If you're anything like me, Christmas present shopping is usually left to the last minute and involves quite a lot of stress. This year I've actually managed to impress myself and get it all done in good time (Not wrapped but hey, I'm not that organised). Luckily, I don't have that many people to buy for - just immediate family and Martin - but I know that getting gifts for everyone can soon start to add up, especially if you have a large family or friends that expect presents. Seeing as we are now on the 11th, it's thought that most people would have had their shopping done by now. However, after talking to people over the last few days, it seems that people are having to do it much later in the month. Purse strings are being pulled tighter and tighter and it's not surprising - everyone's been hit by the recession after all. However, people still want to buy gifts that are good quality without breaking the bank (and rightly so), and it seems that outlet shopping at places like the London Designer Outlet could be the way forward. Outlet shops are literally a god send - all the brands that we know and love, like the ones below but with prices that are often slashed by up to 70%.

The Body Shop is a great place for beauty and body care gifts - they often have gift sets that work out at great value, such as shower gels and moisturisers packaged up together. These are a good price anyway but when you factor in the outlet prices they really are an absolute bargain compared to what you'd pay on the high street. For guys, places like Red5 are great for the difficult ones in your life where you can't think of what to buy them. It's one of those shops that sells everything from useful gadgets to silly toys, so there will definitely be something in there that they'll either find hilarious or useful! If you're really stuck on what to buy someone, then I've found that chocolate always goes down well - and with a chocolate shop like Lindt, it's going to be some pretty amazing chocolate that they'll be getting! To avoid buying more than your budget will allow (and trust me, it's easy to overspend in places like this!), it's best to go with an idea what you want to buy and where from. A deal is only good if it's something you would have bought anyway, remember! If you hit up a designer outlet with this in mind then you can find some amazing deals, for a fraction of the price that you would have paid on the high street.