This is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate links: One minute it’s autumn, and you’re ineffectually scraping out the insides of a disappointing Sainsbury’s pumpkin with a spoon. The next, it’s freezing cold, everything is covered in glitter and strangers in the Post Office queue ask you ‘Are you all sorted for Christmas’?
No, Margaret. I’m NOT sorted for Christmas, you think, as you smile and nod.
It felt like you had ages to get everything organised for Christmas.
But, somehow the time has slipped by and here you are, again, thinking about all the gifts you ought to buy for all the people who put up with you.
But that’s okay. There’s still time and ideas below that just might just work to get you in the festive mood and make you appear like a semi-decent human being after all.
Wine
I’m sure it won’t surprise you to know that I will gladly accept wine as a last minute – or any kind of – gift. If you know someone’s favourite wine (Marlborough NZ Sav Blanc, as it happens) you can pick a bottle or two or six up from the supermarket on the way to visit, or you can order it online for direct delivery.
If you’re not sure what to go for, then a gift card for somewhere like Majestic Wine Warehouse is a good shout. Check online for a Majestic Wine discount code to see what the current offers are.
Babysitting vouchers
Buying people meals out and experience vouchers is all well and good, but if they have kids it relies on them being able to get babysitters so it may go unused. An offer of babysitting – perhaps in combination with a voucher for a local restaurant if you’re feeling generous – will be much more appreciated!
Chocolate
Yup, as you can probably tell, I’m all about keeping it simple easy, attainable gifts, and most importantly ones that won’t be put straight in the bin. No one in their right mind can bin chocolate. After all, we all know that calories don’t actually exist between 20th December and 2nd January. And, if they don’t like it, they can offer it around when you visit, or take advantage of the long best before date and re-gift it on your birthday.
Photos
Who doesn’t want a picture of your kids, am I right? Well, most people, probably, but for grandparents a framed school picture is a great gift. Mainly because if they appear ungrateful it’ll look like they just don’t love their grandchildren enough. You can download pictures onto a USB drive and get them printed out in a few minutes inside most Boots stores and photo shops; and they sell frames, too.
Something Amazon Prime-able
Amazon Prime is a godsend when it comes to the disorganised gift giver. I can’t believe that we didn’t have it in the olden days and actually had to leave the house or plan far in advance. You can literally wait up to the wire, order it and it will (hopefully) arrive in 24 hours or so. So as long as you buy something in the next two days or so, you should be golden. I mean, the delivery guy might hate you, but at least your relatives/friends won’t.
Here are some of my personal top picks from Amazon
Usually I think candles are a bit of a cop-out, but I confess to really liking these Woodwick Candles. Not only do they smell amazing, but they crackle as the burn which is just so flipping festive.
I recently bought a kindle and it has got me back into reading again so I’d recommend them to anyone. The Kindle Paperwhites are quite pricey but they are really kind to the eyes, waterproof for reading in the bath, and backlit so you can read while you’re waiting in the dark for a small child to fall asleep.
Is it a blanket, is it a hoodie? I don’t know, but whatever it is it’s warm and I want one because it’s naffing freezing out there.
Or, just shove some cash in a card, and tell them to buy something they actually want. I’m out of ideas…