Christmas gift ideas for the last-minute shopper
If you’re anything like me, you still haven’t started your Christmas shopping. Money is tight and the clock is ticking. What do you do?
Before you panic, know you’re not alone. I am an experienced gift-procrastinator; and as a recent college grad, I know what it feels like to be broke during the holiday season.
For all my fellow procrastinators out there, I have put together a quick list of budget-friendly gifts for everyone on your list.
Hobby-adjacent items
When gift giving, avoid getting anything directly related to someone’s hobby. Chances are, they already have a more-expensive version of the item, or they have a very specific item in mind.
For example, if your friend loves to sew, avoid getting them the pair of fabric shears you saw at Michaels, because chances are, they already have a pair of crazy-expensive stainless-steel shears in their collection. Instead, get them a cute dress-form figurine to put on their sewing table, or a cute wall-hanging to place above their station.
Or let’s say you have a friend who is always out in their garden. Instead of getting them garden tools, get them a cute birdhouse to add to their yard. These kinds of gifts show the receiver how you are interested in their hobbies and you put thought into what they would like.
Houseplants!
Houseplants are making a revival. Head to any garden center (or even a Lowe’s or Home Depot) and pick up a plant from their indoor plants section and a pretty pot (make sure it has a drainage hole) and you’ve got yourself the perfect gift.
Two of the most popular indoor plants are pothos and snake plants because they are very difficult to kill (even if you forget to water it for a month). Pothos are also easy plants to propagate. Pick one up for yourself this year, and around October of next year, stick a few clippings in water so they form roots. Come next December, you’ll have some baby plants to gift people (and the best part is, it’ll be free)!
Your favorite book and a book they would like
Someone gifted me this once, and it was one of the most heartwarming gifts I’ve ever gotten. This is a very inexpensive and heartfelt present. Simply get a copy of your favorite book and pick up a copy of a book from their favorite genre. You can even buy the books used if you are looking for a more affordable (and environmentally friendly) option.
Stationary items
If you have a writer or artistic person, gift them stationary items. Pretty journals, nice pens, stickers, letters, and so on can make great gifts. You can get one on its own, or buy a few different items to create a gift basket or bag.
A cherished family recipe
Do you have a family recipe that everyone always raves over? Gift the recipe to friends who will appreciate the sentiment behind the gift. If you are feeling extra fancy, include one or two nonperishable ingredients from the recipe in the gift.
Food items
If you have a foodie in your life, gifting them a fancy kitchen staple will be a touching gift. These kind of consumable gifts are also good for those friends and family in your life who practice minimalism and don’t like to be gifted with a lot of “things.” Some ideas include a cute coffee mug with an unusual tea or coffee, a set of exotic spices, or a bottle of infused olive oil.
The holiday season can get a bit rough for us broke procrastinators, but I hope that this blog gave you some ideas to help make gift-giving a little easier this year.