‘Tis The Season to Shop Smartly

It’s that time of year again to shop for gifts for colleagues, friends and loved ones. While we love to be generous in our giving, we also want to be wise in our spending and ensure that our gifts don’t go to waste!

Here are some shopping tips for this holiday season:

Give Value and New Experiences

Buying vouchers or gift cards is a great way to leave options open while introducing others to great deals or new ways of shopping. Digital vouchers can also be sent to recipients instantaneously, saving us shipping costs, waiting time, and packaging waste.

For example, to encourage more sustainable shopping, give e-vouchers from The Green Collective, a sustainable lifestyle store, or The Fashion Pulpit, a second-hand clothing shop.

Vouchers and membership gifts are also a good way to encourage others to pursue their interests, experience something new or even spend time with their loved ones.

Try gifting them vouchers or memberships for places of interest such as Gardens by the Bay, or for new experiences like high tea at boutique tea house Arteastig. If you know their interests and hobbies, give them a voucher for an activity they would like, such as pottery or pizza-making.

Establish a Gifting Budget

Creating a gifting budget is a great financial habit to develop. Use this to plan and keep track of your spending rather than simply leaving it to chance.

Reuse Packaging

To eliminate unexpected miscellaneous costs, reuse materials to wrap your presents. Shopping bags with festive prints and even pages neatly cut out from old magazines can be used to dress up your gifts. You can also consider re-using ribbons that were used to wrap gifts you received — snip the creased parts off and they’ll look brand new.

Avoid Gifting Boo-boos

As a rule of thumb, avoid buying specific gifts for recipients you do not know well. If you’re the Secret Santa for someone you’re not familiar with, ask a person close to them about their preferences. Or opt for practical everyday items rather than more personal items like scents and clothing.

Be a Savvy Buyer

Scammers are constantly on the lookout for opportunities to swindle people, especially at the peak of the shopping season. Beware of offers that seem too good to be true and only shop directly from official websites of reputable brands, especially for higher-value items.

Give the Gift of Learning

Many online learning platforms and resources offer Black Friday or Cyber Monday discounts. Consider gifting a yearly or several months’ subscription to platforms like Coursera, Udemy or Masterclass. Several courses on these platforms as well as the LEARN app offer certification that can be included in CVs.

If your recipient is pursuing creative and artistic hobbies, consider a subscription to Skillshare and Domestika. For someone looking to get a head start on fitness New Year resolutions, look to Down Dog for discounted subscriptions.

A final tip: Purchase these subscriptions directly from the app’s website instead of via app stores like Google Play or Apple Store for possible cost savings.

Text and illustration by Lei Ng.