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 love this gifts early food later idea! I might talk to my family about this. Gifts early and Christmas just food, family, and fun! Thanks for the idea!
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.
Happy Festivus, to one and ALL!
We just returned from spending the day delivering Christmas baskets. So much visiting!
I am ready for the kids and a few strays. Whom ever shows up tomorrow they will leave with a token of love and a full belly. Or they can stay for a slumber party. Anything goes. On Christmas morning we ride to our back door neighbors and have cowboy church in her riding arena.
I originally was scheduled to work the next 3 days, but broke my right hand yesterday, so my last holiday work schedule is now officially scrubbed and I am retired from nursing.
Riding your horse (?correct?) to the cowboy church sounds wonderful. I'm sorry you broke your hand, but happy, happy retirement! (And I hope that your injury does not hurt.)
Congratulations on being retired from nursing, BGF--but the broken hand may outweigh the early retirement. Will it keep you from participating in cowboy church?
I’m ready! As I’ve shared before, my number one tip is to keep your eyes peeled all year long for new or new-ish items to gift. I’ve managed to source the majority of my gifts for this holiday season throughout the year from thrift stores! I made a few exceptions for local craft fairs, but am proud to have bought few things from big retailers (with the exception of candy for stocking stuffers).
Many of the children in my life have already opened their gifts from me and have been ecstatic over the sealed/new in box items I thrifted, such as: thinkfun lasermaze game, Minecraft stuffed pig, 72 pack of prismacolor pencils, and many fun board games!
I do this. I’m usually pleasantly surprised when I look through my gift closet. “Oh! I already found the perfect gift for Mom!” Also, I’m sure I put together the goofiest stocking EVER for my kids with thrifted oddities.
I’d love to be more on top of thrifting stocking goodies! I did manage a few card games for my husband, but otherwise it’s candy galore
My strategy seems to be get the kids' gifts out of the way first because they're fun and it's easy to get carried away so the sooner I can purchase and be done the better, then I can wrap and forget haha! If I'm pinched for time, WINE! We live very close to a Grocery Outlet and they always have really great finds around the holidays. For the non-drinkers I've done cookie baskets when I have time to bake, or make mixes for homemade goodies like brownies, pancakes, or popcorn/movie night baskets.
This year I'm thankful we decided early in the year that we're just giving gifts to kiddos outside of our immediate family instead of trying to squeeze in everyone and their dog.
My husband and I rarely get stuff for ourselves but keep a running list of things we'd like on a shared list on OurGroceries app so we did get each other gifts with a set budget of $50 limit this year (although we both admitted to going over a bit, closer to $65 each).
Let me put it this way, I am drinking out of my holiday cup that is embellished with the words "Bah Humbug" all over it, and this afternoon I played a lot of Rolling Stones music. Does that give you a clue? I am so over the holiday season already.
I didn't have to work yesterday and today, thank goodness, because: (1) I am tired of the repetitive, mostly secular, bad holiday music* blaring over the store PA system, and (2) I'm scheduled to work the p.m. shift tomorrow. (Happily, we're shutting down at 6 p.m.-ish).
{* If I have to endure another go-round of "Jingle Bell Rock" or "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree," I just may turn into the Grinch....or the Incredible Hulk. It's getting on all the other employees' nerves, too -- except for K., the stock person, who is deaf. Her smile is genuine; our smiles are forced. }
I missed seeing "Jeopardy" this afternoon because I had the crazy idea that maybe if I go to one other store (actually went to 3), I will find the absolute perfect Whatever for the couple who host the Dec. 25 get-together each year. I didn't. And I fought the crowds and the traffic for nothing. I give up! So I need to figure out what to give them. I have gifts around the house -- that's what my gift closet is for -- but I have no idea what would be appreciated the most.
I washed off some pink Depression glass cups and saucers and wanted to put it in a gift basket with some tea....but I'm not sure they'd like it. There are some Christmas owl mugs in the gift closet, I may go with that and the tea. Or, I might chance giving them the sparkly pillar candle and silver candle holder. Also have some nice Ollie's Outlet fancy soaps that look like they'd come from an expensive store. Guess I'll get everything together and I have 2 days to decide.
