If you feel like your Christmas shopping has started even earlier this year, you’ve probably picked up on a recent trend. According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) household spending jumped 1.3 per cent in October 2025[1] – the largest monthly rise in nearly two years, driven by what appears to be growing tendency among consumers to shop early for Christmas.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, which encourage shoppers to pick up a bargain well before Christmas, are now firmly embedded in the broader Aussie retail calendar. Beginning in November, they’re no longer confined to online sales or their actual dates but often come after weeks of relentless advertising campaigns as well.
The result? A shift in consumer spending habits.
– What was once a clear spike in Christmas spending in December is now an extended period of increased consumer spending that can start weeks, even months, sooner.
While this extended shopping season may be helpful for retailers (and some of their customers), I’m yet to be convinced whether the extensive offering of ‘get in early’ deals genuinely save money for shoppers, or simply encourage people to buy more, sooner.
Either way, it’s easy to get swept up in the festive rush around this time of year and, for many people, Christmas spending can be a challenge. So here are a few tips:
Seasonal Spending Tips
- Set your budget early – planning your budget ahead of time can help spread your spending across the months and alleviate any financial pressures in December. By all means take advantage of sales but consider whether you’d buy it if it weren’t on sale. Keep your budget realistic and flexible so you can confidently manage if any unexpected expenses arise.
- Prioritise experiences – consider simple ways to connect and celebrate the season through shared or meaningful experiences with others. This can be tailored to any budget. It might be as simple as sharing that extra bit of Christmas pudding with your neighbour. It’s the thought that counts.
- Pause before you purchase – Step away. Take a breath. Count to ten. Ask yourself if an item really adds value or is an impulse buy.
- Find ways to be generous – generosity extends beyond offering gifts or money to those in need at Christmas. It can include offering your time, friendship and attention, or sharing a meal or a friendly conversation.
Whatever your plans, I wish you and yours a safe, happy and prosperous festive season.
For financial advice that aligns with your goals and values, book an appointment to see me in the new year. Call Align Financial on (02) 9913 9995.
[1] https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/finance/monthly-household-spending-indicator/oct-2025
