By BR Kellie
There’s that moment just before Christmas Day when you’re shopped out, moneyed out, tired, over it and suspect that if you hear Jingle Bells one more time you’ll find a bell and bop someone over the head with it. Then you remember you forgot something. A present. For someone. Be it your mum, dad, sister, friend, neighbour, babysitter and you just can’t bare to venture into the stressed out masses again. But you have to get the person you forgot a gift, because it would be rude not to. What’s a girl to do? Cry into the fruitcake she’s been religiously adding brandy to for the last two months? Never! Instead check out the BR Guide to last minute gift ideas they’ll love – gift ideas that don’t require too much effort on your part.
Say you’ve got a few working days before Christmas. Hit up Mighty Ape. That place is filled with great gift ideas. There’s everything from Star Wars memorabilia to beauty products, books to toys, you could probably even find the kitchen sink, or at the very least something to go into it. Best of all the shipping is super fast, especially if you’re in a metro area. One tip - just make sure the item is in stock before you hit the buy now button otherwise you could be turning up to Christmas lunch with an empty box and a promise of a gift to come.
If it’s the day before Christmas, get up early or stay up late and head to the supermarket. You’ll beat the throngs of people freaking out that they won’t have enough strawberries for the pav and you can pick up a nice gift, like a bottle of nice wine or some craft beers, a fancy box of choccies, you could even create a Summer Fun basket by adding some nice soft drinks, chips, dip ingredients, nuts, and fresh fruit like mangoes and pineapples.
Another idea is to whip into your local Warehouse – super early or super late – and pick up a quick gift from their huge range. Even better, they’ll have all the Christmas wrapping paper and cards you could possibly need, so you won’t have to worry about sourcing that too.
But what if it’s the day before and you’re down to your last few dollars? Race down to your local $2 store and get some cheap containers, then hit up your kitchen cupboards and get baking or creating. Sugar scrubs are super easy to make, just mix in sugar with olive oil, add in some lemon juice, package it up and you’re good to go. Want to man it up? Swap the sugar for chunky sea salt and you’re sorted.
If baking is more your thing, whip up a batch of delicious spice cookies or chocolate brownie. You could even make this super easy and super tasty three ingredient fruitcake for the Christmas cake lover in your life - it’s also great for taking to family lunches or dinner on the big day. To make it even more affordable you can substitute the fruit juice for brewed tea. Once cooked and cooled, package the treats up (we love this for inspiration) and you’re good to go!
Of course there’s always homemade vouchers if you really get stuck.
At the end of the day it’s the thought that counts, and if the receiver of said gift isn’t suitably impressed? Well, what’s that saying? Those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.
Are you often in a last minute Christmas buying flurry? What are your tips and tricks? Merrily chat away ….
Wise words to live by and my mantra over the last few years (why did it take almost 30 years to cotton on) <3 Those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.