Yesterday, I made a quick Aldi run and got some more Italian dressing for my green bean salad. That's what I'm taking to the employee lunch. Good thing I did: I noticed the two bottles I had in the pantry were a different color (dark brown) than the ones (same brand) I'd just picked up. Turns out the pantry bottles' expiration date was June 2023. (Can we say "rancid," boys and girls?) Glad I looked before I opened the bottles! Giving your coworkers food poisoning at the potluck lunch is not a good thing....although I'm sure it would've gotten me remembered, all right! Anyway, the salad is chilling, and so am I.
In a few minutes, I'll have to speed-clean the front rooms for the out-of-town visitor coming the 26th. Bah Humbug to that.
Two more days, two more days...
Merry Christmas or whatever you celebrate....
I picked up my mother's trick of shopping year round. If I'm out somewhere and see something I think would be appropriate for someone on my list, I buy it. By the time birthdays or Christmas come around, I have already amassed a fairly good size selection of gifts for various loved ones. For instance, when Xmas shopping last Saturday, I picked up the last two Christmas gifts and also found a gift for a friend's son who turns 9 in January, so scooped that up too. January brings three birthdays, and the three gifts are bought already.
With life as hectic as it is, any chance to get ahead, even in a small way such as this, helps to feel as if we have some control over something. And unless you are super-vigilant about putting money aside every month (I try to be!), chances are that y eh need to push on the breaks againm
Happy Holidays from Brisbane Australia and thank you so much for sharing your insightful comments on frugality and how to live a meaningful and purposeful life without breaking the bank or adding to the destruction of our precious environment. Thanks again, Nancy B.
This year I had everything bought and wrapped by the 1st of December and posted my cards on that day. I had all the food shopping done by the middle of the month and have never had such a relaxed Christmas and will be doing this going forward. Just to pay me back for smugness I had a bad fall and am now hirpeling about slowly still at least I dont have to shop. Wishing you all the seasons greetings and a good year going forward.
New Word!!! hirpeling - hirple (third-person singular simple present hirples, present participle hirpling, simple past and past participle hirpled)
(intransitive, Scotland, northern UK) To walk with a limp, to drag a limb, to walk lamely; to move with a gait somewhere between walking and crawling.
I love this, thank you for sharing!
I love this, very interesting
I’m guessing you have some Irish or Scottish in your background? I came to Australia as a 10 year old from Belfast, Northern Ireland! And it’s a LONG time since I heard “ hirpelling”! Here in Oz, it would be hobbling! Reminded me of another I haven’t heard for ages, “ oxters” for armpits! Are either of those familiar to others, and, if so, what in your background might explain them?
I had some last-minute items needed for purchase yesterday and the stores were crazy. But, I had a small list and wasn't wandering around aimlessly with a phone in my ear like lots of men I saw... lol. My favorite Christmas frugal hack is the half-priced ham I bought after Easter and have had in the deep freeze until now. It just makes me happy cooking and eating a lovely spiral cut ham for $5-6 and using the leftovers for future meals and of course the bone for a future batch of soup.
I loathe the commercialization of Christmas. The other holidays are bad enough, but Christmas is the worst. That's NOT what Christmas is about Charlie Brown.
My Amish kids have 1/2 day of school today. Between the time I take them to school and the time I go back to pick them up to take them home, I need to box up the cookies I baked yesterday for their families. I used 3 cake mixes and, rather than using a full small scoop of dough, I divided those small scoops in half. Smaller cookies, but the illusion of a lot of cookies! Especially since the one family is a family of 12. I made pineapple with a red candied cherry; spice with raisins, walnuts, and cream cheese frosting; and lemon with coconut and Craisins. Not your typical "Christmas Cookie" flavors. I figure the mothers took care of those.
Remember the paper chains we all made in school? Once upon a time, my mother crocheted one of those (a series of loops that she linked together as she was making it) with yarn scraps for my sister. If you crochet, maybe consider making one for next year to bring a little nostalgia to the holiday. Unlike paper, this can be used year after year - and washed! Although we only have a little ceramic tree, I may make one for next year and hang my Christmas cards from it.
