Monday, February 1, 2010

Sitting, counting, waiting

Today is Federal Territory Day, a state holiday for the Federal Territories (Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya) in Malaysia. As there will be many people in shopping malls today buying new clothes, new shoes, new bags and other goodies in preparation for Chinese New Year, I spent the day at home to avoid the crowd.

Even garden centers and plant nurseries will not be spared by the crowd. Many are shopping for CNY plants such as 四季橘 sìjìjú (citrus madurensis/calamondin) and 金钱树 jīnqiánshù (zamioculcas zamiifolia). There are many other popular CNY plants. As long as the name of the plants in chinese or the colour or the shape of the leaves/plants can be somehow linked to good luck, wealth, prosperity, good fortune, gold, being fruitful, or any auspicious meaning at all, one can be sure that the plant will be heavily marketed as CNY plants with expensive pricetags. I am all for plants and I don't care about the symbolism or why people buy them. As long as there are plants around, I am happy.


For this CNY, there will be no new clothes and shoes for me because I have decided not to buy any new clothes and shoes for the year 2010 until all the clothes that I have (not that I have many) are all worn out. This year I adopt the motto of reduce, reuse and recycle. So not buying new clothes fall under the category of reduce and reuse. One of the guidelines to reduce waste at home is to "buy only what you need". And I have decided that I do not need any new clothes because I can reuse my existing clothes for CNY.

But I still need to buy some CNY goodies for my parents-in-law and elder sister-in-law. I buy the same type of things for them every previous year and since I hear no complaints from them, I will be buying them the same things this year too. So right now I am sitting at home, counting down the days to Chinese New Year, and waiting for people to go back to work so that I can shop in more favourable conditions.

13 comments:

  1. Haha!! You sound like a smart shopper!! I totally agree with you on the unnecessity to buy new clothes if the existing ones are still decent. Good on ya to have yearly goodies for your in laws. It is a very thoughtful thing to do. :)

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  2. *throw all your existing clothes and taifus to Recycle and Reuse Bin*

    ok, now can go and get a new taifu for cny jor.

    (die die also must drag you along the sea to spend money - like that only i don't feel so guilty mah.. ish!) tee hee!

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  3. Hi GerryMoon, oh, I thought it is customary for everyone who celebrates CNY to bring goodies to the in-laws' place during the 1st day CNY visit (bai nian). Don't you do that too?

    Aiya Gargles, you no need to feel guilty la cos you are buying new clothes for your children mah. And also cannot simply throw intimate garments - got pantang larang on this.

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  4. This CNY I have to really reduce everything. I didn't even buy much for my own family as financial is quite tight this year. So I'm actually trying hard to stretch my money. Only one new top and handbag. But they are all bought by hubby. Hehe! I support your idea for reuse, reduce and recycle...

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  5. Hello Jennifer, it is good that you are spending prudently when financial is tight.

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  6. yeap I am doing the same, I only buy clothe that I can wear them for work, got to tighten my belt, bad time mah....

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  7. Hello "ME N MY MILLION DOLLAR", good to be practical when it comes to clothes. :)

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  8. i don't shop much durig CNY or Xmas simply because i can always mix and match something out from my wardrobe without people noticing they actually were some old garments. or should i say "Reuse & Recycle"? Good one Mun, but i think i might need some new intimates for this year though :)

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  9. Hello sdovelly, I read that you have bought yourself the things you need. Are they all red in colour? *wink*

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  10. What do you buy for your in-laws every year? I also haven't buy yet. Waiting for my hubby to arrive in KL first. hehehe...

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  11. Hello Elizebeth, oh, I just buy my mother-in-law's favourite Macau almond biscuits, garlic groundnuts, mandarin oranges, pistachio nuts, 500g pork jerky (yuk kon), and wasabi nuts. Nothing expensive, just 小小意思for 拜年.

    Less than one week left, will be rush hours for everyone to do last minute shopping, hehehe. :)

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  12. Hey Mun, all red!!! How uncreative i am!! (*shy) I still haven't done any CNY shopping for house visitation yet though....always last minute!

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  13. Hello sdovelly, we're all in CNY mood now so of course they got to be RED! :D

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