IT’S November: that’s right, the songs have slowly leaked on to the radio, every shop now has a section dedicated to stockings and festive chocolate, and that famous John Lewis advert has pulled at the heartstrings of anyone who has watched it.

The Christmas season has officially begun, and this year it seems to have hit us in a really big way.

The build-up to Christmas always seems far too early, but this year it seems even more ludicrous, with my first sighting of festive chocolates in my local Tesco being in mid-October.

This does seem a bit excessive, and the pessimist in me would grumble about how the whole event is just a consumerist, capitalist affair.

Yet this time the child in me wins – I love the build-up to Christmas just as much as the day itself.

The shopping for presents, the festive-flavoured coffees to try in Starbucks, the Christmas concerts… it all sparks a sense of community that is not always realised throughout the rest of the year.

For me, this Christmas is even more special.

For anyone who has started university this year, coming home for Christmas after your first term is such an exciting time – so much so that I already have Chris Rea’s ‘Driving Home for Christmas’ downloaded on my phone in preparation for the journey back!

If we all realise the true purpose of the season is not about the presents (although I do like them) but about spending time with those closest to us, no one can deny a little premature celebration.

So, to all the pessimists out there, yes it’s still November, but when a Christmas song is next played on the radio have a sing along – you might even enjoy it.

Let’s embrace this early Christmas season in all its glory; it was going to come around soon enough anyway.

Top tips for cheaper Christmas shopping

If you’re a student or using the money from your Saturday job to pay for treats, you probably know all too well the difficulty of buying presents on a budget.

It might seem too soon to start thinking about it, but before you know, it will be Christmas Eve, and nobody wants the desperate rush around town to find suitable presents on that day!

So here are some tips to help the pounds go further:

  • Check the web before you go out: sites like moneysavingexpert.co.uk and vouchercodes.co.uk often have discount vouchers for high street shops as well as restaurants and experiences.
  • Make someone a pledge: your mum might appreciate a whole year of you actually doing the washing up more than an expensive lotion or potion.
  • Get creative: a gift made by you is unique and the amount of time and effort you’ve spend working on it means more than the monetary value of a shop-bought present.
  • Give a charity gift: these start from a few pounds and can include school supplies for needy children, or clean water for struggling communities.
  • If you’re doing Secret Santa, set a limit of £5 or so. If you all know the limit, they’ll be no worrying your gifts don’t match up.
  • Don’t fret; sometimes we can forget the real meaning of Christmas – it’s the thought that counts.