Do Last Minute Christmas Gifts Have to be Expensive?
December 23rd is the most panicked of my holiday season, as it's always the day I realize that I'm not as ready for Christmas as I'd like to be. It tends to be the day when I set aside my extreme frugality and throw money at last minute gifts and supplies.
I'm hoping this year is different.
I pretty much have all my gifts planned out and even supplied with the two rolls of 50¢ wrapping paper from yesterday's Goodwill trip. I don't really have what I refer to as an "anchor gift" for my youngest, so we'll probably gift them money for their 401(k).
My favorite current Christmas hack is how my friend Lise and I swapped unwanted, (but new) gifts for white elephant parties. She got the sealed gourmet hot sauce from my husband's work party and she gave me a sealed-in-box massage gun. I also threw in a new-with-tag Japanese Pikachu plush from my eBay inventory to even out the trade.
Neither of us could bring the original gifts to our parties, as they'd get recognized by the giver, but this way we're in the clear.
As an aside, this is the second white elephant party for my husband's new workplace. One was an evening party and now one at work during the day. That's weird, right?!
I do need to run out and grab a few things, such as Dollar Tree crackers and more cheese for fondue. So I'll leave you with this question:
Are you ready for Christmas? Do you have clever Christmas ideas to share with the Non-Consumer Advocate community? Please do share in the comments section below.
Not ready. But I don't think any more money will be spent. I need to wrap hifts already bought with supplies I already have. I need to package and deliver cookies that are already made. And I need to do a little cooking for the day itself. We got supplies for that today.
I think the whole country was trying to shop today. I went to Dollar Tree for crackers and stocking filler candy, and the clerks looked like they'd been to war.
Two white elephant parties is kind of excessive, but maybe not everyone could attend the first one?
The Dollar Tree parking lot was full, but the store itself was only mildly busy. Got crackers, pretzels and a couple other items in under ten minutes. Trader Joe's was an entirely different mayhem situation and I turn back around and drove home.
Ready! But we have an intentionally pared down Christmas. On the 26th, we leave for Arizona for the winter, and we don't decorate the house (except one outside pot) or have a tree (although my husband is a Christmas tree farmer!). We give gifts to five great nieces/nephews and those were taken care of several weeks ago. Sent out fewer than 10 cards. Christmas music comes from CDs that we've had for years, mostly thrifted. Hosted one gathering with some neighbors and kept it simple (snacks, soup, salad, baguette, and cookies purchased from the Farmers Market). Sister is hosting Christmas brunch, and she limited our contribution to bringing the griddle, family china and real maple syrup.
I don't have any clever ideas, but this year we did something new and so far it is quite nice. We gave what family gifts that we do give (actual gifts to grandchildren, money to our children) the 2nd weekend in December. Now I can focus on food, not gifts and food. It feels better.
While everyone else seems to be busier, my husband had time to pick up 2 free caulk guns (ours broke), a free toy for my grandkid toy stash, and free redwood chip mulch.
I always buy our neighbors son's birthday (December 24) gift early. That sits under the tree and will be delivered tomorrow. It's always his favorite candy. Cheap and easy.
I also asked a friend for some of her sourdough starter, and she brought that over today. My daughter wants to make sourdough and was horrified at the $25 price for a starter from King Arthur flour.
I'm really enjoying not being overwhelmed with Christmas stuff.
I don’t feel ready. It seems like Christmas came quicker this year. Also, my kids are in a hard-to-shop-for age group. I’ll admit that Schmeff Schmezos was part of my shopping strategy because my kids like things that I’d have to drive all over town to find, and I don’t have time for that.
The main source of angst, for me, is a mean sister-in-law who makes Christmas logistics unbearable each year. Realistically, we don’t have much time left with my mother-in-law and father-in-law, so I need to suck it up for now. Meanwhile, I experience a lot of angry tossing and turning when I am trying to fall asleep. And teeth gnashing. I remind myself that we don’t share the same values, and nothing I say or do will magically transform her into a kind, self-aware person.
So, I’m ready-ish. The gifts are wrapped and under the tree. There are some cookies. I think I have a plan for Christmas dinner.