Image - Danny Lawson - PA Wire
Trudging around packed stores in search of the perfect present for your nearest and dearest can often be the nightmare before Christmas.
And while the rise of online shopping means you can now order everything from carol-singing woolly socks to brandy-drenched Christmas puddings from the comfort of your own home, is it really cheaper to shop online once delivery costs are included and how safe are you using your cards online?
MSN Money's in-depth guide to the costs of Christmas
Getting the best deals
With so many potential bargains at your fingertips it pays to do some legwork online. A host of price comparison sites allow you to sniff out some of the cheapest deals around on everything from flat screen TVs to the post-Christmas exercise bike without leaving your sofa.
It's also worth looking at the many sites which list discounts currently available from the big name retailers. The likes of myvouchercodes.co.uk and discountcouponsonline.co.uk can help your shopping budget stretch a little bit further.
Compare prices online and read reviews with Ciao!
Buyer beware
Unfortunately, for all the genuine retailers offering quality goods and service, you also have a handful of unscrupulous traders ramping up prices through hidden charges or failing to deliver the goods at all.
However, a few simple steps can help to stop you falling foul of excess charges or even fraudsters.
Once you're ready to part with your cash, make a note of the retailers' full address and telephone number - especially if it based outside of the UK. Many online retailers have signed up to an independent approval scheme such as TrustUK or VeriSign which means they have to meet set standards on payment security and delivery.
When paying, check that the corner of the browser window has a padlock symbol before entering your card details and bear in mind that genuine retailers will never ask for your PIN. If the connection is secure, the beginning of the web address should change from "http" to "https" on the payment page.
Paying by credit card for single item purchases between £100 and £30,000 - even if it's just the deposit - will also give you extra protection if things go wrong.
This means you'll be able to claim against your credit card provider if the goods are faulty or fail to arrive. If someone else uses your cards without your consent you'll also be able to cancel the payment and your card provider will have to refund you the money.
Online payment services such as Paypal are a hassle free way to pay for items from eBay or hundreds of other retailers without disclosing your financial information. You can pay with money held in your PayPal account balance or link your account to a credit card, debit card or your bank account.
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Surprise bills
Once you've decided what you want and where to buy it from, you need to check the delivery charges. Many retailers will offer free postage of you spend over a certain amount or allow you to pop into the store to collect your goods. However, most offer a range of delivery options - which come with varying price tags, so read the details carefully.
Hefty postage costs are a common way for retailers to claw back money on that cut-price digital camera so make sure you have calculated the total price for the item before hitting the pay button.
Retailers should then send an e-mail confirming your order but for extra peace of mind, government body Consumer Direct recommends that you note down the total price of the order, including postage costs and the expected delivery date and print off the returns and cancellation policy and the terms of any guarantees.
Other charges
If you buy goods from within the EU, you will not be charged import VAT or customs duty. However, buying from outside the EU is a whole different ball game.
Goods sent from countries such as the US or Hong Kong worth more than £7 are liable for duty usually of between 5% and 9% and VAT - currently set at 15% - for items worth more than £18.
Most prices displayed on non-EU retailers' websites will not include UK duty and VAT and the person receiving the goods is legally obliged to pay it.
Some bargain basement websites operating inside the EU get their goods from outside, leaving you with a hefty bill for the import duty when it arrives in the UK. This clause is often buried in the small print and failure to pay means you won't get your goods.
MSN's Christmas shopping guide
Other hidden costs
Alcohol, tobacco products, perfume or toilet waters have their own catches. These attract excise duty and VAT if you import these goods either from the EU or from outside the EU.
Technically the seller is responsible for paying this before sending the package, if the price is very low it could mean they've failed to do so and the goods can be seized by customs on arrival in the UK.
Furthermore, Royal Mail, Parcelforce Worldwide and Fast Parcel Operators may charge you for processing your package through customs. These charges are normally collected together with any duty or taxes on delivery but they are not customs duties.
Postal problems
Even if it all goes smoothly, you should allow at least a week longer for your goods to arrive than if you'd bought them from a UK retailer - especially in the run-up to Christmas.
In the UK, different retailers have different cut off times for final pre-Christmas deliveries which should be displayed on their websites. Many bigger name UK companies call time around a week before Christmas, Friday December 18 this year, although online specialists will usually deliver until around two days before - if you pay more for a faster service.
The postal strike has already proved a headache for many internet shoppers and with more strikes potentially on the cards, there are other options. Online giant Amazon cancelled its contract with Royal Mail earlier this month and now uses rival company Home Delivery Network.
Around 120 retailers including Sainsbury's, Shop Direct - which includes Littlewoods - Very, Woolworths, Kays and Tesco Direct have also signed up to its services. However, this does not apply to Amazon's legion of private sellers, if in doubt contact the seller before buying.
Meanwhile, Next Directory, shopping channel QVC and Debenhams use courier myHermes. A new scheme Useyourlocal.com allows you to get your package to be delivered to your neighbourhood pub - doing away with the slog of going to the sorting office on a Saturday morning.
What to do if the goods don't arrive?
If your goods fail to arrive by the expected time the first step is to complain to the trader with the date, amount and description of the order along with any reference numbers.
Keep a record of e-mails sent and telephone calls. If the problem is still not resolved, contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau or the Trading Standards office for details of the relevant trade association.
Legally, if the goods have not arrived by the agreed date or within 30 days of payment you are entitled to a refund. Your consumer rights for goods bought online are the same as for those bought from a shop including a cooling off period during which you can cancel your order and receive a full refund.
With time running out before Christmas delivery deadlines, let the shopping begin.
Its called sale by affiliation, a site refers you to a shop. The site dumps a file on your computer and links you to their site. So when you make any purchases from that site either then or later unless said file is removed the site that first sent you to the shop will earn a % of what you spend at the shop
Earlier this week MSN had an article on the front page saying Xbox360's were down to £115. When you clicked the link it went to CIAO which showed an xbox at £115, click the link to go throught ot the shop and it was £169.
Back to what I previously said, now CIAO has your pc marked as them having sent you there, so if you do shop their either then or later unless said file is removed they earn a cut, for doing **** all and thus in the long term making goods cost more as the shop is spending money on a pointless advertising method.
Avoid comparison shops and do the comparing your self and that is you you save money, or use a cashback site which works just like a comparison site except the site will give you some of the comission it makes from the purchases you make through the site.
My final word of warning is clean out your temp internet files and cookies DAILY.
Oh yeah and you know those insurance comparison sites, if you sign up for a new supplier thorugh one of those comparison sites your earning them £50+.
Use a cashback site like quidco and you can get that £50 for yourself instead of funding all those annoying comparison ads on TV ... ( with the exception of the meerkat ones, they can play those all day i they like )
P.S I am not advertising quidco, its just an example and the one I use, use google / money saving forums and your own reaserch to find one that suits you ( as in gives money back on shops you use )