We're taking dessert to our niece's tomorrow. DH already made 8 quarts of homemade vanilla ice cream. (Any idea how difficult it has been for me to stay out of it?!!!) Today I need to make 2 different toppings for it. Peanut butter fudge sauce and warm cinnamon apples. I also have to make and bake a meatloaf as a gift for my BIL who doesn't cook.
DH already got his Snoopy PJ's. The belt he has is on the verge of breaking, so I bought him 2 leather belts. That's it. No frills. I sent my daughter money via Cash App and I put a Doordash gift card in the card I mailed to her. We only had 5 other people to get for and those are all taken care of. Three of which have already been delivered. All practical gifts and all but 1 were food (not counting DH's belts).
I will be glad to not have to listen to Christmas music. I like some of it, but the same songs are played over, and over, and over, and ...
I had to create a playlist on Spotify as my Amish kids wanted to listen to Christmas music on the way to school. I made a "kid appropriate" list with Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, etc. And I did include one song they requested (which shocked me). Thanks to my Amish kids, Grandma has been runover by a herd of Reindeer this month!
Happy Holidays to everyone!
Since moved this year, we kept the Christmas stuff to a minimum. (It was going to be the bare minimum but at the last minute my son said he wanted a tree). We did zero Christmas cards this year and only did gifts for my husband, son and I and we got one for my Dad (concert tickets for March!)
I also went to Tim Hortons and got gift cards for the teacher, piano teacher, tutor, etc. We only used half of our holiday decorations this year because I didn’t have the energy to do it all and it actually looks really nice!
The Christmas village is sitting on our thrifted tv stand and we only used the NYC themed tree ornaments which gave us a bit reminder of “home” in our new home.
During the pandemic when all the Broadway shows were closed, I contracted a costume artist to make a Christmas tree angel out of my mother’s wedding dress. It is so beautiful and unique and fun to put in the tree yesterday. The leftover lace from the dress was used to make an ornament for my mom’s sister who cherishes it so much. (My mom was only 39 when she died and there is still a huge hole in our hearts from the loss)
All I have left to do is pick up the roast beef at the local butcher and make lemon squares and we are good to go!
Happy holidays everyone!
In recent years lost my father, mother, brother, nephew, and, this year, my darling daughter, after a 2 year battle with cancer. I really feel for you, missing faces really put a dent in your Christmas spirit, my grandchildren have been such a consolation to me, bless them. Because I’m retired, and they are, of course, working, I was the “hard yards” person, and they appreciated that. You and I will cherish memories, and go on. I have promised myself to look for acts of kindness I can perform in her memory, she would love that!
Here, I've got things pretty well under control. Making Xmas Eve dinner (the Two Fat Ladies' "A.N.'s Slow Shoulder of Lamb") is a bit of work, but I've done this for so many years that it's almost on automatic pilot by now. All presents are all systems go; it helps that I'm not buying for children, and no longer buying for impossible-to-please in-laws (my sympathies, @Li). And the weather for tomorrow looks dry and calm, so I won't have to worry about sliding myself and NDN1 down CF's steep driveway into the adjacent pond!
I am ready! All except for writing notes to go with the cash gifts.
I'm going to bake a blackberry pie today. In fact, it might be a couple. To my chagrin, I realized I gave away my Pyrex pie pans, and I only have foil pans to use, and they are shallow. Why did I give away my pans? I was making room in my kitchen cabinets, and I decided I would just buy frozen crusts in the future. But then I forgot and bought refrigerated crusts instead. Grrr. (I have given up on making pie crust from scratch. Never works.)
I made chicken vegetable noodle soup yesterday. I had more than enough carrots and celery, so I chopped, blanched and froze the excess to help out my future self.
I will never clean out the freezer at this rate!
Since I started early on Christmas, and my major gifts are cash, I have no last-minute gifts to buy. In the past, I have gone to Walgreens and shopped their clearance. They usually have nice gift sets of toiletries that look fancy.
I do have a couple more gifts to buy, for people who are on vacation and won't return till after New Year's. Probably will go the Amazon route for them.
