INSIDE: It’s Day 13 of the 30 Days to a Stress-Free Christmas Challenge! Today is all about last-minute Christmas gifts and how to make sure you’re prepared just in case you’ve forgotten someone – or a friend unexpectedly turns up on your doorstep, gift in hand. This is a challenge I know you’re going to really enjoy. So, let’s dive in!
Welcome back to the 30 Days to a Stress-Free Christmas Challenge!
I hope you enjoyed your day off yesterday? All set for a brand-new challenge? Great! Before we kick-off, just like last week, I want you to spend a few minutes going through your notebook. Read through all your notes. Take a look and see if there are any actions you can take this week to start making Christmas a reality.
What can you do now that’ll save you time later?
Are there any gifts you can order, staples you can buy and put in the pantry? Decide what you can get started on this week and make a plan. Remember, the earlier you start, the more time you’ll have later to enjoy the festivities!
Okay, it’s time for Challenge #13…are you ready? Let’s do this!
There’s nothing worse than thinking you have all your gifts wrapped and sorted only to realise at the last minute that you’ve forgotten someone. Worse still, that someone is now standing on your doorstep bearing gifts and you have nothing to give them in return!
That may have happened to me on more than one occasion. And it was embarrassing to say the least. But now I’m wise to it. Should an unexpected guest arrive with a present or two, or I realise I’ve messed up and accidentally forgotten someone, it’s no big deal. I always have a gift waiting and ready for me to give to them.
Want to know how? What the little secret is that saves me every year?
I have a stash of last-minute emergency gifts!
That’s right! Every year, as well as buying all the gifts on my list, I buy a few emergency last-minute gifts just in case. Hidden away upstairs in my wardrobe with a few gift bags too, they give me great peace of mind. Knowing I have a few last-minute gifts to fall back on stops me worrying about what to do if I do forget someone or we decide to see a friend or relative we hadn’t planned on seeing until after Christmas and I want to give them a little something.
Having told you that, I bet you can’t guess what today’s challenge is?!
That’s right, today I want you to create your own stash of emergency last-minute gifts! I think you’re going to enjoy this one. It’s a lot of fun!
Challenge #13: Create a stockpile of last-minute Christmas gifts…
Last-minute Christmas gifts…
Having a few items that serve as last-minute Christmas gifts can be a real life-saver. You don’t have to go crazy or spend a fortune doing it, but having a few simple gifts stashed away really does help make Christmas less stressful and more enjoyable. Should someone turn up on your doorstep, not only will you look like you were prepared, you’ll be able to breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy being in their company without feeling guilty you’d forgotten them!
What last-minute Christmas gifts should you buy?
Ask yourself what you could get that would make a great last-minute gift but could also be re-purposed if not used. When choosing your last-minute Christmas gifts, make sure it’s something that you’ll use after Christmas if you don’t end up giving it to someone. Don’t buy things that mean you’re wasting your money.
If it can be used by you or re-purposed as a birthday gift, it’s a good thing to get. Some nice chocolates, a bottle of wine or some scented candles are a great place to start. Spend some time brainstorming, write a few ideas down. When you’re out shopping, keep the idea of last-minute Christmas gifts at the back of your mind. If you see something that you think would make a great emergency gift and you know you could repurpose it after Christmas, go for it.
Need a few ideas for last-minute Christmas gifts? Try these…
- A kid’s selection box of chocolates.
- A nice bubble bath set.
- A bottle of Prosecco.
- A voucher for a coffee shop – their next coffee is on you!
- Dinner for two….most big chain restaurants do gift cards for around £20 which makes a great last-minute gift.
- A voucher for the local Cinema.
- An Amazon or iTunes voucher. This is a good one if you regularly buy from Amazon or iTunes, if you don’t use it just redeem it next time you place an order!
See what else you can come up with. Just remember, you don’t need to go mad, four or five gifts will do. Whatever you choose, make sure it can be re-purposed or you know you’ll use it yourself, so your investment isn’t wasted. And don’t use it as an excuse to treat yourself to all kinds of things you wouldn’t buy…although it wouldn’t hurt to add a nice bubble bath set or coffee shop voucher to the list, right?!
That’s it for today!
I’ll be back tomorrow with challenge #14 of 30 Days to a Stress-Free Christmas challenge. In the meantime, have fun coming up with a few last-minute Christmas gifts. And don’t forget to check out the rest of the posts for this challenge if you haven’t done so already too!
- Day 1: Let’s Get Your Christmas Planning Started!
- Day 2: What Gifts to Buy?
- Day 3: Get Organised for Christmas.
- Day 4: Write Out Your Christmas Budget.
- Day 5: Take a Break and Have a Well-Earned Rest!
- Day 6: Declutter Your Child’s Bedroom.
- Day 7: Winter Prep Your House and Car.
- Day 8: Start a Packing List.
- Day 9: Do Your Christmas Decorations on a Budget.
- Day 10: Spend Money on Experiences Instead of Things.
- Day 11: Finalise Your Christmas Gift List.
- Day 12: Take a Break and Have a Well-Earned Rest!
Don’t forget to check out my Christmas planning board over on Pinterest too! It’s packed full of great ideas, tips and tricks to help you make planning this year’s Christmas – including coming up with ideas for gifts – a breeze!
That’s it for this post! What’s on your list for last-minute Christmas gifts? Let me know in the comments!
Until next time…
P.S. Get all of the Christmas challenges by email!
Want a little more accountability? Don’t forget that you can sign up to receive each challenge by email! Every day for the next 30 days I’ll land in your inbox with the next Christmas challenge. A great way to remind you to take action, you’ll also receive my FREE Ultimate Christmas Planning Checklist too!
In it, you’ll find checklists for your Christmas budget, Christmas shopping, meal planning and prepping, family traditions, planning your travel and so much more. With every Christmas planning step you can possibly think of listed, no stone will be left unturned and nothing will be forgotten!
Simply enter your email address below and I’ll send it to you right away along with the first challenge!
