuesday hashtag.

Take a look at the website givingtuesday.org.uk, where there are suggestions about how to get involved, most of which can be done with just a click from your mobile phone, tablet, or laptop.

Searching on the hashtag brings up everything in this area, including a fundraising effort for Rosie’s Rainbow Fund at the Oxford Children’s Hospital.

But there’s one more important date to stick in your diary, which is December 6, otherwise known as Small Business Saturday (smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com).

Splashing some of your cash locally – whether that’s in Oxford, Abingdon, Witney, Banbury, Bicester, Didcot, Wantage, Thame or the village shop is a gift.

Because every time we support our local independent shops and businesses, it can be the difference between them surviving, or going under.

It’s a case of “use it, or lose it”, so if we want the variety of having lots of quirky little shops to choose from, we need to make sure they have a Black Christmas, too.

SPARKLING EVENTS

Oxford's Christmas lights are already on but there are still some sparkling events to be found around the county this weekend: n Today, until 5.30pm, there’s a seasonal continental market with French, Spanish and Italian market traders in Banbury town centre.

* Bicester Village is making the most of Black Friday, staying open until midnight tonight. Shoppers can enjoy mulled wine and there will be exclusive offers.

* Abingdon has a day of activities and performances planned tomorrow culminating in the Christmas Lights switch-on at 5.30pm and a firework display.

* The Christmas continental market moves to Sheep Street, Bicester, tomorrow and Sunday between 9am and 5.30pm.

* Crisis Christmas Craft Fayre will be at St Michael & All Angels, Summertown, Oxford, from 10.30am to 4pm tomorrow.

* Woodstock Christmas Market will be held at St Mary Magdalene Church, Woodstock, from 10am to 7pm.

Oxford Mail:
Christmas shoppers in Oxford

SHOP... BUT DON'T DROP

The average shopper in the Oxford area will spend £280 on Christmas presents this year, with women spending, on average, £40 more than men, according to New research from online shopping website eBay.

It can be an expensive time of year but with a bit of thought and planning, you don’t have to break the bank to make it one to remember.

eBay spokesman Steve Heywood shares his Christmas shopping tips to make your money go further this festive season whether you are shopping in Oxford city centre or in cyberspace:

* Make a list, check it twice

It sounds obvious but making a list and sticking to it is the best way to get through your Christmas shopping without the cost spiralling. Set yourself an overall budget, make a list of who you need to buy for and then split your budget however you feel appropriate.

This will narrow down your gift search and help you visualise exactly what you need to buy.

* Boost your Christmas fund

Do you have a collection of unwanted items sitting around gathering dust? This is the perfect time of year to sell them!

Sites like eBay make it easy to convert your unwanted items into cash that can go straight into your Christmas pot and help de-clutter your home at the same time.

* Hunt for bargains

Once you’ve decided on the gifts that you want to buy, take your time to shop around and suss out the best deals. On eBay you can use the Best Offers tool to find out which sellers will consider giving a discount. Don’t be afraid to haggle, particularly if you’re buying in bulk, but beware of things that look too good to be true. Shopping from reputable retailers and marketplaces that have money-back guarantees ensures you’ll get the items you expect.

* Do it yourself

From haberdashery to baking, making your own gifts can be a good way to keep costs down and add a personal touch. Craft blogs and online tutorials are a great place to look for inspiration and tips. If you’re making something new for the first time, make sure you leave yourself enough time for a trial run.

* Break away from the norm If you’ve been lusting after something that is well out of your price range, why not consider a cheaper and more creative alternative?

For example, a modern twist on the traditional Christmas tree with decorative twigs and fairy lights.

* More thought, less spend

Personalised gifts are priceless so taking the time to think carefully about what to buy your loved ones, rather than just tapping into the latest trend, can be a good way to keep the costs down. The key is to keep it simple; is there a book that you think they would like, for example, or could you get a family photo framed for them?

Online, it’s never been easier to add personal messages or pictures to gifts; this can be a great way to turn basic items into a special gift.

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