Last Minute Holiday Gifts
Gifts To Have On Hand And How To Shop On Christmas Day
Here are several tips to ensure that you have a holiday gift for everyone, including those on your list and those not.
With few Christmas shopping days left, many people are scrambling to get those last minute gifts. What can be even more frustrating is as you go along, more and more people seem to be added to your gift list. Even though you may make every effort to remember to get something for everyone on your shopping list, it is inevitable that you will forget, or run into someone over the holidays that you’d like to give a gift. Consequently, here is a sure proof method for ensuring that you have a gift for absolutely everyone.
- Purchase stockings and gift baskets along with ribbons, bows, etc. This way even if you have to shop on Christmas day, you can find stocking stuffers or put together a last minute gift basket.
- Have gift certificates on hand. Choose popular/national restaurants like McDonald’s, Burger King and Wendy's, or a specialty shop like TCBY or Mrs. Field’s.
- Fill holiday tins with homemade goodies. If at the end of the holidays you have not given them away, you can always donate them to a local food pantry or shelter.
- Have on hand boxes of Godiva or Ferrer Rocher chocolates, gourmet teas and coffees. Other generic gifts could be candle gift sets, blanket throws, calendars, popular movies or music CDs.
If it comes down to the wire and you absolutely have to shop on Christmas day, you will probably be able to find some things at a gas station, drug or convenience store.
- Considering the price of gas, anyone will welcome a gas gift card. Other gift items you can buy at the gas station or convenience store include wine, flashlights, specialty teas, energy drinks or sodas (like Jones‘), maps and lottery tickets.
- You will easily find stocking or basket fillers at the drug store. Consider special treats like gummi bears, cracker jacks, candy bars, candy canes, nuts and even champagne or sparkling cider. For ladies you can buy simple items such as lip gloss, bath/spa products, perfume, make up brushes, shower caps, fragrant candles or ladies magazines. For men you will find flashlights, alarm clocks, word searches/puzzles, cd/dvd floppy disks, head/neck massagers, sports magazines, disposable razors or shaving gels. And for the kids on your list; play dough, coloring books, crayons, drawing/construction paper, glitter/glitter glue, night lights, bubble bath or bath toys.
- If you don't have any more stockings or baskets around, you can use easy to find household items like bowls, coffee mugs, laundry bags, pencil cases, scarves and photo boxes. The possibilities are endless. Nonetheless, here are a few simple ideas to get your creative juices flowing. Fill a bowl with someone's favorite treats and place the bowl on a matching plate. Now take a festive scarf, cover the bowl and tie with a ribbon. Give a coffee mug filled with packets of hot cocoa, flavored teas and yummy chocolates. The kids will appreciate a pencil box full of crayons, colored pencils, pens, glitter, glue and the like. Or load a laundry bag with an assortment of household gifts such as room fresheners, dusters, lint brushes, sponges, maps and hand sanitizers.
