BARGAIN BUYS | WESTGATE LIFESTYLE

I did many a fine thing over the long weekend, ranging from braving an ocean dip to starting my Christmas shopping.

Those experiences sparked different senses of satisfaction – the gift buying made me feel one step toward organised and I was happy to have scored something my son will love. (The ocean dip made me feel cold – ha, but exhilarated). The said son is currently studying for exams and before we know it, that will be another year of learning done, which also got me thinking of end-of-year gifts for teachers and tutors. The need to buy such gifts – coupled with the increased cost of living – seemed a great impetus to see what’s out there in our shopping centre priced below the $35 mark. Rest assured, there was plenty, and I even found some goodies for less than $15. (Maybe you too are keen to start your Christmas shopping and some of these ideas could be goodies for your special people.)

The array of bargain buys is vast, from diffusers, to caps, to candles (citronella to keep those mossies at bay), to a fun bathmat, to socks perfect for yoga, to an inspiring colouring-in set – all under $30. Then there’s the serving board priced at less than $10 – what a neat gift that would be with a special cheese on top. Or how about purchasing the heart-shaped cake tin and making some cakes as gifts (from the heart and all that!). My more expensive items (still under $35 though) are very cool – they are the Love in the Wild puzzle, and the It’s Debatable board game that comes with the tag – “200 reasons to argue, disguised as a game”. Sounds fun and maybe spot-on for the family at Christmas!

Perhaps your long weekend included time making the most of the Labour Weekend sales – there were certainly bargains galore on offer at Westgate Lifestyle … and the great thing is, they don’t all end with our long weekend. Enjoy the short working week.

|1. Outsiding’s balmy night citronella tropic pink candle, $7.40, from Bed Bath & Beyond |2. Wiltshire heart springform pan 23.5 x 23cm, $18.49, from Briscoes |3. Love in the Wild, 500 pc puzzle, $34.99, from NOOD |4. Under Armour men’s blitzing 3.0 cap, $27.99, from Rebel Sport |5. Blend black raspberry reed diffuser sticks, $12.99, from Freedom Furniture |6. It’s Debatable Game, $24.99, from NOOD |7. Gaiam Mary Jane yoga socks, $28.04, from Rebel Sport |8.Solace (I woke up like this) bathmat, $23.90, from Bed Bath & Beyond |9.Carnaby serving board, $9.97, from Freedom Furniture |10. Artmaker ultimate colouring kit, $29.99, from Warehouse Stationery