If you find yourself rushing to the nearest retail outlet at the last minute each year, you’re not alone. More than half of us wait until the last minute to do our holiday gift shopping. This can often mean shelves are picked clean or that the store is out of the color or size of an item you wanted to buy. It might seem like you’re left with very few options, but you’re not! Some simple creative thinking (mixed with a little inspiration from the list below) will turn you into a holiday gift-giver extraordinaire. Bonus: all these gift ideas are budget-friendly!
Gifts for the Outdoorsy Type
We all know someone who loves a good adventure. For hikers, campers, and climbers alike, gifts need to be practical, portable, and lightweight.
- Portable speaker
- With hundreds of options to choose from in terms of size and functionality, portable speakers are rechargeable and can even clip to a backpack or belt to make it easy to bring music with you wherever you go.
- Compact waterproof blanket
- Perfect for using on damp ground or underneath a tent, a waterproof blanket ensures your favorite outdoorsman stays dry and comfortable.
- Portable water filter
- In case your water bottle runs dry, a portable water filter allows the drinker to immediately filter water from any natural source, ensuring its safety for consumption.
- Rechargeable head lamp
- This is a great tool to keep hikers and climbers safe in all conditions.
Gifts for Foodies
Foodies tend to have well-stocked kitchens, which makes shopping for them difficult. These suggestions will appeal to even those with the most discerning of palates.
- Mushroom grow kit
- Give their windowsill herb garden a neighbor with this hard-to-mess-up kit. A little indirect light, some water and, voila, these fungi will be ready to cook in no time!
- Truffle oil
- The uber-expensive truffle becomes uber-accessible in oil form. A small drizzle can transform pasta, mashed potatoes, or even popcorn, giving ordinary foods a gourmet flourish.
- Kitchen shears
- An indispensable and practical kitchen tool, you don’t have to break the bank to get a durable and functional pair.
- Fancy salts
- Finishing salts can transform a dish. Salts from different parts of the world and smoked or flavored salts are an impressive addition to any spice rack.
Gifts for the Self-Care Guru
We all need to take a little time for self-care. These gifts are thoughtful, useful, and are sure to bring comfort to whoever receives them.
- Face and eye masks
- Readily available at retailers ranging from local pharmacies to high-end department stores, and with a veritable rainbow of colors and ingredients to be had, they’re a classic self-care go-to.
- Yoga mat
- Not just for yoga anymore, yoga mats are great for many types of workouts and for stretching in general.
- Wellness journal
- Each type of wellness journal provides a unique experience for the user but is helpful for tracking healthy behaviors and habits.
- Bath bombs
- The never-goes-out-of-style comfort gift. And, they smell great, to boot.
Gifts that are Eco-Friendly
The focus on waste reduction isn’t just “en vogue,” it’s an important part of significantly impacting the environment. Make your earth-loving friend happy with any of these eco-conscious gifts.
- Reusable shopping bags
- As many cities implement a ban on plastic bags and other single-use plastics, it’s becoming important to have reusable shopping bags on hand. There’s a ton of variety when it comes to size, shape, and material.
- Beeswax wrappers
- Ditch the plastic wrap and sandwich bags and make the switch to all-natural beeswax wrappers. Colorful cotton or muslin fabric is treated with beeswax to enable the fabric to mold to any shape and create a seal to keep food fresh. They’re washable and reusable!
- Wool dryer balls
- Wool dryer balls reduce the need to use chemical-heavy dryer sheets or fabric softeners. They also work great to make your laundry soft and fluffy.
- Upcycled anything
- Upcycling, or creative re-use, takes unwanted or otherwise wasted materials and transforms them into something of greater value. Lots of artists and artisans now make items entirely from upcycled materials, and the possibilities are endless.
Gifts for Movie Buffs
The only rule of holiday shopping for movie buffs is don’t buy movie buffs an actual movie (they’re notoriously picky.) Accessories, however, are fair game, and these gifts definitely hit the mark.
- Art movie posters
- Minimalist or artistic interpretations of movie posters are a popular and aesthetically pleasing addition to a movie-lovers collection.
- Streaming service subscription
- With fees as low as only a few dollars per month, this is an affordable gift that keeps on giving!
- “What to watch” dice
- The perfect gift for the moments of indecision about what to watch next, these dice take the guesswork out of determining the genre of movie or TV show to watch so you’re not spending your entire night flipping through what’s available.
- Gourmet popcorn kit
- Any good movie buff knows a big bowl of popcorn is a MUST. Many kits include heirloom corn varieties and a selection of unique and bold flavorings.
Gifts that Make Home Offices More Comfortable
For those who work in home offices or split their time between remote and on-site work, little luxuries go a long way toward creating a comfortable work environment.
- Mug warmer
- For the ever-present cup of coffee or tea that gets you through all those Zoom meetings, this mini warming plate fits neatly on a desk.
- Soft lighting
- A small lamp with softer lighting helps to counter the harsh light emitting from computer screens. There’s lots of cheeky, fun options: strawberries, dumplings, old-school camping lanterns, and much, much more!
- Art calendar
- Staring at your empty walls all day can get old, fast. An art calendar is functional AND nice to look at. It’s a simple way to add some interest to your home office setup.
- Warm socks/slippers
- We all know you’re wearing sweatpants with your blazer and button down, so just go ahead and fully embrace the comfort with a pair of cozy socks or fuzzy slippers.
Get More Holiday Shopping Tips
We’re focused on ensuring our members achieve more and hope these gift ideas help make your holidays easier and more affordable. Looking for even more holiday shopping knowledge? Check out this episode, where we share holiday shopping tips, or visit our blog for even more resources.