Under $25: 9 Super Local Christmas Gifts That Will Surely Amaze Your Friends!

Christmas is around the corner and Discover SG is here to save you from cracking your brains for the perfect Christmas gifts for your friends and family.

Read on for the best wallet-friendly picks from local brands and unleash your inner shopaholic!

1. For the couch potato

“I don’t want to go out lah, I’m very tired. I  just want to stay at home and nua.”

Know a friend who is just like that? This is the gift for him or her!

[caption id="attachment_17117" align="alignnone" width="514"]i-am-not-couch-potato Credit: Naiise[/caption]

Designed by I am not a couch potato notebook
Naiise
3 Gateway Drive, Westgate Mall #01-30, Singapore 608532
6 Eu Tong Sen Street Central, #02-23,Singapore 059817
112 East Coast Road, I12 Katong, #01-31/32, Singapore 428802
3 Temasek Boulevard, Suntec City North Wing #01-477, Singapore 038983
Opening Hours: 11am-10pm daily
Cost: $10.60
Website: Naiise

2. For the everything also DIY friend

If you know someone who loves DIY projects, this starter kit will allow your friend to express his or her creativity.

[caption id="attachment_17121" align="alignnone" width="875"]diy-starter-kit Credit: Operation Overhaul[/caption]

Who knows, maybe your Christmas gift next year will be created from this kit?

Cost: $15
Website:
jerry-can-water-bottle Credit: Naiise[/caption]

Not only will this Christmas gift allow our men to reminisce about their ah boys to men days, it will also keep them hydrated.

NS Jerry can bottle
Cost: $15.60
Naiise
3 Gateway Drive, Westgate Mall #01-30, Singapore 608532
6 Eu Tong Sen Street Central, #02-23,Singapore 059817
112 East Coast Road, I12 Katong, #01-31/32, Singapore 428802
3 Temasek Boulevard, Suntec City North Wing #01-477, Singapore 038983
Opening Hours: 11am-10pm daily
Website: Naiise

4. For the super local friend

Soy milk and youtiao are a common sight in our heartlands. Who doesn’t enjoy dipping a youtiao into a piping hot cup of soy milk?

[caption id="attachment_16609" align="alignnone" width="638"]soymilk-and-youtiao-totebag Credit: when I was four[/caption]

If your friend is crazy about all things local, she will be squealing in delight when she sees this cute little tote bag that can be paired easily with casual wear.

5. For the colleague:

Need we say more? We are in love with this sketchpad full of humorous Singlish phrases that most of us can identify with!

[caption id="attachment_16605" align="alignnone" width="809"]teesaurus-buddy-sketchpad Credit: Naiise[/caption]

The sketchpad also comes with blank pages for your colleague to express his creativity or include his toilet humour to explain why he is not at his desk.

TEE-SAURUS Office Buddy sketchpad
Cost: $18.90
Naiise
3 Gateway Drive, Westgate Mall #01-30, Singapore 608532
6 Eu Tong Sen Street Central, #02-23,Singapore 059817
112 East Coast Road, I12 Katong, #01-31/32, Singapore 428802
3 Temasek Boulevard, Suntec City North Wing #01-477, Singapore 038983
Opening Hours: 11am-10pm daily
Website: Naiise

6. For the fashionista:

What better way to surprise a fashionista than with this chio little lip and cheek tint from chiobu-lip-and-cheek-tint Credit: Shophouse Sixtyfive[/caption]

Your friend can pack this niffy beauty kit into her make-up pouch and start being a chio bu immediately after receiving your Christmas gift.

Wah Chiobu Lip & Cheek Tint
Cost: $18.90
Shophouse Sixtyfive
Spurhauswerks, Orchard Central, #02-22, 181 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238896
The Nail Social, 42A Haji Lane  2nd floor (opposite vaingloriousyou)
Website: nasi-lemak-tea Credit: Ette Tea Company[/caption]

This Nasi Lemak tea – yes, you heard us right, was inspired by one of our popular local dishes. It is made up of a fragrant mix of houjicha, genmaicha, coconut flakes, as well as local favorites such as dried pandan, dried chilli and flavouring. Don’t say Discover SG bojio!