I don't like using shallow foil pans, either. Can you put two of them together at least until you get the pie baked, so they don't feel so flimsy?
Ha! I have found one foil deep dish pan. There is hope!
Money towards a 401(k0 or Roth IRA will be a long lasting gift. It's a great idea.
We only give to a few family members and it is mostly money because it is always the right color and size and they already have so much stuff. I finished wrapping yesterday and today is a bit of meal prep for tomorrow.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays to everyone! This is my favorite blog! As far as the holidays go, I’ve begun to realize, now more than ever, that life is messy and even the best laid plans can and often do go sideways. So my suggestion is to lower expectations, take the easy way if you need to. What’s most important is being together. Our family is just throwing it all up in the air this years and seeing where it lands. Some family members are not home this year, some are having personal crisis, some find the holidays too stressful, some are suddenly estranged, and the Christmas meal is up in the air. I survive by making contingency plans: I have family size lasagna in the freezer as a backup, I thrift most of my gifts throughout the year and have a “gift shelf” I can “shop” if I feel the gifts are uneven. I’ll make slice and bake cookies the day after Christmas. I put a few table top trees up this year instead of the big tree, set a few fake poinsettias out and called it done. And no matter what happens tomorrow I feel blessed to be alive to gather with whatever family and friends we are with.
What perfect advice!- and not in an ironical way.
Life as it is lived.From across the pond.
Louise
Bring it. I am ready. Every year I pick a single word to be my resolution if you will. 2025 was circular. In October and November I was overwhelmed, and during that time I came up with my word for 2026 and it is Less. I went ahead and put into practice earlier. I committed to less holiday events and parties. I host Christmas, the menu is minimal but quality items so less work. I told my husband I wished we had stockings for everyone, but I didn't want to go buy any new. He gave me 4 rather large gift bags and said I thought you could use these as everyone's stockings...uhh no, all the person's gifts would fit in the one bag, they are so large... anyway I put people's gifts into the one bag each. Less wrapping! Even though not what I originally planned. So my first tip is commit to less. My second tip is I keep genetic gifts on hand all year round like gift cards, candles, wine, chocolates, coffee, ect. So if I forget someone or I receive a gift from someone I was expecting I still have something on hand.
I like to choose a word for the new year, too! This year I have chosen "gather." It works in several ways -- gather as in with friends and family, but also gathering funds for the future, gathering gifts for upcoming events, gathering bits and bobs for a brand new meal, gathering wisdom, even.
Ready! All gifts are wrapped and mailed, and the scaloppine sauce is made for the chicken scaloppine which will be the star of the show tomorrow. I didn't get to make gingerbread houses or sugar cookies, but my husband and daughter will happily do that with me in the weeks to come. We're not sticklers for the timing of traditional activities. Happy holidays, all!
Our Christmas has started. Took fil (90) lunch and a few little gifts Beef roast with gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls, and cake.The boys are still there but I slipped home to do chores. We will meet up for supper (leftovers) and church.
Gifts are wrapped. It's a booger to hide gifts in a 500 ft2 house! We managed and Santa will come tonight.
Morning chores and breakfast casserole before heading to my folks. It will be an all day affair with lots of food and sugar and food and chaos and more food. I'll chore late tomorrow and it will provide our exit strategy.
My side will get back together Sat for an extended celebration with all the out of town cousins. No idea what I'm bringing to that, I'll wing it.
We're not a big gifting bunch but we are big eaters! Lots of cooking in my near future.
It's my understanding that my brother has decided to rehome the entirety of his son's (16 yo) Tonka toy collection to us. Is his own crazy Cousin Eddie way, he's put them all through the dishwasher. Merry Christmas Ds 7!!! A sand pile is in our near future. Until the weather improves, I'm not sure what we'll do with it all but we'll manage 🙂
Happy holidays everyone.
1. Well, I'm as ready as I can be with limited patience and energy! I drove to the big smoke to get my mom yesterday, (over an hour drive) then back home (another hour) then cooked a dinner of salmon, sticky rice, Delicata squash, cauliflower and grated carrot salad.
