Last Minute, Frugal Gifts for Anyone on Your List

Guest post from Elizabeth of ElizabethClareBlog.com

Christmas is fast approaching! Thanks to planning ahead, most of my gifts are purchased, wrapped, and under the tree. Inevitably though, there are always a few people on my list that I have no gift for… and no idea what to give them.

Running to the store to do last-minute shopping usually means spending more money than I want on something the recipient won’t even want. It also means fighting a crowd that steals my peace during this holiday season. No, thank you!

Over the years I developed a mental list of frugal gifts I can quickly throw together for anyone remaining on my list. This list of gift ideas is great for several reasons:

1. They are consumable and won’t end up in the donation box come January.
2. They can be used for all ages and types of people.
3. They can be put together quickly.
4. They are flexible based on your time and budget.

Food

We all need to eat, but don’t always have the time to cook a well rounded, delicious meal. Preparing freezer meals for those on your list would be a gift many would love to receive. Maybe you don’t have time to prepare the meals. Providing recipe cards and ingredients for a well-loved meal or dish in a beautiful basket would be even easier.

Our family also likes to give specialty food items we don’t normally purchase for ourselves, like the following:

• Gourmet coffee or tea
• Specialty salsa and spicy sauces
• Dried fruits
• Seasoned nuts
• Dark chocolates
• Seasonal fruit basket

Service

We all seem to be short on time these days. What about doing something to lighten someone else’s load? Here are some ideas:

• Cleaning
• Babysitting children
• Organizing
• Shopping

Gift Card to Anywhere (AKA cash!)

Maybe it seems boring, cold, or thoughtless to some, but I have never known anyone to be disappointed when receiving cash as a gift.

Cash is what my father-in-law calls the “Gift Card to Anywhere.” You can suggest the recipient uses the cash for a specific purpose, or leave it up to their discretion.

Time

This gift is the cheapest of all, and often the most appreciated. Take time to step away from the busyness of your life and really invest in someone else.

Here are a few ideas to get your wheels turning:

• Coffee or lunch date
• Shop together for something special
• Do something active – skating, swimming, hiking, etc.
• Watch a movie

No matter who is left on your list, or what your budget is, I am sure this list will help you come up with something anyone would enjoy!

Elizabeth Clare is a dairy farmer’s daughter learning to navigate the ropes of Catholic homeschooling, mothering, and homemaking. She gives advice and encouragement on those topics at her blog ElizabethClareBlog.com. She also runs her Etsy shop, A Pondered Life, which specializes in creating beautiful family traditions.

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