The countdown is on. Maybe you’ve only got a few small items left to purchase. Or perhaps you forgot someone on your list. Or you might be one of the last minute shoppers who live to survive the mall up until the very last minute. Whatever you’re condition, you don’t need to overspend when it comes to these last minute Christmas gift ideas.
Baked Goods
Everyone loves a homemade sweet treat during Christmas. You probably have most of the items you need already on hand. Stick to simple recipes with as few ingredients as possible. This is not the time to try out for the newest reality baking show. We LOVE passing along this simple Cap’n Crunch Mix that only requires a can of cashews, a box of cereal, and vanilla bark. Fancy up your plastic sandwich bags with ribbon or a bow or use simple brown paper lunch bags.
Free Shipping Day
December 18th is Free shipping day! It’s one of the last days you can be guaranteed delivery before Christmas and almost every retailer offers shipping free of charge. Don’t forget to go through a portal like Ebates or Sunshine Rewards to find coupons codes and get cash back, too.
Gift Card Deals
Gift cards make great gifts and believe it or not, you don’t have to pay face value for them. Make the most of grocery store deals at Kroger or Market District where you can get $0.10 or more off per gallon of gasoline or a percentage off your grocery bill for spending a set amount on groceries. Sam’s Club and Costco offer gift cards for less than face value. Watch for Meijer’s mPerks deals on gift cards, too with both discounts on your purchase and personalized rewards. Many restaurants will also offer an extra $5-10 with a purchase of a specified amount of gift cards. Go the extra mile to see if you can find a coupon to accompany your present. I like to keep a handful of $5 gift cards on hand to give to friends and neighbors.
Cash
It may seem impersonal, but you can never go wrong with the gift of money – even if it’s a small amount. Place your gift in a card or envelope or perhaps learn how to fold it into a unique shape like a shirt, dress, star, or even a rose!
Go Practical
Rather than buying something you don’t know whether or not the recipient will use, give a practical gift. Consider these ideas:
- Non-perishable items for one meal like pasta, sauce, olive oil, or salad dressing.
- Cold weather vehicle items like an ice scraper, emergency kit, or ice melt (check out my daughter’s adorable snowman 2 liter bottle below).
- Hats, scarves, and gloves! It seems you can never have enough during the long winter months.
- Offer to watch the children of a young family while the parents go on a date!
Last minute gifts can be some of the best gifts. What words of wisdom would you offer to that shopper still on the prowl?
Check out my ebook Keep the Happy in Your Holidays: 21 Ways to Save Time, Money, and Your Sanity This Christmas for more money saving tips!
My book is now available: Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After. You can also check out The Debt Free Devotional
This post contains an affiliate link. That means when you get a great deal or maybe even something for free, you also help our family pay off our mortgage early. And for that, we royally thank you!
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