In the run up to December, we asked the public if they have started their Christmas shopping yet.

Leah Turner, from Ballasalla, was almost finished.

She said: ’I start in February usually because I think if you get it in December you have no money for January and everyone buys the same.

’I used to leave it until as late as Christmas Eve but I’ve seen the new way and I love it.

Plus, if you do it early you can enjoy Christmas without stressing.’

Mrs Turner does most of her shopping when she’s on holiday.

The 23-year-old added: ’Whenever I’m away, because I go away quite a lot, I usually go to shopping centres.

’I do get a few bits online and sometimes here, sometimes there’s some nice stuff with the late night shopping and everything but those are for sort of last-minute things.

’I’ve almost got everything, it’s almost sorted and wrapped.’

Mark Perryman, of Ballasalla, and Juan Owens, from Peel, have both ’just about’ started and felt they were more organised than in previous years.

Mr Owens said: ’I’ve ordered online. This is very early for me, I usually start in December.’

Mr Perryman, 43, added: ’I normally do it at the end of November, beginning of December. I think it’s just to pre-empt anything that could possibly happen.

’It’s worth getting it a bit early anyway if you’re getting it online.’

When asked when would be too late to start, they both replied ’Christmas Eve’, with Mr Owens, 49, recalling his previous experience: ’I’ve finished work, the lunchtime before and gone out to get a few bits and pieces. It’s horrible.’

Mr Perryman continued: ’I’ve come back with many bags full of random stuff. As long as there’s not one item left and you’re fighting for the same item.’

They both said it’s been difficult to shop early because people haven’t been able to go away.

Mr Perryman said: ’I think a lot of people would tend to be going away during the summer holidays, seeing something and going "yeah, I’ll get that for Christmas" and store it away. But no one’s been away and been able to pick anything up or see anything, so then you’re looking at the same shops.’

Meanwhile, Clare Lewis, of Kirk Michael, believes Christmas is more about experiences than gift giving.

The 52-year-old said: ’We don’t go big on presents, we did when the children were little, but the older they get the less presents we do.

’Spending even £100 on people, you just don’t need to. Christmas is about the love and buying somebody presents doesn’t say you love them, looking after them throughout the year, cherishing them and being with them is important.

’Stop buying stuff because the world doesn’t have the resources.’

Anne Murray and Sally Fenton both started Christmas shopping ’about two months ago’.

Onchan resident Ms Fenton said: ’It’s good to start when you see presents that are nice for people.

’I like to get them in advance so they don’t sell out. If I see something that might be nice I just get it then and there.’

Ms Murray, from Ramsey, added: ’Depends if you get it off island, you’ve got to rely on the fact it’ll get here. So if you’re going online you need to be shopping well before December.

’I think if you’ve also got the choice in the shops that we haven’t got here, it’s nice to have something different.’