Last-Minute Christmas Shopping Hacks and Gift Ideas For The Procrastinator In All Of Us
We have all experienced the mad dash to get last-minute Christmas presents. While rushing down to the nearest shopping mall to look for gifts is always an option, sometimes we are stuck with limited options in store or lackluster discounts.
Here are some other hacks when Christmas shopping and unique last minute gift ideas that won’t break the bank.
Related: 3 Affordable Alternatives to Store-Bought Gifts this Christmas
Make Use of Same Day Delivery
If you are not one for crowded malls, or just do not have time to do any in-person shopping, make sure to look out for sites that offer same day shipping so that you are able to get your Christmas presents delivered to you in time to wrap them before Christmas day.
One site that offers same day delivery is Lazada. They offer both same day delivery as well as self-collection on specific items.
To make shopping with Lazada ever more enticing, Lazada is running daily deals in December where you are able to get up to 80% off health and beauty products and up to 70% off tech gadgets. Even your Christmas grocery shopping is made easy with Lazada's Redmart with deals of up to 70% off food products and just in time same day delivery.
Recommended Credit Cards for More Savings
DBS Altitude Visa: Affordable Miles & Luxury Perks
- Pros
- Great for online travel bookings
- Cons
- Those willing to pay an annual fee for more bonus miles
- Affluent travellers who are willing to pay a high fee for luxury travel perks
Gift An Experience
If you are still at a loss of what gift you can get your loved ones, consider gifting them an experience instead of a physical item.
Gifting an experience could be especially appreciated by the minimalist in your life who does not like to collect vast amounts of stuff. It is also a good excuse to plan an activity and spend some quality time with said loved one, making the gift an extra meaningful one.
If you are looking for good deals of attractions around Singapore, check out Klook for deals on different attractions available. Klook is currently running their year end exclusive deals until 1 Jan 2024 where you can get up to 50% off Night Safari tickets, Singapore spa wellness passes and even tickets to the acclaimed Hamilton Musical playing for the first time in Singapore at the Sands Theatre!
Read Also: Best Cashback Credit Cards in Singapore 2023
Current Klook Credit Card Promotion
Make sure to stack any credit card promotions on top of the Klook deals to get the ultimate savings on your gift. If you are a Citibank, DBS/POSB, HSBC, Maybank, OCBC, Standard Chartered or UOB cardholder, Klook has additional credit card specific deals that you can take advantage of. Check out all the details here.
Recommended Credit Cards for More Savings
Citi Cash Back+ (Plus) Credit Card: Highest Unlimited Flat Rebate Rate
- Pros
- Affluent consumers spending S$7k+/mo
- People interested in an easy-to-use flat rate card
- Those looking to avoid spend requirements or rewards caps
- Cons
- Average or lower spenders looking to maximise rewards
- Those with specialised spend (i.e. dining, shopping)
- Consumer looking to avoid an annual fee
Support Local Online Bakeries
For the foodies in your life, you can opt to support one of Singapore’s budding local bakeries and gift your loved ones unique and instagrammable confectionaries.
The holiday season is a time for indulgence. Gifting your loved ones with a sweet tooth a variety of unique sweet treats to sample could be a special and unusual present!
For example, online bakery Honeypeachsg is currently offering Christmas specials like their Jingle Cupcake set or their Reindeer Christmas dessert box. These themed box sets come nicely packaged and presentable as gifts so no extra work is required by you.
Honeypeachsg even offers free delivery on orders over S$150 so you can get the deserts delivered to your loved ones’ doorstep at no extra cost!
Recommended Credit Cards for More Savings
OCBC 365 Card: Rebates for Essentials
- Pros
- 6% rebate on dining, 3% on groceries, transport, utilities, online travel
- Fee waiver with S$10,000 annual spend
- Up to 22.1% fuel savings at Caltex, 20.2% at Esso
- Cons
- 0.3% rebate on general spend
- High S$800 minimum spend requirement
Conclusion
Whether you decide to go for physical gifts or choose a less traditional route by gifting an experience or sweet treat, make sure that you are making your money work for you.
The festive period is a high spend period for many of us. Now more than ever, it is important to remember to stack promotions or sales with credit card rewards to earn points as you go about your regular shopping. If you would like to find the credit card that best suits your needs, check out our roundup of the best credit cards in Singapore.
Read More:
- Best Credit Cards for Online Shopping and Groceries
- The Best Christmas Dining Specials for a Merry Holiday Season in Singapore (2023)
- 3 Steps to Avoid Financial Hangover from Year End Shopping Spree
- Which Type of Credit Cards Should You Use for Holiday Shopping in Singapore?
- 3 Christmas Gifts for Kids That Are Actually Good for Parents Too
Cover image source: Unsplash
Enya is a budding Research Analyst at ValueChampion. She has a BA in Economics from the University of Melbourne and has previously worked in the banking sector. Enya combines her experience and passion for personal finance to bring digestible and enriching financial content to readers.