SHOPPING isn’t just a woman’s game anymore.

For freelance writer Ana Ow, shopping, especially during special sales like the ongoing Great Singapore Sale (GSS), is a family affair.

The 34-year-old, who is married to 23-year-old Leonard Ow, said: “I definitely disagree that shopping is only for mummy to enjoy or to take care of.

“I work full-time and although we try to shop together on weekends, sometimes Leonard has to do the shopping on weekdays too, as he works on a freelance or project basis.”

She added: “He’s also really kiasu. He helps us save as a family as he’s the sort who would cut out coupons or take note of discounted prices or bulk-buy deals.”

For this year’s GSS, Mrs Ow, who has written both travel and lifestyle columns for my paper, will be stocking up on larger-sized clothes that son Keyaan, 19 months, can grow into.

“Kids outgrow clothing so quickly,” she said with a sigh.

“I also have a weakness for travel-related products as our family travels a lot together. And because of this, we are always on the lookout for travel deals for family,” she said, citing her favourite store as The Planet Traveller, at Paragon and Marina Square.

Besides this, she is also eyeing a Canon Digital Ixus 300 HS camera for the family. The current GSS deal at Canon retailers is $599 for the camera, an 8GB SD card and a limited-edition premium carry case.

“We already have a digital SLR that Leonard totes around, but I’ve been wanting a cute compact camera for myself to take videos of Keyaan dancing and getting up to no good,” she said, laughing.

Calling herself a recovering “spendaholic”, Mrs Ow said that since she became a mother, “I’ve cut down drastically on impulse buys for my own closet to ensure that the family and baby’s necessities are always taken care of”.

But even when it comes to spoiling her baby with stylish clothes and other items, her spending philosophy “is to get a few good-quality items that will last him well rather than frittering money away on numerous poor-quality stuff”, she said.

That includes buying items that do double-duty or are meaningful, like her recent purchase of TotsBots cloth diapers, which she purchased at a 10 per cent discount at online cloth diapering store Tiny Pants.

“Switching to cloth diapers is my way of doing something for the environment. Plus, I can re-use them, so I’ll be saving a bunch of money,” she said.

She also snagged a piece of Egon SitOn cabin luggage at 10 per cent off at The Planet Traveller.

“The bag is meant to be sat on, so I can lock the wheels and plonk Keyaan on it in front of me at the airport, and keep an eye on him and the luggage at the same time,” she said.

Now, do they say a family that shops together stays together?

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