Less than half the people who responded to a poll on The Avondhu website have said they will be buying their presents locally this Christmas.

As shops and stores battle to survive, it is cold comfort to realise that just 43% of those who took part in the poll will buy their presents in their own particular town or village while 11% will shop online, 13% will shop for presents in major cities and 33% will buy Christmas presents ‘from all three sources’.

While it is understandable that people like to visit the bigger urban areas around Christmas time, much of what they purchase there can be bought at home. If there is a difference in price – the cost of parking and travelling to and from usually compensates. Try local first!

I would like to wish all our readers, advertisers and contributors a happy and holy Christmas and the very best in 2014.