The Christmas party is in two hours.
You continue to get ready, and your mind wanders.
You already picked up a bottle of wine to bring (and it was a good deal, too!
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); all the presents are wrapped.
Its Christmas Day and everything is closed even Amazon Prime cant save you now.
Whats a Penny Hoarder to do?
But that doesnt mean Uncle Marks stocking stuffer has to be a bottle of Advil.
If youre creative, it’s possible for you to find awesome Christmas gifts wherever you go.
Just put a ribbon on it, and its an instant gift!
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At-Home Movie Night
Does your convenience store carry bargain DVDs?
Snag em and grab a bow: Youve given the gift of a night in!
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3.
You have an opportunity to give a classic gift even at the eleventh hour.
Nice Olive Oil
You may be worried your giftee doesnt need this household staple.
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Gourmet Vinegars
Like a nice olive oil, a true foodie would appreciate a bottle of gourmet vinegar.
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6.
Artisan Pasta
Skip the blue box.
Scour the Italian aisle for tri-color tripolini and a high-end jar of sauce for good measure.
Youve given the gift of a nice meal.
Spices
Yeah, theres nothing very exciting about garlic salt or onion powder.
But what about a jar of Spanish saffron or grains of paradise?
Bonus: Find a great-looking recipe that uses the spice(s) you choose.
Write it into a Christmas card to go along with your gift.
Coffee or Tea
These are staples in pre-packaged gift baskets.
Nuts
A nice package of pistachios or macadamia nuts can make a nice (healthy!)
Fresh Baked Goods
If CVS or Walgreens is your only option, this likely wont work for you.
Fresh Fruit
Theres nothing better than fresh, in-season fruit.
Pair it with chocolate to really amp up your gift.
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Custom Gift Basket With Any of the Above
Soda crackers, sharp cheese and red wine.
Dark chocolate and almonds, with a perfectly paired dark roast coffee to enjoy alongside.
A bag of apples and a jar of caramel sauce.
The possibilities are endless and the best part?
All you really need to make anything a gift is a ribbon.
Your grocer probably also sells them during the holidays.
Indoor Plant or Fresh Flowers
Everyone loves bringing fresh flora indoors.
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Candle
Candles are great, because theyre both visual and olfactory.
Plus, all those nice holiday scents like evergreen and peppermint are likely to be on steep sale!
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Gift Cards
Grocery stores sell gift cards to everything from restaurants to iTunes.
Christmas Ornament
Help your host commemorate another awesome year and successful holiday.
No one has to know it was a last-minute purchase!
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Cookware
There are actually some pretty cool cooking gadgets on the endcap you always pass at the grocery store.
Your host might love a pretty new ceramic pie pan or maybe a slow cooker!
Photos
Drop by the photo center to print a few favorite memories from a USB stick.
Then spend some time sharing them around the table.
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Need More Ideas?
At the end of the day, even a thoughtful card is better than nothing.
It sounds appealing right?
Check it out here!
