You don't have to be crackers to go Xmas shopping in the sun

On lookout for hot presents that will still be cool this December

- ANNA BURNSIDE

SUNGLASSES? Check. Factor 30? Check. Face covering? Check. That’s me set for a day of Christmas shopping.

The sun might be splitting the sky and the kids back at school after the summer holidays but August is the best time for bargain hunters to get out and tick off their Santa lists.

That’s the finding of a survey from financial website money.co.uk, which is advising shoppers to hit the high street while the sales are still hot.

Salman Haqqi, from money.co.uk, said: “Just 15 per cent of Brits shop for Christmas presents year-round. But there are huge savings to be made.

“We’ve identified August as the best month to start Christmas shopping this year. There are so many opportunities for shoppers who want to maximize their spending power.”

After months of lockdown, my spending power needs all the maximizing it can get. So I headed into town to see if there were any bargains my family and friends might actually want to open on December 25.

The trick of early gift shopping is to buy things that will still feel fresh and useful a few months down the line. Nothing too trend-driven, gimmicky or obviously summery.

That rules out all the lemon tracksuits, white peasant blouses with billowing sleeves and Hawaiian shirts that are crowding the sale racks.

But gym gear, beauty products, accessories (as long as they’re not made of raffia and sea shells), purses and wallets, household bits and kitchen appliances are not going to fall out of fashion in the next four months.