A new survey suggests people in Louth, Westmeath and Leitrim will spend more on Christmas shopping than those in other parts of the country.
While more and more of us are getting an early start to our festive shopping.
Online payments company PayPal says 1.2 million Irish consumers have taken to the checkouts even earlier this year.
The top reasons for starting shopping early are concerns over the availability of items (46%) and worries about delivery times (45%).
Some 45% of those starting their shopping earlier also said they are doing it to avoid the stress of last-minute buying, while more than a quarter (27%) admitted they would prefer not to visit shops in person when they open.
Irish consumers are expecting to buy nearly half of their Christmas gifts online this year.
But some 62% say they are making more of an effort to buy locally and from smaller retailers.
Image by Free stock photos from www.rupixen.com from PixabayFour in five (80%) respondents said their main reason for spending more with local retailers this Christmas is to support them during COVID-19.
While Irish consumers will spend an average of €541 each on gifts at Christmas.
The biggest spenders are in Louth (€1,079), Westmeath (€870) and Leitrim (€852).
Maeve Dorman, vice president of merchant operations EMEA at PayPal, said: "Lockdown has completely transformed how people are spending their money and it is interesting to see how many people are shopping earlier.
"As we approach Christmas – the busiest shopping period of the year which is well underway following Black Friday and Cyber Monday – the shift towards digital and contactless payments is even more prevalent than normal.
"As well as more of a reliance on online shopping, which will only continue to grow, our research shows that Irish consumers are planning to spend more with local and smaller retailers this year.
"It’s fantastic to see that community spirit is alive and well in Ireland, particularly during these more difficult times."
The study was conducted by Censuswide and involved more than 1,000 Irish consumers.
