If you’ve waited ’til the last minute to finish your Christmas shopping, well, I don’t have to tell you how crowded the stores are and how many other things you have to get done as well. I’ve been there myself. Now I’m here to help you with a few ideas for last minute Christmas gifts that don’t involve a trip to the mall.
Personalized Coupons
This is one of my favorite gifts to five and people always seem delighted to receive it. Make a set of personalized coupons the recipient can redeem throughout the year. For example, one year I gave my sister coupons for an evening of babysitting for her young son, a coupon for a foot massage (she loves my food massages), and a coupon for a loaf of applesauce bread, freshly baked by me when she wanted it. This year, I gave a friend coupons for free mending (he can’t even sew a button on a shirt), a coupon for cat sitting services when he is out of town, and a coupon for gift wrapping (he hates wrapping gifts and isn’t very good at it, either). Other ideas for personalized coupons include coupons for housecleaning, yard work, car washes, haircuts, manicures or pedicures, and home-cooked meals.
Movie Night at Home
Pick up a DVD or two, some microwave popcorn and some candy. Package it all together in a pretty box or basket. Add a gift certificate from a local pizza delivery joint if you like. If you’re not sure what kind of movies someone likes, or if you just don’t have time to get to the store to buy a DVD, get online and order a one month gift certificate for Netflix instead. Pick up the popcorn and candy at the grocery store when you’re doing your normal food shopping.
Night Out
This is a great gift for people with small children. Give them a gift card to a local restaurant or cinema (or both, if you’re feeling generous) along with a homemade coupon saying you will babysit while they go out. Often you can buy gift cards to restaurants at the grocery store when you’re doing your normal food shopping.
Cozy Winter Nights
Buy a large mug or a set of mugs (you might be able to buy mugs at your grocery store but if not, visit a party supply store for inexpensive, holiday-themed mugs), some hot cocoa mix in individual packets, some candy canes, and some chocolates (like Hershey’s kisses). Put the packets of hot cocoa mix, candy canes and chocolates inside the mugs. Consider adding other items for a cozy winter night, like a pair of warm socks or fuzzy slippers, a scented candle and a CD of Christmas music.
