It’s just about time for the holiday ratrace to begin, which means it’s time to start thinking about ideas for little gifts — stocking stuffers, token gifts, and other cute little gifts for coworkers, acquaintances, and family alike. It’s an extra bonus if the gifts also happen to be useful — mini margarita glasses, mini horseshoes, a small paint set, or a desktop garden are all fun ideas for stocking stuffers. Kids will find mini horseshoes or mini foam balls an endless source of entertainment, whereas a coworker might enjoy a small desktop zen garden or tiny margarita glasses. Many of these items can be found inexpensively via an online retailer and can sometimes be personalized for an extra special touch. It’s also always good to have a stash of mini gifts on hand for the unexpected events that crop up — you forgot a coworker’s birthday or there’s a surprise birthday party to attend and so on.
Don’t Be a Last Minute Gift Purchaser
One of the things that can up holiday stress is waiting until the last minute. Dashing in to buy presents on Christmas Eve or a half hour before you’re supposed to go to a party never bodes well. Yet about a quarter of us in the United States do wait until the last minute to bite the bullet and buy gifts. In 2017, almost 90% of Americans planned to get presents during the holiday season.
Now, sometimes this can work in your favor. Sales are rampant during the holiday season and many stores will offer extra discounts on Christmas Eve, but you want to walk the line between getting the best deal possible and risking having the gift you’ve been eyeing sell out.
One of the best things to do is to pick up gifts all year round when they catch your eye. And if there are a few big, seasonal purchases that you want to make during the holiday season (like on Black Friday), plan ahead and be ready to pull the trigger.
Try These Small Gifts for Kids and Adults
A 2015 UGiftIdeas survey showed that almost 60% of those who took a survey said they agreed that giving gifts lends a more meaningful touch to their relationships. Everyone likes getting gifts and even if they’re not expensive, they show that you’ve been thinking of that person and cared enough to get them a gift. Often, it really is the thought that counts.
The holiday season is full of parties, get-togethers (both family-oriented and friend-related), and other seasonal soirees, so it’s good to have some gifts on hand, both in the hostess (or host) gift department and holiday gifts. If you’re visiting friends with kids, games to keep them occupied like mini horseshoes, mini soccer balls, or mini Uno cards can all be big hits. For adults, a bottle of wine, nice smelling hand soap, a candle, or flowers can be a nice gesture.
For co-workers, fun office supplies, zen gardens, mugs, and desk accessories usually go over well.
The Best Time to Shop Online For Gifts
The power of online retail birthed Cyber Monday after the more traditional Black Friday and global retail e-commerce sales are predicted to almost double in the four years between 2016 and 2020. And a survey in 2017 showed that 40% of those online in the United States online shopped a few times a month and almost 80% of consumers said they shopped online that year.
Any major holiday is a great time to hop online and see what sales are running — the big ones of course, are Black Friday/Cyber Monday. However almost every month has an important sales day and offer discounts on specific items — for example, Presidents Day sales usually feature mattress and appliance sales.
Whether it’s mini horseshoes, some cute stationery, or a nice bottle of wine, small gifts can touch people. Stay ahead of the shopping frenzy this year and stock up as you see things — having a reserve bag of gifts to dip into can make the season a lot less stressful.