Tips for a merry Christmas shopping

Christmas is just around the proverbial corner. And for shopaholics (or those born to shop but forced to work) like you and me, that means more excuses to hit our favorite malls. For shopaholics, it’s a mall world, indeed. Women who love to shop find it hard to exercise shelf control (me, when I get tired of shopping, I sit down and try on a pair of shoes) especially during the holiday season when their gift-shopping list is as long as the Great Wall of China. But ofcourse, you don’t want to be caught in the horrendous holiday traffic that’s 10 times worse than usual. To take the stress and woes out of holiday shopping, here are some very merry tips:

• Shop early. If you haven’t started shopping, start moving now. The really early birds start Christmas shopping as early as September and even some well-organized people do their Christmas shopping gradually over the course of the year, starting with the post-Christmas sale (or what they call boxing day in other countries). A smart move since this way, prices are lower, choices are better, the payment counter queue is shorter, and most of all, it helps you manage your budget.

Last-minute shopping will only cause stress and frustration. Look at it this way — when you shop on Christmas Eve, you’re going to have to claw your way through the crowds, stand in long, long lines, choose from limited merchandise, and probably miss all those pre-Christmas sales that are a dime a dozen these days.

• Prepare a shopping list. And check it twice. This way, you don’t forget anyone and make the most of your shopping trips and save on precious gas. Make a list of the gifts you wish to buy before shopping.

• Segregate your gift list — male, female, officemates, family, nieces, nephews, godchildren. This way, when you shop for gifts, you know how many toys or educational items, clothes, etc. you need to buy, saving you time and money in the process.

Always bring the checklist with you when you go shopping so you’ll know exactly what you need to buy and avoid wandering aimlessly at the mall for hours. 

• Go bargain hunting. Be on the lookout for and take advantage of mall sales (like those everything-must-go or clearance sales that are happening just about now). Watch for store ads and holiday sales. You can save a pretty good chunk of money if you do this throughout the year because almost anything you want eventually goes on sale.

• Stop and shop in tiangges. These days, even the rich and famous admit shopping in these places together with the masa. Remember to haggle, at the very least ask for a half price off so you can meet halfway. It’s always at least 25-percent savings. Be prepared to walk away (without looking back) though when it’s not the price you want. Chances are, they’ll go after you.

• Buy extra gifts. Find some generic items on sale that can be for a man or a woman, and purchase a couple of extras. Wrap them up, but remember to label the box stating what the item is. This way, you’ll always be ready if somebody unexpectedly gives you a gift and avoid embarrassment or hurt feelings by returning the favor.  

• Set a budget. Work out a rough budget of the expected Christmas expenses. Calculate how much disposable income you have.

• Avoid spending beyond your means. Stick to the budget regardless of the length of your shopping list. Buy only affordable gifts.

To help limit your spending within your means, you may opt to use a debit card. ATM cards of BancNet member banks also function as debit cards. You can use these ATM cards when paying at major supermarkets, department stores, and over 1,900 other BancNet accredited merchants. All you need to do is to present your ATM card to the cashier during checkout and your purchases will be debited automatically from your ATM account.

You can take advantage of BancNet’s irresistible new promo Pay ‘N’ Drive, where you can win a Toyota Vios as the grand prize or Canon Ixus digicams as minor prizes in the raffle. Simply pay with your BancNet member-bank ATM card from Oct. 28, 2008 to Feb. 28, 2009. Every P500 transaction automatically earns an electronic raffle entry.

A good gift need not be expensive. After all, it’s the thought that counts. But try to make the thought count by buying something that the intended recipient will appreciate not so much because it’s expensive. “People tend to warmly welcome a gift that matches their personality than something purchased purely because it was expensive,” says a gift-giving expert. 

But what if your checklist exceeds your budget? Then be creative.

And last but not the least, remember to give love on Christmas. And for a shopping job well done, give yourself a pat on the back and buy something nice for yourself or treat yourself to a fabulous meal.

A very merry Christmas shopping!

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Wanted: Eco bag for males

Dear Consumerline,

I have been an environmentalist for a long time now. Even when ‘The Graduate’ pronounced plastics as the thing of the future, I wished it would be a thing of the past as quickly. Anyway, males also go to the grocery, they also go shopping.  I wish there were more manly designs for reusable, environment-friendly bags. Right now, I use my Camiguin string tote bag, but it hurts my shoulder when it’s full.

— BAG MAN

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