13 Last Minute Gifts For When You're Short On Time
Congratulations! You made it halfway through December and successfully managed to avoid the consumerist craze and shopping mania. However, you might be realizing that you got a little too anxious-avoidant with your holiday shopping, and you're about to turn up to the holiday party, or your parents’ house, empty-handed.
Don’t fret; Sustainable Baddie is here to save you from all things shopping stress. We made an extremely comprehensive list for all of you last-minute shoppers and gift-givers.
1. Girl, Make it Yourself!
Source: Pinterest
Candle holders and DIY makeup pouches are simple shapes that are easy to make in bulk once you get the hang of things. If you’re a novice, you can easily master the simple square like a coaster, and if you're a seasoned knitter or crocheter, have a little fun with the design. No matter what, everyone could use more DIY items in their life.
2. Beaded Gifts
Admit it, we’ve all had an “I’m gonna make jewelry!” phase. Whether you stuck to it or not, you might have a collection of plastic, glass, and clay beads hiding somewhere in your craft box. No beads to be found? Head to the jewelry section of your local thrift store –you can always take beads off of secondhand necklaces and redesign them into completely new pieces. With your leftover beads, you can make funky decor, necklaces, bracelets, and even keychains for everyone on your list!
3. Get out the CLAY
We love clay at Sustainable Baddie. It is effortlessly funky and a great stress reliever for the end-of-year blues! Polymer clay is not very sustainable, but there are brands selling clay alternatives, like Sculpd. You can even make your salt clay for simple crafts like clay rings, ornaments, or fridge magnets.
4. Write a Letter
Nothing says “Happy Holidays” like a well-written letter. We love gifts, and we are certainly not minimalists, but it is better to limit the items that we buy this time of year, so opting for a thoughtful letter is a good way to say, “Hey, I love you!” without putting more waste into the world.
5. Make a Playlist
Not much of a letter writer? A playlist is another go-to for an easy and quick last-minute gift. You could follow a distinct theme or just go off of vibes alone, but ultimately, people are in the market for new music any time of year. It produces no waste and will be loved and cherished for a very long time.
6. Photo Gifts
Another way to get sentimental with your last-minute gift is by paying homage to your friendship or relationship through photos. You can easily thrift a funky frame, make a detailed collage, or just make a shared digital album.
7. Make A Donation
A good way to show someone that they matter to you is by donating to an organization or movement whose mission holds significance for them. Like Grow NYC!
8. Cookies & Treats
We’ve all seen the Grandma’s Cookies episode of SpongeBob – cookies are truly the best way to show someone you care. Very few things make us as happy as having homemade sweets to enjoy. Treats are a great sustainable option and can be made on short notice as well! Try these guava hard candy stained glass cookies via Abi Balingit.
9. Snack Bundles
Our favorite snacks can cure a broken heart, and make us feel nurtured, and satisfied. Gifting a collection of your bestie’s favorite snacks is a great way to say, “I see you, and I know these [insert fave snacks] will send you into a state of bliss.” And if you’re lucky, your giftee might even share some of the wealth with you! You can find some more sustainable snacks via Hive!
10. Bottle of Wine, Apertivo, or Kombucha
We all know that one person who can tell you the tasting notes of that bottle of Gulp Hablo (that you bought because it looks pretty). Surprise them with an extra special bottle of wine, a fun new aperitif to add to their collection, or a small batch of crafted kombucha.
11. Dinner/meal of their choice
Everyone wants to be wined and dined, so promise your giftee that someday soon, they will be that lucky person. You can get them a gift card to a local spot they love, offer to cook them their absolute favorite dish, or take them out for a future date at their fav spot. No matter what, you are gifting someone a very sentimental evening that includes some wonderful quality time with you – who should be so lucky? See some sustainable resturants in NYC here.
12. Concert or Show tickets
If your bestie's favorite musician is having a show soon, surprise them with some tickets. If they’re not about that stan life, you can also try a comedy show, a local group concert, a poetry reading, a book reading, or even a live podcast show. Make a whole evening of it!
13. Take Something Off their Plate
Helping someone to put their feet up and relax means a lot! Whether it's your girl-bossing roommate, your rest-is-for-the-weak partner, or your can’t-stop-until-it’s-clean mom, anyone would be happy for you to take on one of their tasks for the day or week. It could be as easy as promising to cook dinner, organize their closet, or help them get set up for the new year. Offering a helping hand is one of the most underrated sustainable gift ideas, but we guarantee it will bring holiday smiles.