CHRISTMAS is probably one of the only times in the year where a lot of shopping takes place. Be it either for Christmas decorations or gifts, a lot of people will be reaching into their wallets this festive season to ensure Christmas is celebrated well with families and friends.

It is also around this time that a lot of shops and advertisers strike up remarkable deals to attract their customers — ‘Tis the season for specials, discounts and promotions and giveaways. Many consumers also always look forward to Christmas and new year to shop for household items, white goods and electronic items.

Consumer Council of Fiji CEO Premila Kumar says like any other festival, there is a lot of impulsive buying and little comparative shopping done.

“Many consumers can be distracted by the enticing advertisements, loud music played in stores and promotions such as ‘zero dollar’ deposit deals,” Mrs Kumar said.

“While discounts and special deals are good for consumers, some end up spending their hard-earned money on items which may be of poor quality, are sub-standard and on prepacked food items which may be nearing expiry dates.

“There is so much rush, particularly when consumers leave their shopping for the last minute that they end up in stores which may not be offering them items at the cheapest rate in town.”

A market surveillance by the council over the years showed that some traders try to get rid of their old stock during such times. Some of these items, it was revealed, are not of merchantable quality and may not be fit for the purpose.

“In some cases highlighted to the council, a few traders have put out misleading advertisements to attract consumers.

“The council believes consumers should enjoy their shopping by making the most of the ‘specials’ and discounts.

“At the same time they should be vigilant about the quality and price of the items they’re purchasing. There is no harm in double-checking the price and asking questions to the traders about the quality of the item.”

Mrs Kumar also suggested that if it is a hire-purchase deal then consumers must spend time reading the agreement so that they fully understand the warranty issues, raise questions about the availability of back-up services and about the interest and other charges they will be paying.

“Consumers must remember that festivals have significance, thus, celebrations to mark such occasions should be centred on its meaning.”

Here are some tips for a savvy Christmas from the Consumer Council of Fiji:

* Draw up a list with its average cost — write down all required items for the festive season and prioritise them according to high and low priority products. This will not only help you purchase the most important items first but also sustain your budget;

* Make the most of specials and promotions but at the same time avoid being swayed by all you see in the dailies, TV and hear on radio. Check out what you really require specifically for the festival;

* If you are planning to decorate your house, you can consider recycling last year’s decorations which are still in good condition;

* Avoid bulk buying, only spend on the number of items in its required quantity for the festival. Do not purchase in bulk just because items are on special as it may be nearing its expiry dates;

* Check your purchase, test those lights or white goods before buying and check for expiry/best before dates on edible items; and

* Make healthy choices — with the rise of non-communicable diseases in the country, try and shift your focus to healthier dishes which can nourish consumers positively while maintaining the spirit of Christmas.