Last Minute Gift Ideas: Using Stockpile and Resources From Home

It is definitely crunch time for the holidays now! If you have run into the emergency situation where you need gifts now, then we wanted to make this a post for everyone to share some ideas with each other on ways to use your stockpile (groceries, toiletries and more that you have stocked up on all year during the rock bottom sales), previous gifts you can re-gift, or other items you have around your home that could make for some great gifts!

Here are a couple of ideas from us, but we want you to share too!!

1. No-Sew Scarfs and Blankets

First, we actually just received these from a dear friend. She made a scarf for each of us out of flannel! This is a no-sew creation and a very simple, affordable last minute gift! She made these in different fabric designs and sizes from baby to daddy!

Just cut strips out of your no-sew flannel for the right size you want and then make the fringe by cutting slits into the fabric.

Here’s a picture of our oldest wearing hers! We thought it was a fabulous idea!

You can also make blankets of any size from baby to adult size with the same concept.  We found a tutorial from Crafty Chic Mommy on how to make a double sided no-sew blanket.  You can use this same idea to make a single side too! See her site for the instructions.  We have received both the single layer and double-sided no-sew blankets as gifts before and they are super soft and still in great shape after many years!

2. Gift Baskets From Your Stockpile

Next is an easy one to throw together super last minute – super-easy gift baskets! If you have baskets or even gift bags hanging around your house, then you may not even have to leave!

If you take a look around your stockpile, you might be surprised with things that you could come up with to make those gift baskets – even to supplement a gift you already bought that you feel just needs a little something more!  Make sure to check the dollar-store as it may be a great place to help find “fillers” for your gift basket themes!  You could also make the basket the main gift and then throw in a gift card too!

Another place to look is your sample stockpile! You could make a coffee sampler basket, beauty sampler basket and more! The possibilities are endless!

• Men’s Basket Ideas:
  • Gillette Razors  (these are over $10 if they were to go buy them!) and Shaving Cream
  • Auto-kit with auto cleaners and towels/shammies (we have several types of auto-cleaners in our stockpile, but would grab those shammies from the dollar store as a filler)
  • Complete grooming kit with razor, shaving cream, after shave, body wash, deodorant, men’s body/hair shampoo, toothpaste, mouthwash, floss, etc.
  • Office sets with pens, paper, envelopes, staplers/staples, sharpies (from all of the FREE office supply sales this year – you probably have a lot of these in your stockpile)
  • Sport themed filled with items or fan memorabilia from their favorite sports/teams

• Women’s Basket Ideas:
  • Candles sachets and notecards and pens
  • Bath set with lotions, bubble bath, body scrubs, shampoo/conditioners, loofah sponges
  • Beauty set with mascara, lip gloss/stick, eye shadows, bronzers, etc.
  • Fragrance set with body sprays, hair shiners (we have tons of miscellaneous hair stuff!), body lotions, bath salts
  • Hair set with shampoo/conditioners, sprays, shiners, hair oils, brushes, clips, etc.
  • Crafting sets with various items from your stockpile for their craft interest! We have scrapbookers in our family, so this is a really easy one!
  • Gardening supplies and seeds for the gardner
• Student Basket ideas:
  • Book cover, highlighter, pens, paper, notebooks (again you might have a ton of these things from past FREE Office Sales this year) and include a gift card for something personal!
  • Art sets again using the FREE sales from the office stores and craft stores this past year.
  • Study survival filled with snacks, gum, soda, etc.
• Kids Basket ideas both boys and girls (changing things up as needed!):
  • Character band-aids, their very own travel size toothpaste, character toothbrushes, floss, kids’ hair detangler, clips/bows, comb/brush, lip gloss
  • Drawing/craft sets with crayons, pencils, pens, paper, notepads, stamps, coloring books, stickers etc.
  • Candy/treat/snack baskets with boxed juice, candies, bags of snack chips/rice cakes, crackers, dried fruit, etc.

• Foodie Basket Ideas:
  • Movie themed with popcorn seeds, popcorn salts, candy, soda, pretzels, chips, etc.
  • BBQ themed with BBQ sauce, seasonings, salts, etc.
  • Healthy Snacker themed with dried fruits, granola, rice cakes, bottled water, etc.
  • Chocolate lover themed with hot cocoa, chocolate candies, chocolate bars, chocolate cake/cookie/brownie/ mixes
  • Breakfast themed with syrup, pancake mixes, muffin mixes, cereals, granola
  • Coffee themed with recycled mugs (from your own cupboard) or buy from the dollar store, any coffee samples, bags, sugar or creamers
  • Tea themed with mugs, teas, sugars and creams
  • Herbs and Spices – a mixture of herbs and spices that you have in your stockpile yet to be used!
  • Just a snacker – chips, soda, candy, crackers, pretzels and more!
  • Fresh Fruit Basket
  • You can even just give a box of hot cocoa with a candy cane wrapped around it and more single serve items like this!

3. Making food gifts

Pretty simply stated in the title! Make baked goods, or soup kits, etc.

4. Reach into the gift bin!

We have been telling you about it and preparing you for it all year! Check in your gift bin and you might find some toys, games, clothes, or other things that you snagged a great deal on through out the year!  And if you don’t then no worry – go get an empty box and start one so you are ready for next year!

After writing this post for last-minute affordable ideas we shared and many of which we have done ourselves, our brains are fried with any more ideas – so now it is your turn to share some of yours with everyone – leave comments on this post! THANKS!