Mga ateh at ditse, 100 days na lang before Christmas. Ang okasyong vonggang vonggang pagkaka-gastusan nating lahat. Of course hindi pa natin nadadama ang rush pero do we have to wait? I know it’s too early but its better to be early than late, stressed and haggardness pag malapit na ang pasko, devah?

So, here are Ms. Chuniverse’s Christmas Gift Giving Tips!

1. Make your list na.

I-group ang mga bibigyan ng regalo. I-base sa level of importance.

A. Family (isama ang dyowa dito kung meron man, level-up, kung boylet lang – isama sya sa friendships o etc.)

B. Friendships (mga kaibigang tunay)

C. Mga ina-anak (‘wag pag-taguan)

D. Officemates, etc.

2. Pag-isipan ang regalo.

Sa tapat ng bawat pangalan, isipin kung ano ang point of interest nila at sa tingin mo ay magpa-paligaya sa kanila. It doesn’t have to be expensive. Pero ang gift na pinag-isipan ay na-aapreciate ng tunay. Relevance to the recipient is the key.

Hindi palakihan at pavonggahan ng regalo ito mga ditse. Pag nakatanggap ako ng fruit cakes, naiisip ko na lang, hindi ako kilala ng taong itetch. Fruitcakes are so last century kaya. And they are not that cheap ha. Sayang ang pera. You can buy something relevant to the person na for the price of a fruit cake.

Enough na muna ang regalong gaya ng mug, planner at kalendaryo. Passé na po ito. Utang na loob.

Example. I have this friend who collects horse figures. Nung may makita akong super cute na miniature horse rocking chair sa Dapitan, binili ko na itetch kahit 2 months before Christmas pa. When he received my gift sa Christmas Party namin, gustong-gusto nya. Aside sa fact na madadagdag sa collection nya, matagal na daw syang naghahanap non. And it cost me P55.00 to make him super happy.

Last Christmas, I bought Himalayan Pink Salt from Salcedo Park weekend market. At super mura ng asin na ‘yon but it’s so classy and it’s appropriate for a chef friend. And he does like it. Perfect din for friends who loves to cook.

Also, if you are good in baking, why not give baked goodies na specialty mo. If you are into photography, why not framed pictures ng mga best shots mo and then add some personalized dedications. Devah!

Or if it's for a friend, and you have a picture together, let's say your recent trip to a beach or any picture na happy moment, why not put it in a frame and write a personal message behind? Pwede? You can also have the picture printed, mount it on a cardboard and glue a magnet behind. Instant ref magnet na sya.

3. Bumili unti-unti. Hindi kailangang biglain ang pagbili. Bumili lamang kapag payday or may pera. Pag naglalakad ka sa mall or sa department store, chances are may makikita kang ideal gift para sa isa sa mga recipients mo. But don’t stick sa convenience ng malls, good finds are scattered everywhere. Include Divisoria and Dapitan in your destination. Set a date kung kailan ka pupunta. And when you go there, dress appropriately. Rubber shoes, shorts, comfy shirt. Mag belt-bag ka at ilagay sa harap mo. Take out all those jewelries and blend with the crowd. Hindi fashion show opportunity itetch. Ok lang maging mukhang dukha at least may ‘K’ kang tumawad.

Note: Please don’t give anything that is obviously fake or imitation. Or don’t give anything fake at all. Kung ikaw ang recipient, how would you feel? Pang fake lang ba ang beauty mo? Ouch.

4. Save on the Wrapper. Use the Original Packaging. When you buy something at ok naman ang brand, don’t wrap it na. Brag mo na yung label. Ask for the nicest shopping bag. Use your charm mga ateh.

