Finding last-minute gift ideas for someone who has everything is not as difficult as it seems. Check out my holiday shopping list ideas – it’s cheap and convenient.
Have you ever been in charge of shopping for someone who seems to already own everything?
And last-minute gift ideas for someone who has everything?
Well, that can suck the holiday spirit out of you.
To find last-minute gift ideas that are both cheap and that are convenient (seeing how, well, time is of the essence), you need to get a little clever.
Don’t worry – I’m taking all of the thinking out of it by brainstorming tons of great ideas so that you can get on with your own life (while still managing to make it seem like you spent tons of time and energy coming up with your gift idea).
It’s a win-win!
Psst: you'll definitely want to check out my article on Amazon gifts for the man who has everything.
How to Pick Out a Last-Minute Gift Idea for Someone Who Has Everything
When shopping for someone who has everything – and last minute, at that – you can never go wrong with gifts that:
- Can be consumed in one sitting (such as food, which they can still enjoy even if they’ve had it before)
- Can give them an experience of some sort (a new memory is something that they don’t currently have)
- Helps something that they are very interested in
Now, I’ll show you lots of last-minute gift ideas for someone who has everything, that fits these criteria.
Psst: the Dollar Tree is fantastic for last-minute Christmas gifts! Check out 11 Dollar Tree Gift Ideas for Christmas, 11 Dollar Tree Gift Ideas for Him, and Dollar Tree Gift Ideas for Moms.
Last-Minute Holiday Shopping at the Grocery Store
You read that right – if you’re looking for cheap last-minute gifts, then look no further than your grocery store.
I mean, chances are, you’re making extra runs there anyway since it’s the holiday season, amiright?
Some of my favorite things to find as last-minute gifts in the grocery store:
1. The Morning-After Breakfast Basket
Know a family or couple who has a big day – like Christmas morning, prom, hosting a family reunion, etc.?
This last-minute, Morning-After Breakfast Basket can easily be put together from the grocery store…and I'm sure they'll love having breakfast figured out for the next morning.
Here's what I found at my grocery store:
- Dollar Parton Buttermilk Pancake Mix
- Bobo's Chocolate Chip Oat Bites
- 2 Kodiak Power Cup Oatmeals
- Pioneer Woman Slotted Turner
- Crown Maple Syrup
I purchased the white bucket from the Dollar Tree.
2. Gourmet Peanut Butter Tower
Have you seen all of the different gourmet flavors with peanut butter now?
And they’re not cheap. Grab a trio, and wrap it up in a bow.
OR, put it in a wine gift bag for some fun.
3. Cheese + French Bread
Get one of those impressive-looking, long loaves of French bread and pick several kinds of cheese from France from the imported cheese section no one ever buys from.
4. Cheese Basket
Heck, buy several imported cheeses and put them in a basket as a gift (my husband, a cheese monster if I ever did meet one, would absolutely adore this gift…in fact, I think I’m going to do this for him this year).
5. Set of Mason Jars
If your gift receiver has any interest in canning or doing crafts, then you can find a set of mason jars (with various sizes to choose from) in the baking aisle of your grocery store.
Some stores also sell supplies needed for canning, so keep your eyes out!
6. Kitchen Utensils
Most grocery stores now have a section where you can buy kitchen utensils.
That’s where I found this gorgeous bamboo spoon that I not only bought for myself but also bought as a birthday gift for my friend.
7. Set of Jams
You might be surprised by the expensive, “worldly” types of jams you can find. Get several smaller jars and box them up.
8. Local Products Bundle
Does your grocer stock local products? You can purchase a few, such as local jars of honey, to give as thoughtful gifts.
9. Popcorn Seasoning Kit
There are all sorts of popcorn products now being offered in the snack food aisle.
Grab a bag of un-popped kernels, a pack of brown paper lunch bags (they can use this for popping – yes, you can pop popcorn without a popcorn maker…say that three times fast), and 2-3 seasonings to make into a kit.
You might even be able to find a set of flimsy movie popcorn containers (Target sometimes sells them for $1 each, and I've found them at Dollar Tree, too) to include.
10. Sundae Kit
Go crazy in the ice-cream topping area, and make a sundae kit with a jar of caramel, crushed nuts, a jar of cherries, gourmet chocolate syrup, etc. for a whole family gift or a couple's date night gift.
