Christmas isn't supposed to be just about the presents. But somehow it always is. Somehow the refrain of Goodwill to all Men seems to ring very hollow when that present you've chosen carefully ends up being thrown aside because it didn't cost enough or you got the colour wrong or they already had one.

It's not like Christmas has been consigned to the attic with the tacky, old decorations but it does beg the question; is consumerism discarding Christmas as we know it and gradually turning it into one massive retail event? The balance with the Christmas and consumerism certainly needs re-adjusting.

Having worked in the ecommerce industry for over a decade now, I am constantly surprised by the ingenious ways you can save money, from voucher codes offering percentage savings to using price comparison websites to make sure you're going to the best-value stores on the high street.

Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Mega Monday, Manic Monday. Why is there a need to amp up the shopping pressure by putting a label on a day when you (and a few million others) panic and realise that Christmas is around the corner and you've barely given thought to what you'll wear to the office Christmas party?