Christmas Unwrapped

Christmas Unwrapped PR Newswire LONDON, November 26, 2012 LONDON, November 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Home retailer Littlewoods.com unveils the true cost of Christmas in 2012 - The hidden costs of Christmas shopping on the high street reveals petrol, car parking and impulse buys add a whopping £505.54 to the festive budget 68 per cent of British mums are worried about the cost of Christmas this year The average Christmas present budget is to be cut by £45.76 - 8 per cent reduction on 2011 98 per cent of mums to go without party clothes, hair do's and beauty treatments to ensure the family get what they want WARNING TO HUSBANDS AND BOYFRIENDS - You'll be the first left off the Christmas present list if someone has to budge! The hidden cost of Christmas Gifts, twinkly trees, turkeys and a few tipples: there are some costs that mums expect when Christmas comes. However, [1]it would seem that they're just the tip of the iceberg, as new research from leading online retailer Littlewoods.com [2]reveals millions of mums will rack up an additional £505.54 of hidden costs during their high street Christmas shopping sprees. From filling-up the petrol tank to paying for car parking tickets, grabbing lunch and a trip to Santa's Grotto, Britain's mums are spending an average of £72.22 per shopping trip in hidden costs during the festive period.