It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go! That’s right, Christmas is just around the corner, a festive season practically synonymous with gift-giving. However, picking out suitable, thoughtful gifts for your loved ones may prove to be a hard task, whether in terms of the items themselves, or the budget. Well, to kill two birds with one stone, we’ve managed to discover a couple of Christmas gifts that are both thoughtful and budget-friendly. Ready, set, shop!
1) Cookies/Snacks
These are easily the best gifts you can get! Everyone likes snacks, and you can hardly go wrong with them, as they feed a hungry tummy and boosts a person’s mood! There are plenty of cookie/snack brands available in Malaysia, and they won’t cost a fortune either. Some brands to check out include Famous Amos, Wondermilk, Amazin’ Graze, Signature Market; or you can always opt to support small, home-based bakeries since they have been mushrooming since the MCO!
Price: Depending on the bundles/items and brands, prices start at about RM40
2) Self-Care Kits
There’s nothing quite like letting your loved ones know that you care for them by asking them to take care of themselves, and the best way to do so is by sending them a self-care kit! Items in self-care kits can range from bath & body products, diffusers, essential oils, tea, toiletries, scented candles… it all depends on how you and your intended recipients view self-care. The good news is, there are plenty of these self-care kits/sets you can pick up, and some of the local brands offering sets or kits with the aforementioned items include CalmerScapes, Dorothy Scents, Claire, and Wunderbath just to name a few.
Price: Depending on items and sets, prices start at RM45 on average
3) Cocktail-Making Kit
Shake up a storm at home and experience what it’s like to be a mixologist with a DIY cocktail kit! While large-scale Christmas parties may not be a good idea this year, intimate do’s with your friends and family could still go on, and this cocktail-making kit is just the thing to liven it up. Created specially by Guinness mixologists, The Christmas Spirit contains the following items:
- 1x 6-can (320ml) pack of Guinness Foreign Extra Stout
- 1x 6-can (320ml) pack of Apple Fox Cider
- 2x Guinness Glasses
- 1x Minted Syrup (60ml)
- 1x Chocolate Syrup (40ml)
- 1x Recipe Card
Mix it up and have a jolly Christmas!
Price: RM119
4) Coffee
If there’s someone you know who’s a great coffee lover, a gift of coffee would be great, as you’re basically supplying them with what they need. Thoughtful gifts aren’t always the most lavish, luxurious items, but giving one what he/she needs hits the spot just right! While it’s true that you can always just head out to the supermarket and grab coffee, why not step it up by getting something else different and support local brands such as Seafarer Coffee KL, which provides drip bag coffee?
Price: Christmas bundles range from RM38 to RM68
5) Manly Essentials
Plenty of gifts are catered for the ladies, but the men deserve a little pampering during the festive season as well! For the leading man in your life, allow him to indulge in a mixture of self-care needs and wants, with essentials such as body scrubs, shaving soap, face towels, mugs, flutes… well, each man is after different things, but The Everyday Men has plenty of kits for men to choose from, so take your pick!
Price: Boxes start from RM90
6) Special Cupcake Mix
Perfect for the baker in your life, or perhaps even yourself if you’re interested, bake up special Christmas cupcakes and enjoy this sweet treat after Christmas dinner! Besides getting your dessert covered, it can also be an activity you and your loved ones can perform together, creating good times in the kitchen to cherish. Crafted by local bakers, A Sweet Christmas by Guinness contains:
- 2x 6-can (320ml) packs of Guinness Foreign Extra Stout
- 1x Cupcake Baking Tray
- 1x Cupcake premix (250g)
- 1x Bag of Chocolate Chips (50g)
- 1x Bag of Almond Slices (50g)
- 1x Recipe Card
Price: RM129
7) Skincare/Cosmetics/Bath & Body Sets
Everyone is sure to have their favourite brand of skincare, cosmetics or bath products, or maybe a brand that they have always wanted to try. If you happen to know this sort of information, sets containing their favourite brand would make a great gift as well, as they would love the products! Whether local or international brands, there are too many to choose from–all you need to do is to ensure that the intended recipient likes the brand, and you’re set!
Price: Depending on brand and item collection; a local mini trial kit starts at RM20 on average
8) Unique Sauce Set
A good example of a gift put to good use, this unique sauce set called Spice & Nice can be utilised in the kitchen immediately for cooking up Christmas meals. What you’ll get in the Spice & Nice set includes:
- 2x 6-can (320ml) packs of Guinness Foreign Extra Stout
- 1x Cranberry & Sweet Chilli Jam (230g)
- 1x Guinness BBQ Sauce (230g)
- 1x Mint Sauce (230g)
What will you be cooking up in the kitchen with these sauces? The tangy yet sweet chilli jam with an added kick of spice could be good as a chilli sauce substitute with a twist, while the Guinness BBQ sauce could be good for that smoky flavour over a steak, perhaps, and use the mint sauce for a refreshing taste! While cooking up new recipes in the kitchen, one can also enjoy a can of Guinness Foreign Extra Stout–cheers to Christmas food and quality time well spent!
Price: RM139
This Christmas, level up your gifts with Guinness, thanks to their gifts that can also be a bonding activity, whether for you and your loved ones, or your friends and their loved ones. Grab any of the Guinness sets The Christmas Spirit, A Sweet Christmas, and Spice & Nice before they run out, since they’re limited edition bundles! For more information, visit Guinness’ Facebook page, or gift the gift of connection this Christmas at www.drinkies.my/Guinness now, and Merry Christmas!
Note: Promotion only available for non-Muslims aged 21 and above. Stay safe while celebrating Christmas, and remember to not drink and drive!
