Two in five Brits confess to going above and beyond their planned budget this Christmas, according to research.

And with the countdown to the big day reaching fever pitch, one in 10 admit to overspending on alcohol in a bid to make the festivities as fun as possible.

Almost 9 in 10 (89%) of those aged 18-24 splash the cash on gifts and festive favourites, while just over half of those over 55 (53%) do the same.

And it’s also been revealed that women spend most on gifts for spouses (10%) and their children (16%), while men most often blow the budget on spirits (10%).

Ealing Times:

In addition to the 10% overspending on booze, research from Grocery delivery app, Snappy Shopper, reveals that 9% indulge more in sweet treats and 6% find themselves breaking the budget on ingredients for celebratory meals.

But despite the ever-growing shopping lists, 78% of Brits still forget essential items each year, from gift tags to gravy.

Many miss out on the little touches that make gifts sparkle, with 13% scrambling for batteries, 8% missing sticky tape or wrapping paper, and a further 8% giving pressies without a tag.

Brits are also confessing to misjudging the quantity of food needed for their festive get-togethers.

A substantial 68% find themselves grappling with either too little or too much food for their guests, with many also admitting to forgetting crucial ingredients including mince pies (7%), cranberry sauce (6%), gravy granules (5%), and crackers for cheese (5%).

Snappy Shopper’s Mike Callachan said: “The holiday season is such an important time of year for so many across the UK, but it shouldn’t cost the earth.

“We get so wrapped up in the countdown and all the festivities, sometimes meaning we forget or spend too much on our festive essentials."

Last-minute panic buys have also emerged as a key feature among the British public, with 81% admitting to to-the-wire shopping and foodie gifts like chocolates (21%) and bottles of alcohol (18%) topping the list of presents.

But that said, others have picked up some more unusual items for their loved ones in last-second scrambles, including vapes (3%), magazines (3%) and stamps (2%) – with one survey respondent even admitting to purchasing a goldfish for a loved one in a last-minute dash.

Callachan added: “The great thing about convenience stores is their seemingly endless lists of items that would make perfect last-minute gifts.”