Hungry Ghosts and One Tired Shopper
I heard the most interesting explanation why everything is STILL on sale here in Singapore. (Of course, there's always a reason for a sale here...)
This is the start of the Hungry Ghosts Festival -- a Buddhist festival where is it believed the deceased come back and visit the living. We only have one day for Halloween so this tops that, doesn't it? Well, apparently people don't like to buy, invest or spend much during this period -- hence a dip in retail sales. I predict that there will be an F1 sale, then a end of Ramadan sale, then whatever happens in November sale...(Thanksgiving?).
In any case, being freshly salaried and having a week to go before the lease on my furniture expires, I gave myself the length of the weekend to buy ALL the major furniture I need. I gave myself a budget but last night I was almost certain I would end up raiding Ikea -- something I dreaded. Not that I have anything against Ikea, hell I'm there every week. It's just that every expat-to-be has the same destination and I'd hate for somebody to identify it in their own catalog. "Hey I have the same Karlstaad sofa! And this dining table..." But I have to give it to them: Nobody romances the humble bookcase as much as them. Hell, they have one whole section and it took major mental space for me to envision the Perfect Bookcase.
It's only fitting as half the boxes I brought over from Manila are books. (13 out of 26, and only 1 box of clothes.)
Anyway, I went to a huge furniture mall that's really far away -- about 15 stops on the MRT and a cab ride. But I have no regrets, I bought stuff that really pretty but on a good deal. Of course I still did go over the budget. What do you expect when you have expensive tastes? Haha. (The trick is to make it look expensive, right?)
I hate over-salesmanship -- when you realize people see you as their quota-maker, instead of selling you what you need. At the end I had to remind myself -- choose based on what feels good, not what you save.
But I'm especially happy about my new discovery -- memory foam mattresses. I never thought you could sleep on those things that you use for your laptop. It's awesome -- it conforms exactly to your body shape so you will be in perfect natural alignment. There's a whole science to these matresses and boy they can get pricey. But I guess a bed is an investment that's worth it as you spend 1/3 of your life in it. (And now I will be even more late in the morning.)
Another realization -- the couch defines the motif. I happened to buy a white couch -- and so now everything else I bought is white. Only now I realize -- I will badly need a maid. (Or invite Louren over for drinks.) Otherwise I will live in a GRAY apartment.
My couch won't arrive for 3 weeks though...too bad, I think this was the best looking piece of all.
So I have spent a real fortune in 2 days -- and I have plopped on dozens of couches, rolled around dozens of bed, planted my tush on many chairs. Who knew the search for comfort was exhausting?
This is the start of the Hungry Ghosts Festival -- a Buddhist festival where is it believed the deceased come back and visit the living. We only have one day for Halloween so this tops that, doesn't it? Well, apparently people don't like to buy, invest or spend much during this period -- hence a dip in retail sales. I predict that there will be an F1 sale, then a end of Ramadan sale, then whatever happens in November sale...(Thanksgiving?).
In any case, being freshly salaried and having a week to go before the lease on my furniture expires, I gave myself the length of the weekend to buy ALL the major furniture I need. I gave myself a budget but last night I was almost certain I would end up raiding Ikea -- something I dreaded. Not that I have anything against Ikea, hell I'm there every week. It's just that every expat-to-be has the same destination and I'd hate for somebody to identify it in their own catalog. "Hey I have the same Karlstaad sofa! And this dining table..." But I have to give it to them: Nobody romances the humble bookcase as much as them. Hell, they have one whole section and it took major mental space for me to envision the Perfect Bookcase.
It's only fitting as half the boxes I brought over from Manila are books. (13 out of 26, and only 1 box of clothes.)
Anyway, I went to a huge furniture mall that's really far away -- about 15 stops on the MRT and a cab ride. But I have no regrets, I bought stuff that really pretty but on a good deal. Of course I still did go over the budget. What do you expect when you have expensive tastes? Haha. (The trick is to make it look expensive, right?)
I hate over-salesmanship -- when you realize people see you as their quota-maker, instead of selling you what you need. At the end I had to remind myself -- choose based on what feels good, not what you save.
But I'm especially happy about my new discovery -- memory foam mattresses. I never thought you could sleep on those things that you use for your laptop. It's awesome -- it conforms exactly to your body shape so you will be in perfect natural alignment. There's a whole science to these matresses and boy they can get pricey. But I guess a bed is an investment that's worth it as you spend 1/3 of your life in it. (And now I will be even more late in the morning.)
Another realization -- the couch defines the motif. I happened to buy a white couch -- and so now everything else I bought is white. Only now I realize -- I will badly need a maid. (Or invite Louren over for drinks.) Otherwise I will live in a GRAY apartment.
My couch won't arrive for 3 weeks though...too bad, I think this was the best looking piece of all.
So I have spent a real fortune in 2 days -- and I have plopped on dozens of couches, rolled around dozens of bed, planted my tush on many chairs. Who knew the search for comfort was exhausting?