25 miles, 14 queues, 2 arguments – welcome to the sales

The average woman will travel 25 miles, spend £264 and have her toes trodden on seven times during the sales, according to a new study.

The survey of 2,000 suggested the average woman will set her alarm for 8:05am and make at least three separate visits to the post-Christmas sales. She will shop for a total of eight hours and 45 minutes, stand in 14 queues and fall out with at least two shop assistants, according to the poll by Sainsbury’s.

A third of women said they were prepared to push and shove people out of the way to get the item they wanted most, while 30 per cent expected to suffer minor injuries while shopping for deals.

A spokesman for Sainsbury’s said: “Heading out in the January sales is part of the festivities for Brits, and, after being cooped up in the house for a couple of days, many like to hit the shops and have a break from the domesticities.

“There’s an enormous sense of satisfaction when buying something in the sales, and in this tough economic climate, it’s understandable that shoppers want to bag a bargain.”

He added: “It’s best to head to the sales with a plan. Try and make a mental note of what you actually want and need up front.”

The survey also found that January sales shopping was viewed as exercise by 23 per cent of women, with one in five doing it instead of going to the gym.