While we’re all out enjoying the holiday festivities, you might want to think of this as a last hurrah before our cost of living starts rising again. The Singapore government has announced that all purchases on or after 1 Jan 2023 will be subject to GST at 8%, instead of the 7% we’re now used to. Tl;dr, things are about to get expensive. It’s not that much of a doomsday scenario though, because we have these gifts, for yourself or a loved one, to look forward to. To make your money’s worth, we’ve narrowed down all the big-ticket purchases we’ve been saving up for, which include plenty of entertainment devices and household appliances we’d love to have. Impulse buys? Nah, we’re spending smart.
LADY DIOR GOLD JARDIN D’HIVER VELVET EMBROIDERY
— $7,100, from dior.com.
Dior’s Lady D-Lite bag has been a modern classic since its introduction; and it’s been released in various colours, materials and designs over the seasons. This version with velvet and metallic threads is perfect for Christmas.
LEICA Q2 TRAVELLER KIT
— $8,420, from leica-store.sg.
The Leica Q2 is an incredible full-frame mirrorless camera that’s light, portable and easy to shoot with. Plus it produces amazing pictures with amazing colours and tones that Leica cameras are famous for. This kit includes an extra battery (you’ll buy this anyway!) and Leica’s new wrapping camera cloth that matches the camera beautifully.
KLIPSCH THE FIVES BOOKSHELF SPEAKERS
— $999 (U.P. $1,299), available at sg.tcacoustic.asia.
While you’re upgrading your home items before the new GST kicks in, get a good set of bookshelf speakers; these ones from Klipsch sound and look good, plus they are currently on sale.
PICO 4 VR ALL-IN-ONE HEADSET
— $499 to $599, available from Shopee.
Once you’ve tried a VR headset you’ll want to own one, and the PICO 4 is an excellent option to get based on price, experience and the available games on its app store. Read our full review here.
STEIGEN AUTOMATED LAUNDRY DRYING SYSTEM
— From $799 to $1,299 on steigen.com.sg.
Every household can do with an indoor clothes drying rack, and Steigen has some of the sleekest and best performing ones. There’s the new Solar Sonic and Solar Pro models that have functions like 60°C Quad Core Solar Drying and 8-way Circulator Blower. The Pro model also includes Solar Ions technology for odour control and ultrasonic cleanse for allergy care. All the models come in various colourways so you can pick one that best suits your home.
BOSCH DISHWASHER
— From $2,099, available at bosch-home.com.
Here’s one more thing households will need, especially if you’re constantly hosting guests or have a big family. A dishwasher deals with all the hassle of cleaning up; just chuck dishes, baking pans, pots, and even glassware inside and let it do all the work for you.
PHILIPS AIR PERFORMER 2-IN-1 PURIFIER & FAN
— $699, available at all major retail stores and online platforms.
Philips is well-known for their air purifiers, so it was only a matter of time before this purifier/fan combo came about. It’s a reasonable price compared to the same thing you’ll get from another famous brand, plus it has lots of fancy claims of cleaning the air really well.
PRISM+ OASIS CEILING FAN
— $449, available from prismplus.sg.
Prism+ doesn’t just make TVs and monitors; they’ve entered the home appliance category and now have air conditioners and ceiling fans. Their Oasis ceiling fan is reasonably priced (like all Prism+ products), and comes with 6 speeds and an integrated dimmable light.
JBL BOOMBOX 3
— $699, available from jbl.com.sg.
If you love massive sound and deep bass, then this is the boombox to get. We love that it’s dust and waterproof, has 24 hours of play time, offers Bluetooth streaming, and the camou version looks fierce. Buy before the GST increase.
AUDIO TECHNICA AT-SB2022 PORTABLE BLUETOOTH TURNTABLE
— $288, available at the Audio Technica Listening Treehouse at Funan Mall.
What a blast from the past this is. The fan-favourite Sound Burger returns after 40 years to celebrate the brand’s 60th anniversary. This model has Bluetooth connectivity, is compact and has a good 12-hour battery life. Best of all, it’s pretty affordable.
SONY PLAYSTATION 5 DIGITAL
— $768.90, available at Sony stores and authorised sellers.
If this ever comes back in stock, and sometimes it does, snap it up right away! The graphics and gameplay are truly elevated in the PS5, as any pro or amateur gamer would tell you, so it’s a no-brainer for anyone that likes console gaming. Pro tip: go for the digital version because nobody’s got space for physical discs nowadays.
OONI KODA 12 PORTABLE GAS PIZZA OVEN
— $689.99, available from Shopee.
Pizzas in 60 seconds? And with no assembly and no mess? That’s what Ooni Koda will bring to your next outdoor party. Just flip open the foldable legs, insert the stone baking board and connect to a gas tank.
WMF LONO HOT POT & STEAM
— $399, available at major departmental stores, and online at Shopee.
Also on our wishlists, this ultra-functional and super sleek WMF appliance. The Lono Hot Pot & Steam deserves its time as a table centrepiece, and when used as a hot pot, can hold two soup bases with its generous 3.6 litre capacity to feed up to 6 people at once for peak communal dining experience. A separate steaming top also allows one to cook vegetables, dumplings, buns, and whole fish.
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