getwokingham - Reading Evening Post

Hallowe'en, eh? Hijack of an American tradition and an excuse for vandalism and threatening behaviour, or an opportunity for some harmless festive fun?

Either way, it’s a right rip-off.

 According to new research, this Christmas people are going to spend £2.7 billion less than usual on Christmas.

While not exactly at the Bob Cratchit extra-shovel-of-coal-for-Christmas stage, it is definitely a bit concerning.

This kind of research is usually an excuse to flog something or other, but the thought of having to cut back on food, drink and merry-making is a bit depressing, particularly for me because I was a Christmas baby and I get a bit tetchy if I think my birthday is being overlooked. But overshadowed by a damp squib of Christmas? Rubbish.

Having studied supermarkets in great detail, I now feel like something of an expert.

I've braved the locust-like swarms of people towards the reduced items shelves, I've had rock-bottom (and rock-hard) bread and I've even - sob - curbed my trashy magazines habit in the name of money saving.

So what have I discovered?