The best affordable Christmas gifts under $40

From Morning

For the coffee lover in your life, get some affordable coffee capsules from Morning, which not only sells a sleek capsule machine, but also stocks Nespresso-compatible coffee pods from specialty roasters around the world. There are many to choose from but here are some favourites: the Bali Kintamani ($12) from Tanamera Coffee, a rich coffee with a citrus-y tang that recalls the lush tropics of Bali, or Caps. SAUL ($10.20 on sale) from Caffènation, a fruity and floral single origin coffee from Ethiopia that'll perk your friend right up in the mornings. 

From Positivithé

As part of Innerfyre Co, Positivithé has paired up with their caffeine-free tea selections – and of course, they’re all about wellness. With three main herbs in mind, raspberry leaf, lemon balm, and ashwagandha (winter cherry), their teas are known to be rich in antioxidants but you’ll still be sipping it throughout the day. 

From Nodspark or via SocietyA

Save your buddy an expensive visit to the manicurist with nail wraps from Nodspark. This homegrown brand is known for its fun and stylish nail wrap designs. Get your friend in the festive mood with bauble-like Gold Sand, celebrate local hawker with Chicken Rice Paradise, or go cool and classy with Nude Pink Colour Chart. These nail wraps are easy to apply too – just stick them onto your nails, file them to shape, and apply a protective top coat. 

From Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie

Chocolates are always a good gift for the festive season, especially if you know your giftee has a sweet tooth. This Christmas, pick up a maple pretzel crunch bar from homegrown brand Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie's festive collection. True to form, this chocolate bar spotlights 72% dark chocolate from Calinan, Philippines, with sprinkles of salty pretzels throughout for an extra, nostalgic crunch. If you have time, take your friend to Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie's new Dempsey factory to build your own chocolate slabs and dine-in together over more chocolate-y treats. 

From FLO Aroma

The pandemic's not over, and even if it was, hygiene is still paramount. Gift some great-smelling hand wash and sanitizers this Christmas, made from pure essential oils and botanical extracts, all packed in a dreamy Starlight drawstring pouch. This FLO Aroma twin cleanse set has a moisturising and non-sticky formula to keep hands clean, soft, and smelling fresh. It helps that the bottles are petite enough to slide into an everyday bag too. 

From The Tea Story via Society A

Know someone who prefers tea instead? Premium brand The Tea Story has got assorted boxes of high quality tea, packed with fruits and flowers for an extra punch of vitamins and antioxidants. For a true gift of wellness, get the box of Artisanal Wellness Blends, which have been concocted to detoxify the body and soothe the immune system. A cheekier option is the Cocktail Blends, which brings notes of mojito, sangria and rose lychee martini into a wholesome tea blend. Each box contains 15 tea bags.

From The Paper Bunny

This one's for the paw-rents. If you know someone who has a pet dog, then they'll love the Wild One Tennis Tumble, a puzzle toy meant to stimulate little pup brains. It features a barrel made of natural rubber that dogs can paw and push, with a tennis ball trapped within that they can try to retrieve. The tennis tumble is sure to provide hours of entertainment for dog pawrents and their pet friends!

From Moom Health

Bloating and indigestion is a distinctly uncomfortable experience. Help a loved one thoroughly enjoy this festive feasting season with a gift of de/bloat, a supplement made from nine herbs and fruit-based digestive aids and enzymes that can ease digestive discomfort within an hour. Formulated by experts and using natural, concentrated ingredients, de/bloat is one supplement to have within easy reach on the counter. 

From Cosmic Scents

You've heard of 'Jingle Bells', now here's Jingle Balls, a festive candle from Cosmic Scents. Part of the brand's holiday collection, this one's got the spirit of Christmas – notes of blackcurrant, plum, nutmeg and fir needle evoke the sense of being in a cosy cabin during snowfall. Made from soy wax and 100 percent cotton wick, this candle can burn for up to 30 hours.