Naiise
Address:

3 Gateway Drive, Westgate Mall #01-30, Singapore 608532
6 Eu Tong Sen Street Central, #02-23,Singapore 059817
112 East Coast Road, I12 Katong, #01-31/32, Singapore 428802
3 Temasek Boulevard, Suntec City North Wing #01-477, Singapore 038983
Opening H0urs: 11am-10pm daily
Website: 
Naiise

8. For the bookworm:

If your friend always has his nose in a book and fancies a quiet Christmas, this debut collection of short stories by local author Credit: Books Actually[/caption]

In “Fourteen Entries from the Diary of Maria Hertogh”, Amanda Lee Koe shows what it is like to explore Singapore’s history through the eyes of Maria Hertogh, a Dutch girl who sparked riots in Singapore in the 1950s.

While another story, “The Ballad of Arlene and Nelly”, traces the past of two lesbians over a thirty-year period.

Apart from winning the and selected by The Business Times as one of the Cost: $22
Books Actually
9 Yong Siak Street Singapore 168645
Opening Hours: Sunday & Monday 10am – 6pm, Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 8pm
Website:
tilea-money-clip Credit: Naiise[/caption]

It can hold notes, cards and even loose coins! Your man will feel proud when he uses this money clip.

Tilea Leather Money Clip
Cost: $25
Naiise
3 Gateway Drive, Westgate Mall #01-30, Singapore 608532
6 Eu Tong Sen Street Central, #02-23,Singapore 059817
112 East Coast Road, I12 Katong, #01-31/32, Singapore 428802
3 Temasek Boulevard, Suntec City North Wing #01-477, Singapore 038983
Opening Hours: 11am-10pm daily
Website: Naiise

Now that you have read our quick cheat sheet to Christmas gift shopping, what are you waiting for? It’s time to get shopping!

Header image source: 8 Korean BBQ: For Premium Pork Belly That Will Leave You Begging For More!

6 Local Brands That Make & Create Beautiful Products – We Really Love #2!

Singapore’s artisanal scene is amazing. We’re talking about scented hand-poured candles to fierce and edgy arm candies. Whether you’re bored of the same old or looking for something unique, these 6 local brands will definitely have something in store for you.

1. Matter prints

Everyone wants to look good when they’re on vacation and here’s a little something that can give your OOTD the extra edge.

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Matter is a socially motivated lifestyle brand that produces fun yet functional pants using artisan printed and loomed fabric. These effortlessly chic pants are made for movement and comfort without sacrificing style. Just pair it with a plain top and you are ready to go. While you are at it, do check out their scarfs and reversible pouch too. Price ranges approximately from SGD 65.00 to SGD 206.00.

[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BCnQzAtyTr9/?taken-by=singaporefashionweek[/embed]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BCu71daJy0F/?tagged=matterprints

https://www.instagram.com/p/BCCxWmnpyyo/?tagged=matterprints

Matter
Online Shop: 3. Ling Wu

As much as we love our Givenchy, strutting a Ling Wu arm candy with pride is a different story.

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Known for their usage of butter soft leather and hand-polished exotic skin, this homegrown luxurious handbag brand is stocked in Japan and Europe, and is a popular choice among celebrities. Every piece of Ling Wu is made using sustainably-sourced animal skin (relax animal lovers) and is rolled with glass bottles by artisans in South East Asia. Ling Wu is available at Isetan Scotts, Robinsons Orchard, Tangs, and in Ling Wu Studio.

[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BAUV5bPpeey/?tagged=lingwubags[/embed] [embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/_lOUStOlWV/?tagged=lingwubag[/embed] [embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/_YNzOUEjLh/?taken-by=lingwubags&hl=en[/embed]

Ling Wu
Ling Wu Studio, National Design Centre, 111 Middle Road #03-10 188969
+65 9696 3118

Website:

5. A Dose of Something Good

Life at the Little Red Dot can be hectic and tiring, but here’s a dose of something local to help put your scent… we mean Zen on.

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Hand poured candles from A Dose of Something Good are made using the finest quality wax blends, natural fibre wicks, as well as scents that use a blend of fine fragrance materials, natural extracts and essential oils, tucked in hand-cast porcelain containers. You can purchase their candles online or check out the following stores that stock their products.

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A Dose of Something Good
available at:
Keepers
Changi Airport, T1 Departure, Transit East Hall
National Design Centre, 111 Middle Rd. 188969

Naiise
6 Eu Tong Sen Street, Central, #02-23 059817
112 East Coast Road 112 Katong, #01-31/32, 428802

Website:
Note: Clients are only served on an appointment basis only. An advance booking of at least 24 hours before the appointment is required. Click