Christmas doesn’t have to leave you bankrupt, you just need to shop smart. Having done the rounds around Colombo the following is a list of suggestions for possible gift options for those on a Rs. 1000 and below budget. See which category best fits the person whom you hope to buy a gift for and you might just be a smart Christmas shopper.
The Divas
You’ve probably thought of it too - accessories! A pair of earrings or a bracelet, would seem the easiest gift for girls but what about working it into that budget of yours? The one place you know you can pick up accessories that are easy on the wallet is of course, Back Stage at ODEL. You can get a pretty decent pair of earrings priced between Rs. 250 to Rs. 450 and above for those who are feeling generous. Bracelets cost a bit more at Rs. 600 to Rs. 900 but still within the Rs. 1000 budget. Ranging from dainty to chunky, metallic to wooden and colourful, the variety of cosmetic jewellery here makes it a one-stop shop when shopping for your female friends and relatives. Rings are back in vogue, and if you’ve spotted your friend sporting one, you can gift them an adjustable ring from Back Stage for just Rs. 300.
Not all girls like earrings, bracelets or rings though. Plan B- check out the shawls. For the ‘hipsters’ or fashionistas there’s a hot pink shawl with black polka dots and at the other end of the fashion pole, are pale shades available for your more fashion-sober friends. The range of shawls cost under Rs. 1000.
The Literati, pastry chefsand musicians.
While Ebook-readers are elbowing their way into the market good old fashion page turners still have one over them - Pictures! And of course no worrying about a cake batter smear or scribbling on them. Here’s one for the literati- crossword puzzle books at Lake House in Liberty Plaza. They are of good quality paper and only cost Rs. 514. If your friend enjoys baking/ cooking and often brings treats to office- they might appreciate a cookbook. The bookstore also has a selection of books on baking. The recipe books cost Rs. 870.
If you’ve noticed your ‘giftee’ having spoken about recently buying themselves a guitar- you could get them a book on how to play the instrument. For Rs. 730, Lake House has how to play guitar guides with comprehensive instructions and pictures of chords and strumming styles.
The workaholic
Help them prepare for the year ahead by getting them a 2012 organiser. Most organisers cost a lot but with our budget we managed to come across some decent-looking organisers at Lake House for just Rs. 600.
For the single guy trying to impress (or married guy still trying to impress)
Cufflinks say it all – it is the little thing that matters, like all the little things that matter. Cufflinks are a great addition to a classy black suit and a great gift for somebody looking to impress. Dating back to the early-16th century of the fashion-savvy King Louis XIV, cufflinks have a history of being the classy choice. You can find a vast range of good looking ones at ODEL. There are a couple of funky choices as well, (I got the superman ones, and trust me girls dig it). Priced between from Rs. 850 – 975, it’s a great choice of gift for a guy. (Note: Some people make a hobby of collecting cufflinks, so if you the know the type, try to pick one that is in keeping with the person’s character)
For the Steve Jobs worshiper
who’s currently in denial
For the kind of person who wakes up, eats, and sleeps with their Macbook, laptop or notebook, a cooling pad would make a useful gift. Laptops tend to heat up in the middle of something and make an angry bird out of us all. A simple solution comes in the form of a cooling pad, which can be purchased for Rs. 1000 at Lapzone (Pvt) Ltd bambalapitiya. They have the Intex model for that price, too. In the meantime you could check out their range of gaming mice (for an extra buck).
To the American Idol
a.k.a Superstar
Guy or girl alike, music is something that appeals to all of us, but there are some people who simply cannot live without it. To them, a long adventurous trip would be the torture of a lifetime. No sweat, gift a pair of portable speakers that can be taken on any outing and they’ll consider you Godly material. Barclays Computers at Liberty Plaza has a great Sonicgear pair for Rs. 850, which is a tad bulky, but serves the purpose. They seem to be the only ones giving out the portable speakers for that price, and it’s a good deal. But you can chip in an extra buck for really tiny ones.
“I work for Abercrombie, they got it made for me, no biggie” Oh we know the type.Nothing serves the purpose better than a custom t-shirt. A great gift for a person who’s fun and has an outgoing personality. A custom t-shirt print can be done at Target (An ABC Trade and Investments firm), at Liberty Plaza. A print on a white t-shirt costs less than on a darker one. Letters in rubber (9” X 10”) would cost Rs. 900. An image on a white t-shirt (8” X 8”) would cost Rs. 960. It can be done in an hour. Cotton t-shirts (100%) can be bought for Rs. 690 at the store.If all else fails- gift vouchers! What’s better than giving someone the opportunity to pick what they would prefer rather than you gifting them something that would make them cringe? From the Mirror Magazine crew- we hope this helps ease your Christmas shopping stress. Happy shopping! |
E-mail
