'SUPER Saturday' has hit and Gloucester is packed out with last minute shoppers.The city centre is buzzing despite the drizzle as people have a final spending surge ahead of the big day.A recent survey by Budgens in Barnwood Road revealed the average person forgets at least five items they intend to buy for Christmas Day each and every year.And a quarter have given someone an IOU after forgetting to buy them a present. Batteries, Sellotape and crackers topped the list of the most forgotten items at Christmas.Gravy, napkins, pigs in blankets, chocolate coins, Grandma's sherry and gift tags are also common blunders.Amazingly one in 20 people surveyed have even forgotten to buy a turkey and one in six have forgotten a crucial Christmas dinner ingredient.Tibberton resident Sally Ashwell, 52, a product co-ordinator for an IT company, is out shopping today and said: "I have been getting little stocking fillers."I'm quite organised but I like coming into town now when it's all festive."I expected it to be busier though."Her daughter Juliet Ashwell, 21, was doing some impulse present buying for friends.She said: "I like doing it like that and don't get stressed as I love shopping."Hempsted couple Eloise and Gareth Hopkins were taking daughters Zoe, two and Freya, four to the Guildhall to see The Snowman.Eloise,34, said: "It's hard to resist getting a few little last minute bits but I'm generally quite organised."Gareth said: "It's great to see so many people shopping i8n Gloucester."Liz Scott, 48, from Mitcheldean was picking up some last minute presents."I know exactly what I want to get," she said."But I'm just waiting for my husband as he doesn't know what he's getting me and is off buying it now."Sometimes even being organised does not always payoff as the Budgens survey revealed 40 per cent of people have bought a present in advance only to lose it or forget where they put it. Almost a third have run short of things when cooking on Christmas Day and one in seven have resorted to driving around, desperately searching for an open shop.
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