Why we throw caution to the wind in December spending

Shoppers flock Wa Morgan clothe-wear outlet in Nakuru City on December 11, 2025.

Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group

We often throw caution to the cold, dark wind of December when it comes to spending. The cost-of-living crisis may slip our minds amid the razzle-dazzle of Christmas. We just want a moment to enjoy ourselves, to forget about the winter gloom. It’s natural for us to behave this way. Our brains are wired for it.

People in the UK spend on average an extra £700 at Christmas. The UK Office for National Statistics show increases of between 15 percent and 100 percent in the sale of books, music, computers, phones and electrical products, clothing and shoes, cosmetics and toiletries, food and alcohol in December.

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Note: The results are not exact but very close to the actual.