Ho, ho, ho – oh no. It’s that time of the year for Secret Santas and gift exchanges. At the rate some of us are racking our brains, trying to come up with a practical Christmas gift for our peers, Secret Santa should be called Stressed Santa.
All jokes aside, we’ve come to your rescue and compiled a helpful list of Christmas gift ideas under $30 that cover most bases from fitspos to beauty junkies. Find them all conveniently around Bugis Town, and be on your merry way.
Life is short and the world is wide – we all know a special someone who lives by this anthem. For those with a little too much wanderlust, something travel-related ought to do the trick, like Challenger’s wireless portable speaker ($14.90) or a 64GB SD card ($27).
You can also opt to shower your jet-setting pal with a ton of travel necessities from Daiso. Their waterproof Vinyl Pouches ($4.07) are great for toting toiletries and makeup, and their Vacuum Seal Bags ($2.14) are a live-saver for those who always complain about luggage space.
You can also throw in a few Body Warmer packs ($2.14) if you know they’re travelling somewhere wintery.
While sports equipment is generally on the pricier side, that doesn’t mean you can’t shop for the fitspos. Over at Nike by Bugis, you can snag a 21L Drawstring Tote Bag for $27 that’s big enough to fit bulky gym clothes and protein powders.
Other logo-bearing merch such as caps ($29), water bottles ($23.90), and tie-dye socks ($25), are also a great way of keeping your gym rat friend in style and in shape.
Hypebeasts would also appreciate something from JD Sports, like an Adicolour Classic Festival Bag ($30) or a pair of Adidas’ Signature 3-striped Socks ($20). After all, swag is temporary, but drip is forever.
What’s cuter than a measuring cup? Measuring spoons shaped like cherries. And I bet you’ve never seen a more charming tulip tea infuser before. Find OTOTO’s range of kitchen accessories in adorable characters, like the Mon Cherry measuring spoons and egg separator ($23.90) and the Tulip Tea Infuser ($20.90), on BHG’s Home & Living Concept at Level 3.
Alternatively, keep it classy and traditional with these ornate Peranakan Coasters ($18.90) that come in a medley of colours and patterns that will be perfect for upcoming Christmas parties.
On that note, those who enjoy hosting would also appreciate one of Yankee Candle’s Fragrance Spheres ($12), which is a practical way of upping the ante at any party and can also double up as wardrobe fresheners.
For all the aspiring beauty gurus and skincare addicts, you can’t go wrong with anything from these big beauty retailers. Pamper your secret santee with some limited-edition skincare like Sephora’s Shower Cream Capsules ($24), Ultra Glow Serum ($25), or Origin’s Detoxifying and Hydrating Masks Mini Duo ($17).
Bathing care set ($19.90, U.P $35.90), Hand & Body lotion set ($23.20, U.P. $29), Trio Gift set ($26.32, U.P $49.90).
Or, grab one of Baylis & Harding’s lotion and soap sets from Novela that come in such gorgeous packaging you probably won’t have to wrap liao.
If you’re still stumped over what to get your ambiguous amigo, play it safe and cop some desktop accessories you know they’ll use from CR Group and Peek A Box. Desk essentials like standing fans or humidifiers, that btw cost no more than $30, are guaranteed to make working from home a little less drab.
Image credit: Bugis Town
Getting them a Snoopy Desk Organiser cum Storage Box ($27) from Books Kinokuniya is also a cute and friendly way of asking them to tidy their work desks. And when they need a break from work, turning to a bestselling self-help book such as 101 Ways To Be Less Stressed ($25.68) is a great way to take some edge off.
Bugis Town is the perfect place to shop for a practical Christmas gift for the whole village because you can redeem vouchers as you shop and dine there, from now till 23rd December 2022. For instance, earn a $5 eCapitaVoucher when you spend $60 at Bugis+, and another $10 eCapitaVoucher when you spend $150 at Bugis Junction.
Each of these vouchers will be valid for 3 months, which will give you plenty of time to spend them on party essentials for the holiday season, even till Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day.
Plus, keep your eyes peeled for an exclusive Disney pop-up store selling merchandise from Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars at the atriums of Bugis Junction and Bugis+ from now till 26th January 2023. Happy shopping!
Bugis Junction
Address: 200 Victoria Street, Singapore 188021
Opening Hours: 10am-10pm, Daily
Contact: Bugis Junction website
Bugis+
Address: 201 Victoria Street, Singapore 188067
Opening Hours: 10am-10pm, Daily
Contact: Bugis+ website
Bugis Street
Address: 3 New Bugis Street, Singapore 188867
Opening Hours: 10am-10pm, Daily
Contact: Bugis Street website
This post was brought to you by Bugis Town.
Photography by Clement Sim.
Just an hour away from KL!
Taichung is only an hour by High Speed Rail from Taipei or Taoyuan station.
No more stressing over what to get your loved ones for Christmas.
Gone are the days when family photoshoots used to be boring and extra formal.
Here are all the best things to do this weekend in Singapore.
Meet new-to-Singapore species as well.