PETALING JAYA: Consumers will have an opportunity to enjoy shopping at a discount during the back-to-back national festivities from Christmas to New Year’s Day, Chinese New Year and Hari Raya Aidilfitri which comes in January and April next year.
However, some of them do not want to go overboard with their spending.
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Wendy Yap Hau Yue, 23, from Kajang, said it is crucial to be wise when shopping, especially with discounts during different festive holidays.
“It’s best to buy what you need instead of everything labelled ‘on sale’,” said the hotel revenue analyst.
Yap does her Chinese New Year shopping during the Christmas holiday as similar items are on sale during both holidays.
Deborah Nathan, 35, from Cheras, said the closeness of the two public holidays may entice her to shop more than usual.
A manager by profession, she fears this will burn a hole in her pocket.
She is controlling her spending urges by buying only a few sets of clothes for Christmas and a pair of shoes that she could use during the festival and when she gets back to work.
“Shopping is a weakness for me. So when I shop, I make sure things I spend on are suitable for most occasions. For example, what I wear to church should also be suitable for work or a formal setting.
“This is so I don’t need to spend more money on clothes on every occasion,” she added.
Azimah Muhammad Jani, 36, from Ampang, keeps her shopping bill strictly under control despite the many public holidays in the coming months.
The mother of two young children said she needs to be careful when it comes to buying things for them.
“The toys are all on sale now but that does not mean I can get everything that my children ask for.
“For my seven-year-old daughter, I will see if things like her uniforms and school items are still in good condition. If not, I will buy new ones for her.
“I have already bought new shoes for Hari Raya. But I will buy other items later,” she added.
In Johor Baru, shoppers are taking advantage of the back-to-back festivities to hunt for discounts while making sure they don’t overspend.
Student management assistant Nurul Aisha Mohd Yusoff, 37, said the closeness of Christmas, Chinese New Year and Hari Raya Aidilfitri is an advantage as she will get more opportunities to get festive deals.
“There will always be a lot of discounts and deals during festive seasons.
“For me, it is a good thing as I can start preparing for Hari Raya Aidilfitri early this year by checking out discounts during Christmas and Chinese New Year,” she said.
“I am also looking for back-to-school things for my children. Unfortunately, most of the things that are on sale are very festival-specific. I have not found any discounted items that are not related to Christmas or Chinese New Year.”
Businessman Tan Choo Oo, 62, said he and his family celebrate Christmas and Chinese New Year.
“It is a good thing as I can buy cookies and other long-lasting dry food for Chinese New Year and Christmas in one go whenever there is a discount or offer,” he said.
With the festivities coming close to each other, he can buy items while saving him time and money.
“However, this is not the case for all festive goods as there are things such as decorations and wet food that we still have to buy when the festival draws close,” he said.
Assistant financial officer Diana Keet, 34, said the back-to-back holidays will not affect how she spends her money.
“Every year, I will buy Christmas gifts for my friends and family, and I will do so this year as well.
“For Chinese New Year, I will try to buy fewer cookies,” she said.
Chinese New Year falls on Jan 29, just over a month after Christmas, which falls on Dec 25.
Meanwhile, Hari Raya Aidilfitri is expected to fall at the end of March or early April.
