Everyday Cheapskate: 7 Fabulous Last-Minute Gift Ideas

Mary Hunt on Dec 23, 2024

Need a last-minute gift for an office party, a beloved friend, neighbor, coworker or anyone else on your gift list, and for any occasion? Here are seven great ideas that won't take much time and certainly won't break the bank.

GIVE AN EXPERIENCE

Think about fun activities you could do with different people on your list: dinner for a friend, reading night and snacks with the grandkids, and movie night with the grandparents, complete with snacks. How about tickets to a local zoo, a day trip on Amtrak? Write a description of the experience your recipient will receive, noting the day, time and all the details.

GIVE A TREASURE

Consider passing on an heirloom or family treasure to the next generation as a gift. Write a paragraph or two explaining the history or significance of the heirloom to go along with the gift. You will be preserving family history but not spending a dime. But here is the tricky part: Unless a person has expressed a particular love or desire for said heirloom and special treasure, do not assume your gesture will be appreciated.

THE GIFT OF COMPASSION

If you want your gift to say how much you care, then find a way to show you care about what matters most to your recipient. Idea: Honor your recipient by gifting a third-world family with a flock of geese, a goat or a couple of chickens to help that family become self-reliant through WorldVision (donate.worldvision.org/giftcatalog). In just minutes you can place your order online and print the gift card describing what you gave in your recipient's name.

GIVE WHAT YOU DO BEST

Often the most meaningful gifts are those that cost no money at all. A gift from the heart is a gift of time and talent. Do you cook, clean, babysit, garden, sew, drive or shop? Create a gift certificate and make what you do the gift that you give.

Pro Tip: Follow up within a few days to set the exact time your certificate will be redeemed. Your recipient may be too embarrassed to remind you to make good on your gift.

PERSONALIZED STATIONERY

Use your computer to make a supply of "borrowed-from" or address labels, notepaper, thank-you notes or stationery. You can use Microsoft Word to make your own custom stationery!

Most computers come loaded with some kind of print shop software that will do nearly all the work for you. Office supply stores sell the plain stock printable supplies to use in your printer.

Tie your finished products with a festive ribbon and place in an attractive tin for that one-of-a-kind gift. Add a colorful pen and envelopes.

FAMILY PHOTOS

Reproduce old family photos using your scanner or photocopier. Even if the photos are black and white, duplicate them on a color printer for the highest-quality results. You'll be amazed by how original they will appear when framed.

Pro Tip: With your gift of an heirloom photo, include as much information as you know -- the who, where and when!

FOLDABLES

Some people say giving money as a gift is tacky. I disagree, provided you put a modicum of care into how you package or present it. Money is a great gift. Money always fits and it's never the wrong color.

Apparently, I'm not alone in thinking that money is OK. Sales of Hallmark greeting cards designed to hold cash have increased by nearly 200% in the past few years. Banks will trade wrinkled, dirty old money for newly printed, crisp bills for no fee. If you're clever you'll figure out how to fold those bills into fun origami shapes (go online and search "origami money" for instructions). Tuck them into tiny ring boxes or other appropriately sized containers.

You can always personalize cold cash with a warm note. A few Xs and Os -- the universal symbols of kisses and hugs -- will make the gift even more valuable.

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Mary invites you to visit her at EverydayCheapskate.com, where this column is archived complete with links and resources for all recommended products and services. Mary invites questions and comments at https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/contact/, "Ask Mary." This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a frugal living blog, and the author of the book "Debt-Proof Living."