Affordable Christmas hampers could be the solution for shoppers who have not been planning too far ahead this year.

Research by Halifax has revealed just over half of people in the UK have not been saving for Christmas during the year in any way, spending only what they can afford come December.

With approximately £37 per person set to be spent by the average Brit, hampers could be the ideal choice for those looking for Christmas gift ideas that are a little different.

And the advice of Rob Wood, head of Halifax Savings, suggests thinking about next year's gifts soon might be a good idea.

"Christmas can be a tough time financially for families and advanced planning and saving is the best way to ensure there is enough money to go around for all the extra costs," he said.

A similar point was made by Zack Hocking of The Co-operative Bank, who encouraged people to put a little aside every month as regular saving can make a big difference.