For some reason, it seems like Christmas sneaks up on us more quickly each year.
Before you know it, it's the middle of December and you haven't purchased a single gift for anyone on your list yet!
Christmas gifts are always a challenge because you want to find the gift that's just right for each person, so it's hard to find something in a rush at the last minute.
However, there are a few things that work as perfect gifts for almost anyone when you don't have a lot of time left.
1. A framed photo
A framed photograph is always a great option for a Christmas gift! It's not expensive, super easy, and has a touch of thoughtfulness.
With a photograph, your present is a reminder of a good memory between you and the person receiving the gift. They'll be sure to love it.
If you want to gain extra brownie points, you can buy a plain wooden frame from a craft store and paint/decorate it yourself.
2. Hand-painted ornaments
I gave all my friends hand-painted ornaments one year and it was a huge hit. This is another inexpensive gift that shows you care.
You can buy plain, plastic ornaments at any craft store, or even at a Walmart. You can paint them very easily with acrylic paints, you could decorate the outside with stickers, or you could fill the inside of them with something personal to the person receiving the ornament.
If you don't know what to paint, a simple go-to option is their name (or initials) and the year.
3. Purchased ornaments
Everyone isn't born with a crafty bone in their body and that's okay.
If you can't decorate an ornament yourself, a purchased ornament always works as a great gift, too.
Think about what the person you're buying for really likes, and you're sure to be able to find an ornament out there for it. Sports teams, hobbies, and favorite movies are some things to think about when selecting an ornament.
4. A gift card
This one is for the desperate.
Gift cards don't seem like the best present out there, but you can pick them up quickly and you know you haven't wasted money on something that someone doesn't want.
If you don't know a store they like to shop at, then you could get a card for the movies, a restaurant, or for Amazon.com.
5. A personalized basket of goodies
This option is great for someone that you know really well.
What's their favorite candy? Do they have a store they love to shop at? What's their favorite color?
If you know the answers to these questions you can create a great gift basket! You can pretty much buy anything you think they would like, throw it in a basket, stick a bow on it, and you've got a perfect gift!
The best part? Things you buy for this can all be under $5 (ex. gum, CD, bag of candy) so you don't have to spend a bunch of money.
6. Tickets for an event
This is probably one of the more pricey options, but it is a great one.
Search for tickets to a local event that the person you are buying it for would be interested in. It could be a ballet, a musical, a sports event... the options are endless!
Tickets for an event are a really great last minute gift option because you can usually just print them out immediately instead of worrying about going out to a store or waiting for something to be delivered.
This is sure to show the person you really care about them (even if you did forget to buy them something until December 24th).
7. Handmade jar mixes
If you've ever been on Pinterest, you know what I'm talking about. Jar mixes make super cute gifts, and they are easy and cheap to assemble.
8. Anything that smells good
For some reason, people are suckers for anything that smells nice.
Some options would be an incense burner, candle, car air freshener, cologne, or perfume.
I suggest going with a seasonal smell so they can enjoy its use right away.
9. Attire for their favorite sports team
If you're all out of luck, sports team attire is a sure fire win.
You can get almost anything nowadays with a sports logo on it, and people can never seem to collect enough gear to show off their pride for their team.
You could get hats, jerseys, scarves, socks, blankets, posters, phone cases, key chains... the list is endless!
This is easy to find, and sure to please.