At our grocery store, I found:
- Torani White Chocolate Syrup
- Mrs. Richardson's Hot Fudge
- Chopped Walnuts
- Girl Scouts Thin Mints Seasoning Blend (in the seasoning aisle!)
- Crunchy Jimmies
The basket is from the Dollar Tree.
11. Biscotti + Torani Syrups
If they love coffee drinks, then buy them a bag of biscotti and 1-2 bottles of Torani syrups so that they can experiment like a barista in the comfort of home.
12. English Tea Time Kit
You can typically find some English crackers or cookies (though you might need to look hard!). Pair this with a box or tin of English breakfast tea.
13. Kitchen Herbs
Rosemary topiary bush (look in the florist area, or near where they’re selling wreaths/Christmas trees)
14. Exotic Spices Bundle
Bundle together 4-5 more exotic/expensive spices from the spice and seasons section. Tie a bow around them!
15. Gourmet Chocolates Bundle
Go wild in the gourmet chocolates section. Pick out several bars of high-quality chocolates, tie a bow around them, and voila!
Bonus: you can download this free printable Chocolate Tasting Date Night from The Dating Divas, print it out, and include that.
16. Holiday Cards
Most grocery stores have an impressive card section, and I’ve written here about little things to add to your holiday cards (beyond cool messages) to make them special.
What else can you put inside?
Something like:
- Lottery Tickets: Since you’re already at the convenience store…why not get some lottery tickets to fill your holiday cards? I once won $20 from a holiday lottery ticket someone got me as a gift. Not only was the money nice but playing the scratch-off game was fun for someone who rarely does so.
- Drink Tokens from a Local Bar: Does your local town or city bar offer tokens for you to buy a drink in the future for someone else? The bar in the town where we grew up does. You can buy several tokens and add them to your holiday card, saying “Drinks in the New Year on me!”.
- Gift Card to Local Car Wash: Get a gift card to your local car wash, and buy a nicely-scented car freshener to tie around it.
17. Themed Food Gift Bag
Grab a Christmas gift bag and some tissue paper.
Pick up a few items from the same country or region in the International food section, and fill your gift bag with them.
For example, you could do an Asian theme and include sesame oil, Pocky sticks from Japan, and some chopsticks you find in the kitchen utensil area.
For an Italian theme? Grab a jar of sundried tomatoes, some pesto, Nutella, and a few items imported directly from Italy.
18. Tea Bag Sampler
You can either find a tea sampler set or buy several boxes of more exotic-sounding teas to give as a set.
One other tip for shopping for last-minute Christmas gifts at the grocery store? Go through the 75% off area – yes, you can find gems to gift others in those clearance bins.
19. Gourmet Coffee Beans + a Grinder
You can sometimes find a coffee bean grinder machine at the grocery store. Pair that with a gourmet bag of beans!
Cheap Last-Minute Gifts Online
Did you know that you can sign up for a free Amazon Prime 30-day trial to use for the holidays? I mention this, because, you get free two-day shipping with Prime.
In other words – you could sign up for a free Amazon Prime 30-day trial, get your last-minute gifts online, and then decide if you actually want to keep being a paid customer or not.
Here are several articles with tons of gift ideas on Amazon:
- Amazon Gifts for the Man Who Has Everything (All Under $25)
- Best Christmas Presents Under $30 (23 Gifts Under $10)
- 151+ Men's Stocking Stuffer Ideas (Under $10)
- 151+ Stocking Stuffers for Women (Stocking Stuffers for Her Under $10)
- 17 Gifts to Make Life Easier for the Elderly
Another great idea for last-minute gifts you can buy online? Make a donation in their name to a cause they feel passionate about.
Make a Donation in their Name
If they’ve got everything, then why not get on your computer and make a quick donation to a cause in their name? Not only is this a quick and last-minute online gift option, but it will make them feel great.
Check out ChildFund International’s Real Catalogue to buy a specific thing for someone in a specific country. Then print out your receipt, and include it in a holiday card.
Psst: this can also be a last-minute gift that’s cheap, as you can make a difference in someone’s life by buying a mosquito net to donate for just $11.00.
Next up? Here’s how to score last-minute Christmas gifts for cheap.
Just because someone owns tons of things, and just because it’s last minute, doesn’t mean you can’t find awesome last-minute gifts for someone who has everything. Go with the guidelines I’ve given you above, and you should be good to go.
Amanda L Grossman
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