12 Last-Minute Holiday Gift Ideas

 

Have These Items On-Hand for Drop-Ins and Surprise Givers!

 Your holiday shopping is complete – or so you thought. Then you realize you overlooked someone on your list. Or a friend or colleague shows up with a surprise gift.

 Oops!

 Who hasn’t faced this dilemma, particularly during the holidays? What can you do, when someone offers you a present, and you find yourself unprepared to reciprocate? If you are clever (and well-stocked), you can simply put on your best elfin smile and offer a clever present in return.

 Here’s how to make this work.

 

Have extras on hand!

 Here’s a little secret, if you promise not to tell my family and friends. I have an entire dresser drawer in my basement, filled with practical and useful gifts. Next to that, I keep a supply of gift wrap, decorative sacks, ribbons, and bows. In other words, I can be ready-to-gift at a moment’s notice, especially during the holiday season.

 

NOTE: Written by this author, this copyrighted material originally appeared on another publisher’s site. That site no longer exists. This author holds all rights to this content. No republication is allowed without permission.

 

Often, when I find a clever and universally useful item, I will pick up a few sets. Bargain-hunters may be pleased to gather gift possibilities when great deals are available.

 

Here are a dozen ready-to-gift items you might keep on hand:

 

1. Who ever has enough picture frames? If you are really clever, you can slip a special photo into the frame, right before you wrap it. Do you have digital photos of the recipient on your computer? Got a recent photo in an album or drawer? Put it in the frame, and you will have a wonderful personalized gift.
2. Nothing spells thoughtfulness more than home-baked goods. Perhaps, during the holidays, you make special breads, bars, cookies, or other delights in your kitchen. Why not package up a few extra sets and set them aside for surprise visitors, who are sure to call!
3. Gourmet foods make delicious holidays gifts for nearly anyone. Jams, nuts, cheese trays, and even salamis are welcome gifts. Popcorn tins are also popular picks.
4. Scented candles in lovely colors can be perfect last-minute gifts. Choose jar candles, ceramic ones, or even fancy tapers. Purchase these in bulk, and sort them into pretty bundles, tied with festive ribbon or raffia.
5. Do you love to knit or crochet? Maybe you can create a few fun winter scarves or mittens for holiday giving. Hey, if you don’t give them away, after all, you will have a wonderful warm wardrobe after the holidays!
6. Can you sew? Home-sewn creations are most memorable gifts. Buy several economy white pillowcases, and embellish them with machine embroidery or store-bought trims. How about making holiday pillowcases for gifts?
7. Or, cut squares of holiday calico fabric, and finish the edges to make festive cloth napkins. These also make handy basket liners for baked goods.
8. Soaps and special bath products make excellent treats for most folks. Purchase these when you find good values, and you will always be ready for gifting!
9. Candy assortments are sure-fire winning gifts, even at a moment’s notice. Elegant confections can suit nearly anyone!
10. Holiday tree ornaments are in all the stores, from Halloween on. You might pick up a few of these, along with an assortment of small gift bags and tissue paper. Voila! A festive present is ready to go!
11. Along similar lines, you can find holiday music CDs everywhere. Pardon the expression, but you can often purchase these for just a song. Pick several different styles (classical, jazz, kids, rock, and others), and you will have a gift for just about anyone.
12. Of course, writing papers and note cards also make wonderful gifts. After all, doesn’t everyone need to write thank-you notes after the holidays?

 

Plan ahead for last-minute giving.

 After Christmas, when retailers slash prices on holiday items to nearly nothing, you can stock up for next year. Santa never had it so good. Snatch up a variety of non-perishable, somewhat generic gift items, and you will be ready for next year’s surprise recipients. Besides, you might even find presents for folks who are actually on your gift list.

 Where will you store these advance gifts? Here’s a tip: Wrap them carefully, and pack them with your holiday decorations. When you haul out your festive adornments next year, you will find your brand-new gifts, all ready to go!

Image/s: Public domain artwork

 

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