Find tips on what to buy this Christmas. We will focus on technology gadgets, so do not expect a Gucci bag or a designer’s suit on our list.
Reduce your energy spending this Christmas with energy-efficient LED lights
Saving money on energy is a very important issue today. With the deployment of energy prepayment meters in Nigeria and increased tariff costs, especially for consumers in Band-A, energy consumers are now looking for ways to reduce their electric bills.
One way of reducing your energy bills this Christmas is to change all your light points to electronic energy-saving LED lamps. This Christmas provides you with a unique opportunity to shop for energy-saving lamps.
Electronic energy-saving lamps are more expensive than conventional incandescent lamps, but they will last longer, with a positive impact on your electric bill. However, they will pay for themselves within a year.
You have brands like Lontor and AKT to choose from. The 10 pieces of the 7W Lontor LED bulbs go for around ₦9,950 on Jumia Nigeria (i.e., less than ₦1,000 per bulb).
However, if you require more illumination, like in your living room, buy the 15W models, which cost about ₦29,000 for 10 pieces on Jumia Nigeria. Also good for your living room is the AKT 10W LED bulb, which is listed for ₦21,000 for 10 pieces on Jumia Nigeria. For smaller spaces, you can make use of the 5W AKT LED bulb, which is listed on Jumia Nigeria for ₦14,000 for 10 pieces.
Generally, we advise that you shop for energy-saving gadgets this Christmas.
Do not stay in the dark this Christmas, buy an Energy Solution
Despite the fact that the power supply situation in the country is improving, power failures are still a thing in most parts of Nigeria. While an electric generator is no longer is some areas, it is still a big deal in many parts of Nigeria.
You will probably need a power solution like a power generator, inverter, or portable power station if you are serious about having electricity when you want it this Christmas. There is no harm in adding one of these electric power solutions to your Christmas shopping list. A power solution will ensure you enjoy your Christmas holiday.
With a generator or a capable inverter unit, you will never miss your favourite TV show or live sports during Christmas, you will always have fresh food, and you can live in comfort.
Here are some helpful links:
- How to Buy a Generator
- Generator prices for Christmas
- Buy Honda Generators this Christmas: Locate authorised Honda shops
Shop for a Laptop or Desktop PC for your home this Christmas
This Christmas provides you with a unique opportunity to equip your home with IT tools. One of the most important IT tool available today is the computer.
One benefit of having a computer is that PCs are the greatest impediments to connecting your home to the internet. Buying a computer puts you a step away from connecting your home to the internet and enriching your home with more ICT tools.
You have a desktop or laptop computer to choose from this Christmas. Laptop PCs are more expensive than desktop PCs, but come with the added advantage of mobility. If you want to carry your computer around then a laptop may be worth the higher price. Laptops are also more expensive to upgrade and maintain.
One other reason why you may want to consider a laptop is that laptops are more energy friendly. You can charge your laptop battery whenever there is power failure. This means you can use your laptop for a reasonable time whenever there is power failure.
You can also choose between a new branded, an assembled (cloned) or a Used (Tokunbo) computer. Used and assembled computers are cheaper but if you want to enjoy latest IT technologies, we advise that you pay the higher price for a new branded computer. If however you cannot buy a new branded computer we advice you buy cloned or used PC as any computer is better than no computer.
Price of good used desktop computers vary from N60,000 to N150,000 depending on features. An assembled desktop PC cost between N85,000 and N170,000 depending on features.
New branded desktop PC costs between N110,000 to up to N460,000 depending on features. Price of new Laptop PCs range from N150,000 to up to N950,000 depending on specification.
Brands to choose from range from local brands like Omatek, and Zinox to international brands like IBM Lenovo, Dell, Gateway, HP, Toshiba, acer, and so on.
Nigerian banks also offer consumer financing for PC purchase so talk with your bank to see whether you are qualified for such services this Christmas. Consumer financing allows you to own an item of your choice by simply paying a percentage down payment (usually 10%), the balance is off set via monthly installment for between 12 to 24 months.
Therefore, what are you waiting for; computerise your home this Christmas.
Connect your home to the internet this Christmas
Internet connectivity is getting cheaper and will even fall further this Christmas. The falling prices are connected to stiffer competition as more companies enter the market.
If you presently have a computer, then connecting it to the internet will not be a problem. Some Nigerians still visit Cyber cafes with their personal Laptops. If you are one of such people you need to know that your home can be connected to internet with as low as N10,000 this Christmas. Maintaining an internet connection can cost as low as N1,500 monthly.
Companies like Globacom, MTN, Airtel, 9Mobile and so on all have great internet offers this Christmas.
So why should you frustrate yourself in poorly equipped Cyber cafes when you can afford connecting your home on line. This Christmas provides with a unique opportunity to connect your home to the internet as prices are bound to fall. In addition, some ISP offer one-month free internet access once you connect.
Here are some useful links:
- Glo unveils new internet package grab one for Christmas
- Browse with as low as N40.00 per hour on Starcomms this Christmas
- Starcomms cheap Christmas bulk internet plans
- Cheap night browsing from MTN
Secure/Insure your car and Vital Assets this Christmas
With Christmas around the corner, car snatchers and armed robbers generally are intensifying effort to ensure a memorable Christmas season. The bad news is that your car may be in their target list.
Frankly speaking, you cannot prevent your car from being stolen, but you need to know that there are technologies out there that can help the police to easily and promptly recover your vehicle when the inevitable happens. You can also get a comprehensive insurance policy for your vehicle and vital assets this Christmas.
Vehicle tracking services can help you monitor, via a computer (on the internet) or mobile phone (internet or SMS), where your car is at any given point. Vehicle tracking systems usually have detailed maps to aid the recovery of a stolen vehicle. Car trackers can also help in search and recovery of broken down vehicles.
Most of the services are GSM/GPS based.
Other vital assets like Laptops, Generators, etc can also be tracked with a vehicle tracker.
Some asset tracking companies in Nigeria include MTN C-Track, Cotek, Basequills, Palmaa, and so on.
Here are some useful links:
- MTN C-track for Christmas asset tracking
- Track your car & other vital assets this Christmas
- Cotrac asset tracking from Cotek: enjoy Christmas with peace of mind
GPS Navigation for Christmas
GPS navigation gadgets provide you with street-level maps of Nigeria. This ensures you arrive anywhere you want to go on time. Simply enter the name of a place, and a GPS navigation system will provide you with 2D or 3D maps of the location. You will also get voice-based turn-by-turn directions with street names.
Nokia mobile phones like Nokia N97, Nokia 6210 Navigator, Nokia 6710 Navigator, and so on come with built-in GPS navigation and Nokia maps. Nokia maps are navigable in Nigeria. This means if you have a Nokia phone with GPS and Nokia maps you can find places directly on your Nokia phone.
GPS navigation device is a must buy this Christmas for those that love testing new technologies.
Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) and Setdrive Ltd are promoting Garmin nuvi 200w with street level maps of Nigeria (mostly state capitals and highways). According to NTDC, this is aimed at making it easy for tourists and Nigerian to locate places of interest. This Garmin nuvi 200w has a database of up to 6 million points of interest in Nigeria like tourist sites, hotels, restaurants, banks, shopping malls, banks, petrol stations, business locations, hot Christmas joints, and so on.
to be continued
mobile phones for Christmas
Enjoy Christmas with media players
Connect your home to Satellite TV this Christmas
Home theatre
Turn your home theatre alive this Christmas with an HDTV
Do not allow those Christmas moments to escape, capture them with a digital camera
Keep your food fresh for Christmas with a Refrigerator
Drive your dream this Christmas