Example: Nung nag stop-over kami sa Singapore last year, may Harrod’s shop sa Duty Free. Yung isang Tita ko ay namedropper pagdating sa mga brand names. Nagkataon naman na they have items on sale. I bought a jar of chutney na house brand ng Harrod’s. The chutney is worth P299.00 only. I asked the Pinay staff to wrap it with paper napkin and give me an extra paper bag para hindi ko na sya i-gift wrap pa. When I gave it to Tita nung Pasko, napa “Oh my…” pa sya. Akala nya, pina shift ko pa from London. Ang shoray!

Same thing with what I did last March. I went to National Geographic Singapore and bought notebooks on sale. These notebooks are worth P99.00 lang. But with the free bags I got from the sales staff, it looks more than that na. Sosy pa! This will be my Christmas gift this December for some officemates who are nature/animal lovers.

5. Mag-recycle. Kung ayaw mo ng gift na natanggap mo, ibigay ito sa iba. Make sure lang na hindi kakilala ng pagbibigyan mo ang nagbigay sa ‘yo. AND check from your list kung sino ang pwedeng maging recipients nito.

Example. Corporate gifts like umbrellas, T-Shirt, mugs, etc. Pag nakakatanggap ako nito, usually, sa Nanay at Tatay din ang bagsak. Eto kasi, para hindi na sila bumili ng pan-regalo nila sa trabahador sa Farmville, mga kapitbahay, collector ng basura, taga deliver ng sulat, security guards, etc. These people will remember that simple gesture of generosity. Kaya kaysa hindi mo mapakinabangan, ipagkaloob sa iba.

Note. Kung magre-recycle ka, siguraduhin lang na natanggal mo ang dedication at hindi personalize itetch. Baka naka-imprenta namesung mo ha.

6. Kung wala kang maisip.

Ok lang magbigay ng cash, GC’s o Electronic Gift Cards. Pero ‘un nga lang, bulgar na bulgar ang value ng ibinigay mo. Pero ang good side about this, pag GC ng department store, makakapili naman ang pagbibigyan mo ng talagang gusto nya. I love receiving GCs kasi magagamit ko sya whole year round. Unless December 31 of the same year na lang ang expiry nya ha. This is perfect for inaanaks.

7. Buy during SALE periods.

Buying gifts during sale season will save you a lot of moolah. But don’t wait na dumating pa ang Christmas sale season. For sure stressful ang ambiance nyan. Dapat two-three weeks before Christmas, freshness na ang beauty at tapos ka na ‘day. My deadline sa shopping is last week of November. Three weeks before Christmas, nag-gi-giftwrap na aketch.

Usually last minute ko ay ang pang-exchange gift sa office coz usually late na kami mag Kris Kringle.

Kung advance shopping ka, do away with clothes na regalo. Kasi 10 days lang usually ang return policy ng mga tindahan. Pag hindi kumasya sa recipient, baka hindi na mapalit. And buying clothes as gifts is quite risky. Mahirap mag-aasume ng fashion sense ng recipient.

8. Set a Theme.

When wrapping your gifts, you can create a theme. You don’t have to buy expensive wrappers. Vakla ka kaya dapat creative ka. This year, my wrappers will be brown papers or manila paper, sinamay ribbons and handmade paper flowers. Effort nga lang. But if you have lots of free time na, vongga itetch my dear. Packaging/wrapping is very important in gift giving.

9. Do not overspend. Hindi pa katapusan ng mundo kaya wag maging gastador. If possible, set a budget per person. That way you will know more or less how much you will need to buy all those gifts. Kung kikilos ka ng maaga, hindi ka matataranta. Mas makakapag-isip ka ng tama at ang ending mas makakatipid ka.

Kapag pagod na kasi at siksikan na sa mall, konti na lang ang choices. At ang tendency, dahil pagod ka na, you will end up buying whatever is available or the expensive ones.

10. Buy yourself a gift. Do not forget to buy something for yourself. Sabi nga loving oneself is the greatest love of all. Think of something that will make you uber happy this Christmas and go for it my dear. Buy na that camera or that MacBook or the iPad you fell in love with. You deserve it dahlin!