Do you shop around carefully for presents or splurge at Christmas?I do splurge a bit – mostly because I have the same taste as my mum and sister so whenever I see something gorgeous I have to try really hard not to buy three of them.

Do you save throughout the year for Christmas? I have to confess I don’t.

What is the best Christmas present bargain you’ve ever bought? I am programmed to ask for discounts in smaller outlets or when I pay cash. Last year I hustled the (outrageous) Christmas tree man down from £55 to £35. He said no one else had tried to bargain with him.

What is the best Christmas present you’ve ever given? I hope it will be this year. My son has some posh new football boots he has been waiting for since October and he is crazily excited. I have no doubt he will absolutely love them and probably wear them to bed.

Would you ever give money or mind if someone gave it to you? I absolutely give money to some people. Teenagers. They don’t want my “old person” presents, they want to buy their own stuff. I think that’s fine. I personally wouldn’t want cash – I would rather it went to a charity.

Have you ever agreed a “no present” deal with anyone to save hassle? Yes – in big family gatherings we often agree just to buy presents for the kids. I think it’s really sensible.

Do you buy charity Christmas cards? I used to. But now the kids design and draw their own at school so I buy those instead.

Do you do an office Secret Santa? Yes and I love it. This year I got a totally inappropriate calendar of hunky men in kilts called Kilty Pleasures.

What’s your favourite part of Christmas day? Opening stockings with the kids. And the champagne in the evening once they are finally in bed.

What is your favourite Christmas party game? Pictionary. I love it- it has funny memories. I can’t draw at all but my mum and I always understood each other’s scribbles. My sister is a very talented artist and used to get into a massive strop when no one could get her drawings.

Peter Hargreaves

Co-founder, Hargreaves Lansdown

What were the best and worst presents you received last Christmas? Best A fishing rod. But also a sommelier took a shine to us and served us a bottle of Chateau d’Yquem dessert wine that some City traders had opened the night before but not consumed. A real delight. Worst a box of junk clearly bought from the gift section of a department store.

What do you hope Santa brings you this Christmas? Only things that I really want. And very little.

Do you shop around carefully for presents or splurge at Christmas? I do shop around. I like to delight not with cost but with something special.