It is Christmas Eve and if you are reading this in real time, you probably aren’t out spending at the last minute for the one person you forgot to shop for.
Isn’t that the most maddening thing? You’ve got everything wrapped and you feel really good about all the holiday preparations. You’ve decorated, budgeted, shopped and finally sat back to enjoy some eggnog when the neighbor stops by to wish you a Merry Merry and they’ve brought – ACK – an unexpected present.
I’ve learned to always have a few things wrapped in pretty all occasion paper or a gift bag, ready to go for such an occasion.
My extra gifts that were sitting on the self this season.
*A bottle of wine
*My favorite anecdotal paperback book – it was one of the Chicken Soup books.
*An instrumental CD.
*A special basket of homemade soaps. (not made by me, but homemade nonetheless).
*Homemade fudge wrapped in plastic sitting in the freezer.
I’ve grabbed one of the fudges for our UPS delivery guy, and another for my crochet teacher at the last minute.
(Any that I don’t give away will store nicely in the freezer.)
I’ve used all the gifts for some reason or another. A friend I hadn’t heard from in a long time called and we went to lunch – out came the CD.
A nursery worker at the gym who takes care of my daughter got the soaps.
Having a few gifts ready to go sitting in my closet helps the last minute dash to the store – where if I go, I’ll always overspend. When I’m hurried, or stressed, I’ll just grab anything and regret the cost later.
When I’m prepared ahead, it’s not much money I’ve got in these gifts. Combined, they come to about $40.00 plus the fudge supplies.
I’ve used all these gifts and a few others this year.
I’ve been invited to a last minute party of a friend of a friend. She got the wine. I’ve also had to grab a gift for a mother of a playgroup friend who gave me a present when I wasn’t expecting a gift exchange.
If you add a nice Christmas ornament to any of the above presents and you’ve ‘customized’ your present just for them and just for the occasion.
So, now that you are prepared for any occasion, time to sit back and enjoy.
Merry Christmas Everyone.