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Last Updated: Friday, 21 December 2007, 14:40 GMT
Keeping Christmas costs under control
Christmas decoration

We recently dedicated a week to looking at a variety of festive topics. We hope you find these reports useful.

CONSUMER RIGHTS

Michael Fish in jumper

For some people Christmas is all about presents, and in certain cases, unwanted gifts.

But what are your rights when it comes to returning that horrible jumper from great aunt Bessie?

You do not have a right to a refund simply because you don't like something or have changed your mind.

Some shops will exchange goods around Christmas time purely out of goodwill.

However, shoppers have much stronger legal rights when returning faulty items. For a more in-depth explanation of your consumer entitlements, read the articles on the right hand side.

SEASONAL SELECTION

Wine bottles

Christmas is a time for families, giving and receiving presents and of course a festive tipple.

Many people splash out on a bottle or two of good wine to go with Christmas dinner. But how much should you spend to get something decent and how can you bag a bargain?

We invited connoisseur John Downes to come in and suggest good wines that won't break the bank.

Watch the interview to find out some tips on buying good but inexpensive wines.

SPENDING POLL

Your Christmas poll results

Are you an organised Christmas shopper or do you leave everything to the last minute?

But most importantly, are you flash with your plastic or do you save up for the festive season?

So we asked you take part in our very own online poll about your Christmas spending.

Take a look at the poll results - and the tips you've been sending in are also well worth a read.

CHRISTMAS DINNER

Turkey

Seasonal enthusiasts make preparations for Christmas weeks in advance, but for some, the task is never finished.

Rachel goes to meet one of those people - turkey farmer Paul Kelly - whose dad set up the business in 1971.

Paul sells free range turkeys, but he decided to go one step further by releasing almost 3,000 birds into the Essex countryside.

UNDER THE TREE

Character Options doll

To wrap up the special Christmas week on Working Lunch, we sent Rachel to one of the biggest toy and games companies in the UK.

Character Options design their own toys and create ones inspired by TV series.

The firm has Christmas 2007 all sorted out, and has even started working towards next year's festive season.

However, it is crucial that it concentrates on advertising in the run up to Christmas, as Rachel found out.



SEE ALSO
Christmas poll: Results are in!
22 Oct 07 |  Working Lunch
Our guide to gadgets for Christmas
22 Nov 07 |  Working Lunch


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