Frugal, Last-Minute Gift Ideas for This Holiday Shopping Season

Show someone you care with a handmade treat. You can gift these crafty creations without making it overtake your budget, too. Try your hand at baking some delectable delights, including holiday cookies, pecan caramel candies or mint frosting cupcakes. These make great gifts to give to your neighbor or to the host of the holiday dinner party this year.

You can spend just a few dollars on the ingredients or just use what’s already in your pantry. After the desserts cool, wrap them in parchment paper or cellophane and use a decorative ribbon to add the perfect finishing touch. You can even pair it with an inexpensive but tasty wine that’s $5 or less from the grocery store.

Get your creative juices flowing and use inexpensive parts to arrange a gift basket in a unique way. Visit your local dollar store or browse the dollar section of a discount store for items to piece together as a gift basket. You can go for a standard gift basket or get more creative and use everyday items that double as containers, such as mugs or canisters.

Reuse tissue paper from old gifts that are in good condition and start packing the gift basket with inexpensive items like sleeping masks or coloring books. Create a theme around the basket and stay in your budget. For instance, you can make a gift basket for relaxing and include items, such as single packs of face masks and bath accessories. You can also use cellophane and curled paper ribbon to add a store-bought feel to the gift, too.

If you have no plans to use that unwrapped gift you got last year, there’s no harm in passing it along to someone who will. The key here is to make sure it’s a gift that the recipient will want. You also want to customize the gift for the person you’re giving it to and avoid handing it over to people in the same social circle as the original gift giver. Use special wrapping paper and write a handwritten card or note to make it memorable.

Don’t let the gift-giving season bend your budget. By getting creative with last-minute gifts, you can make this holiday shopping season frugal and fun for everyone.