I spend £7,000 every year on my Christmas display

It takes self-confessed festive fanatic Joanne Smith, 41, an entire year to plan extravagant decorations for her Essex home

- JOSIE COPSON

When mid-November arrives, I can finally get my Christmas decorations out of the double garage that I had purpose built for festive storage.

It’s a long wait for me as I think about Christmas at least once every single day of the year. Whether it’s during the August heat or rainy April, it’s guaranteed to be on my mind. I’ll start planning in January, as soon as the previous year’s decorations come down. I get an idea in my head, then I have scraps of paper lying around the house with my vision sketched out.

I constantly scour the internet for new pieces, and I order from Orlando in Florida as they have the biggest, most unique and best decorations. I’ll end up spending around £7,000 each year, plus hundreds on postage and overseas customs costs.

My husband, Andrew, thinks that figure is a low estimation and says he’d love it if I only spent that much in reality! He knows I’m quite sensible with money though, and I don’t tend to treat myself to extravagant purchases or dress in designer labels. But when it comes to Christmas, I just can’t resist. It brings me so much joy and gives me a child-like excitement.

I don’t ever want to grow up, and I love basking in the happiness of the season. I feel as if I’m living out a fantasy each year. The only thing Andrew moans about is when he has to help me carry all the decorations from the garage, which is at the end of our garden, up to the house as it’s quite a long walk. I usually end up with a bad back for a few weeks.