My #2 son didn't show up (argh) however #1 son and partner and grandson came and roommate got picked up from work to join us. It was kind of hectic, as of course I didn't have the table set or everything prepared, but my daughter outlaw graciously took on that task and hung out with me while my son hung with my mom and his son – Mom isn't remembering much unfortunately and I only heard bits of what he was telling her about his lack of work situation, however Mom got to be with my grandson and that made her really happy.
2. We had a hectic present opening for that crew – most presents were 'wrapped' either in the cloth Christmas bags that I have collected over the years, or in paper Christmas bags that are re-used all the time. I was pleased to see a lot of thrifted gifts and that is mostly what I gave – including a lovely tablecloth and some good books.
My poor Daughter outlaw did all the present work this Christmas so I am disappointed in that son of mine, too – he usually is fully engaged in the emotional labour, but I suspect both of my 'boys' are feeling a bit blue this year for various reasons....
3. My long time buddy has come to stay now, for a couple of days; last night my daughter outlaw set up the cot and mattress that they brought over (as I cannot locate where my lovely-and-a-bit-too-tidy cleaning lady put MY cot). It is set up in my office, which I have been beavering away at clearing out this week so there was room. Progress but certainly not perfection
4. I have a lot of salmon left over (and wish I hand't cooked TWO coho fillets, ouch) however I tonight.
5. Meanwhile, I have succeeded in getting the turkey stuffed and it is in the oven cooking, a trick I learned a couple of years ago: to cook the bird the day before and heat it in broth the day of. I am hoping we can pull the turkey out of the oven and run off to the church service at 7:00 tonight, yet neither my Mom nor my buddy are at all Church goers (well, I barely get there myself, but...). We shall see.
6. My mom's memory is really failing and there is a LOT of repetition happening, however my long time buddy is totally patient with her and that is helping to give me a bit of a break today.
I'll keep Mom here until probably the day after boxing day – however my buddy will bike off the day after Christmas.
After travelling by bus and a small ferry, she completed her trip by riding her bike the rest of the way here, and arrived in a rain storm, dressed head to toe in rain gear (literally – shoe gaiters and a rain cover on her helmet, even); it has taken a couple of hours for my new-to-her dog to warm up and stop growling at her due to the way she looked when she walked in the door. This is sad, as my buddy is a dog lover, and they usually take to her immediately. Whatever, after a walk or two they will be best friends!
Merry Christmas! I drove up and saw my oldest son ( his dad decided not to go so I dropped off presents for him and the middle son) for a few minutes and gave him a little cash and his t shirt. He overslept and he didn’t make the meal we planned so I drove to his RV, woke him up and gave him the cash that we would have used ( and maybe a little extra), for the meal. I laughed about it. We are not a Hallmark Christmas family… lol. I was supposed to see younger last Sunday and that didn’t work out so I will see him sometime this weekend or in the coming weeks.Youngest was sick in bed last night. He lives much closer to my work so it is far easier to drive an hour to see him. Really , I am just so so happy to have a few days off. This year has been a nightmare but I am grateful to still be working on this economy. I am just so happy to be able to stay home today, eat, walk in the neighborhood and nap!!! I always keep a few $10 bills handy during the holidays in case I forgot someone or something. I have found folks are real happy to get a little cash, especially my kids and my ex… lol.
I have read many practical ideas on this blog and strengthened my overall frugal, earth-and-self respecting attitudes. I am grateful this place is part of my routine!
But the most important phrase I have learned is Katy's Jewish blessing, which I repeat now. For all who are mourning this holiday season, (and some of you have shared your stories here), may their memory be a blessing!
Lol, thanks to you, I learned about Trader Joe's Jingle Jangle. I have since purchased 12 tins of it. Through sheer force of will, I have avoided opening a single one of them, but it hasn't been easy. I am using JJ for tenant gifts, last-minute houseguests, the host of our family's post-Christmas Christmas dinner (with a wrapped TJ's gift card taped to the bottom), etc. Initially I bought ten, but went back yesterday for two more. I'm going to tell everyone they can return the tins for future refills. Thanks for the tip, Katy!