It’s that time of the year when the walkway linking Wisma Atria to Takashimaya becomes clogged with shoppers with their lists of names. But what if the perfect gift for your Secret Santee (or anyone, really) was closer than you think?
We know how it sounds, buying a Christmas gift in – gasp – Popular Bookstore. But if you’re on a modest budget, you’d be surprised by what it can get you if you know where to look.
From retailers in the heartlands to our favourite Japanese departmental stores, here are 30 Christmas gifts we uncovered in their unsuspecting aisles.
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UNDER S$10
1. Coffee mill
This nifty gadget is a game-changer for coworkers who are constantly brewing a hot drink only to have it go cold. This USB cup warmer will keep their morning cup of joe toasty, aromatic and flavourful, so they can power through emails without reheating their drink in the microwave.
Price: S$9.50
From: Daiso
3. USB fan with ice pack pocket
We all know someone who’s constantly working on the move, and while we can’t improve their work-life balance, we can help improve their terrible posture with this collapsible laptop stand – a practical gift that says “I’ve got your back”.
Price: S$9.50
From: Daiso
FROM S$10 TO S$20
5. Water-resistant speaker
Shopping for a beauty junkie? Give them a spa-like experience in their own bathroom with this battery-operated blackhead remover vacuum – an upgrade from the traditional nose strips, featuring three levels of suction power and three types of suction heads.
Price: S$11.90
From: Miniso
8. Thermos soup container
Skip the gamble of reed diffusers and essential oils – this aroma diffuser is the safest bet when you’re uncertain about one’s scent preferences. This minimalist piece will seamlessly blend into anyone’s home, just in time to welcome guests over the festive season.
Price: S$13.90
From: Japan Home (Compass One)
11. Cooling cushion
That budget Barbie whose special talent is cutting their own hair will appreciate these contraptions, which claim to be easier to use than scissors and promise “natural-looking” bangs and waves. (Remember to indemnify yourself from negative results.)
Price S$14.90-17.90
From: Don Don Donki
13. Engraved pen
It’s a big word, but it simply means this bath mat is crafted from stone. Not just any stone, but diatomite, which has millions of micropores that facilitate rapid water evaporation. The result? A highly absorbent, easily washable, and naturally deodorising bath mat that dries faster than its fabric counterparts, elevating the bathroom aesthetic and experience.
Price: S$15.90
From: Don Don Donki
16. Wireless mouse
If you’ve ever spent good money on a hideous brolly, no thanks to our unpredictable climate of late, you’d appreciate this compact alternative. And considering that lightweight umbrellas can cost up to S$100 in department stores, you’d be getting maximum bang for your buck.
Price: S$16.90
From: Don Don Donki (Suntec City)
18. Coffee pot dripper set
Designed for use over a gas stove, this hot sandwich maker will turn ordinary breakfasts into an indulgent cafe-worthy experience, complete with toasties, paninis and hot pockets. Because, let’s face it, melted cheese makes everything better.
Price: $17.06
From: Daiso
20. Wireless charger
A humidifier may as well be a gag gift in our climate, but it can work wonders for those who struggle with morning sinus issues after sleeping in the AC. Plus, if your Secret Santee has a winter vacation planned, this travel-sized version will be a lifesaver in dry climates.
Price: S$17.06
From: Daiso
22. Self-watering planter
Know someone who can’t keep a plant alive? Give their morale a boost with a self-watering planter that relies on ceramic animals with absorbent “tongues” or “tails”. And for those value utility over aesthetics, the mint or basil Egglings (S$9.70) will add zest to their cocktails.
Price: S$18.40
From: Hands
23. eWriter
For the Secret Santee who has been chugging one too many Nutri-Grade C drinks, your gift could be their last-ditch attempt to fulfil their New Year’s resolution to eat (and drink) clean. Every health enthusiast needs a blender, so why not give them a compact and portable one?
Price: S$19.90
From: Japan Home (Chinatown Point)
25. Earbuds
This handy device will help drivers who can’t resist snacking behind the wheel keep those pesky crumbs and, worse, roaches at bay. Plus, it’ll double as a keyboard cleaner and reach those nooks and crannies your robot vacuum at home just can’t reach.
Price: S$19.90
From: Japan Home
FROM S$20 TO S$25
27. Steam toast maker
Your Secret Santee deserves a more flattering angle when video conferencing on their phone, particularly when their webcam delivers the video quality of a potato or when their phone’s 5G outperforms their home Wi-Fi. With this, they’ll never have to precariously prop their phone against the screen again.
Price: S$21.80
From: Popular Bookstore (NEX)
29. Waffle maker
Forget the popiah and taco parties – a bingsu party will be one for the books. For the mixologists among us, this will unlock intermediate cocktails from piña coladas to margaritas. Now, that’s a Christmas gift that might just earn you the title of Secret Santa of the year.
Price: S$24.90
From: Hands (Orchard Central)