Is August too soon for shops to be stocking Christmas products?

Summer is not even over, and some shops are already stocking Christmas themed chocolates, mince pies and festive jumpers.

There are still four months to go until Christmas, and it would seem that the retailers are preparing well ahead of the main event.

Selfridges launched its festive shop early for the benefit of shoppers who ‘love to Christmas shop very early in the year’.

Some people feel the long run-up to the festive season means that Christmas is much less special when it finally arrives.

Others feel there is too much commercial pressure to buy presents and an emphasis on consuming lots of food and drink.

And some are very happy to get ahead of the game and to start buying and stocking up in advance.

Do you think Christmas starts too early? Does early preparation help with budgeting?  Is it a retail marketing ploy to get us to spend early? Do you enjoy a longer festive season? Has Christmas become too commercial?