As we approach the end of the year, you probably have started thinking about festive season gifts for children, spouses, friends and colleagues.
We can all appreciate that gift giving can be a complicated affair, as can gift-giving etiquette; then, there is the whole question of affordability. We’ve put together some simple tips and advice to help you through this challenging season.
According to Elaine Swann, founder of Swann School of Protocol, there is one hard-and-fast rule for good gifting: “Always gift from your recipient’s perspective,” says Swann. “Look at their life, interests, what’s meaningful for them, what they might enjoy, and make your decision based on that.”
A tech device, like a cell phone, tablet or laptop potentially touches all those bases, as almost everybody uses one on a regular basis if not even all three. And, of course, the best tech gift, is one that you can get on the affordable terms.
African Bank has recently entered this space of devices, with an innovative solution, Tech Deals exclusively available to African Bank MyWORLD customers. Tech Deals are financed through Africa Bank’s Tech Credit, which has a maximum interest rate of 12% over 24 months, which makes gadget and device purchases so much more affordable.
We know most of us leave festive shopping to the last minute and end up panic buying and spending way too much. Rather than battling the mall crowds, Christmas should be a special time to spend with family and friends. To avoid the exhaustion and worry that often comes with Christmas shopping, we suggest the following:
1) Work out who you need to buy for and what you would like to buy – this takes out the guesswork and allows you to really select thoughtful gifts. Stressed decisions are not often the best decisions and planning early helps.
2) Set up a Christmas budget. This starts with a breakdown of how much money you can afford to spend on gifts once you have paid all the necessary expenses. Tech Deals offer affordable fixed instalments with no deposit, making it easy to budget for the right gift. Tech Credit allows you to break down the cost of a high end device, into smaller, more affordable payments, that can be easily accommodated in your monthly budget.
3) Use credit for things that really matter. Credit should be viewed as an enabler for your life goals. Many people have a negative perception of credit, which in turn limits their potential to achieve their goals. And yet, when allied with a sound financial plan, credit is often the most effective way to narrow the gap between where you are in life, and where you want to be.
In a world where your beloved kids, friends and colleagues need to stay ever connected for education, work or entertainment, the latest cell phones, laptops and tablets aren’t just as a luxury anymore, they’re the perfect gifts. Being able to buy these gifts on the best terms is easy with African Bank’s Tech Deals.
