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Germaine Says: Buying Christmas presents has never been my forte. I never know what to get friends and family.

Besides, I prefer to splurge on more indulgent presents on birthdays. And even then, I sometimes ask the recipients what they’d like. After all, what’s a present when someone doesn’t like it and won’t ever come close to using it? 

This year, however, marks a departure. I want to get everyone around me a little something. Maybe the gloom of the prevailing economic downturn has inspired this change and wanting to spread a little Christmas cheer has driven this ‘mission’. Suffice to say, the shopping bit hasn’t been wallet-friendly. Little amounts added up rather substantially.

So now that I’ve busted the budget and can’t afford to buy anything anymore, I’ve turned to the next best option: handmade gifts. A friend warned me, “Don’t even bother. They won’t appreciate it.” But I have no choice and time is running out. Besides, the overly crowded streets of Orchard Road scare me.

While I have never been an arts and craft person (I never did well in the subject at school), I’ve been in a baking frenzy. Why not put my trusty mixer and oven to good use and treat my friends, I thought. Hopefully, my friends will appreciate the effort. It doesn’t take much to spread a little Christmas cheer in such gloomy recessionary times.

After all, it’s the thought that counts.

Tell Us: How are you keeping costs low during this festive, gift-giving period? What do you think of handmade gifts?

You can leave a comment here or e-mail us at tnpshow@sph.com.sg. Don’t forget to leave us your contact details: name, age, occupation and e-mail address or telephone number.

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Since the season to be merry has been somewhat tainted by the economic crisis,people are increasingly frugal and gone are the days most of us can expect extravagant presents.That does not mean the Christmas spirit is purged, as if they are the number of digits on the bank account balances. Here are a number of ways to keep costs low while engaging in the festivities.

.Be selective about where we shop, lots of bargain stores such as Daiso carry little ornaments which will fit snugly at homes anywhere for the price of two dollars. It’s probably made from the same factory as those nine dollar ornaments at upmarket stores anyway,why pay more?

.A festival meal does not have to cost an arm and a leg.With merchants comprehending the depths of the the economic crisis,the likes of Waruku are presenting bigger portions and better valued set meals. A conversation over a meal can make a great gift.

.Buying things in bulk can help.A gifts store had a little fair at Suntec Atrium featuring impeccably packaged sweets at just over a dollar per pack.That can be a nice heart warmer for casual friends.

.Drinks tend to be cheaper by the carton behind close doors, as compared to those found within mugs in clubs. A house party tends to be messier but easier on the pocket. It helps in avoiding hefty taxi bills as well. Just sleep in and hit the first train/bus the next morning.

Home made gifts are a real option.True friends will not sulk at such presents because they can be straight from the heart and easier on the pocket.One should not look at the gift horse in the mouth and for most cases, the value of the presents should be secondary to the emotions invested. Whether it’s little knick knacks or home made butterscotch cookies, they can all make a real friend smile. The time invested is just as valuable as thick wads of cash spent making hefty purchases. At least true friends will appreciate it, as for the rest of the folks who may be less sincere, the less we talk about them, the better!

Peng Tie Lun

This entry was posted on Friday, December 19th, 2008 at 9:21 pm and is filed under Germaine Lim, Lifestyle. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.