Top 5 Appliances and Gadgets to Buy During the Holidays
Top 5 Appliances and Gadgets to Buy During the Holidays
The Christmas season is a great time to shop, shop, shop in the Philippines. Whether you’re adding to your cart online or in-store, you’re sure to enjoy big discounts.
Of course, it’s best to plan your purchases to get the best deals and prevent overspending. The problem is that, sometimes, there are just too many sales going on that it can be hard to decide what to prioritize. If you’re facing this dilemma, here’s a quick guide that can help you narrow down your options:
Smartphone
If your smartphone is due for an upgrade, the best time to shop for a new one is during the holidays. Most smartphone brands regularly hold sales during this time, especially when the latest models have just been released. You can expect smartphones released one or two years ago to have huge markdowns, making them all-around great buys.
To get the most value for money, evaluate your usage habits before making a purchase. For example, if you don’t play a lot of mobile games, then getting a gaming phone might not be a good idea even if it’s marked 30% off. In the same vein, if you need to be able to take high-quality photos with your phone (e.g., for work), then a smartphone with a good camera set-up would be a great investment.
Laptop (or Tablet)
Some people may not have enough space (or money) to spring for a high-quality PC set up at home. If you’re among this group, the next best thing is to get a laptop. Like smartphones, laptops usually go on sale during the holidays so it’s easy to find awesome deals.
Fortunately, when it comes to buying a laptop, Philippines’ tech and appliance stores often carry a wide selection of products. The key is to be careful with regards to the specs. Pay attention to the RAM and the model of the processor; if you’re going to use your laptop for resource-intensive activities like video editing or gaming, you’re going to need a powerful unit. Otherwise, mid-range models are more than enough for streaming movies, video conferencing, and some light office or schoolwork.
Refrigerator
There’s no denying that Filipinos love to celebrate with food and there’s perhaps no other celebration as big as Christmas. This means food—and a whole LOT of it. In fact, it’s a running joke that Filipinos eat nothing but leftovers after Christmas and well after the New Year.
Speaking of leftovers, you probably have an overflowing refrigerator during the holidays. If you usually struggle with organizing food containers to make them fit inside the limited space, then perhaps it’s time to get a new fridge. This way, you’ll have enough room to store food you cooked, ordered, or received as a gift. A new refrigerator is also a great holiday purchase if you’re planning on having a bigger family.
Of course, getting a new fridge doesn’t mean you have to go for a bigger one. Sometimes, you just need a more energy-efficient model. The good news is that inverter refrigerators are getting more affordable each year.
Air Conditioner
It might feel counterintuitive to buy a new aircon during the holiday season when the air is colder, but it’s actually the perfect time to do so. This way, you’re already prepared when the hot and humid weather comes around again.
If you have a bit of extra money, it’s best to go for an inverter model so you can save on your electricity costs. Of course, make sure to get the correct size and horsepower of the air conditioner for the room you want to cool so you don’t waste energy.
Smart TV
Last but certainly not least, if you’ve been planning on leveling up your movie or TV series marathons, there’s no better time to buy a new TV than during the Christmas season. Note that many smart TVs are already quite affordable throughout the year, so you can expect even bigger discounts during the holidays.
For the best viewing experience, get the right size of TV for your living room or home theater. You should also take note of the resolution and picture quality. Obviously, 8K is better than 4K but not all movies and TV programs are shot in 8K yet so you might not be able to make the most of the stunning visuals just yet.
You may also want to purchase a soundbar to improve the audio output. Even the most high-end model of smart TVs only have passable speakers, so having a separate audio device will dramatically improve performance. Now all that’s left to purchase is a subscription to your favorite streaming service (or maybe a new video game)!
As a final note, make sure you have a proper way to dispose of your old appliances or gadgets. Most people would opt to sell, but you also have the choice to donate. If the old appliance or gadget isn’t usable anymore, then make sure to send them to the correct recycling facilities to avoid contributing to the growing problem of e-waste.
That said, happy shopping!