The Best Cheap Gifts - Mom Favorites

Here it is the first week of December, and already I”m feeling the Christmas pinch. The six strands of lights were nowhere near enough for the tree, so I had to hop on out to Target for two (dozen) more. Then I decided to disguise the hideous wrapping jobs (completely my own) by sprucing things up with some ribbon. I bought a spool and that covered the bows for all of one package. (People do that, really? Put bows on presents as a thing? That”s almost as big of a waste as a storebought card…)

: No Need for a Tag. That”d be from Me.

Despite the whole, only wanting one toy from Santa thing, Number1 has decided that each of us should have EIGHT presents under the tree. Generous and oh-so-giving. But only one of us has a job. And only one- other of us does the shopping. Looking like a lot of responsibility on somebody”s part.

Time to get creative.

Here you have it, then. I know most of you won”t be looking for this or at least 20 more days, but perhaps you can file this in behind the “pick up more eggnog before the in-laws come over” and “Oh, I hope those Cheaps don”t invite us over for Caroling again, this year.” and when you get hit with the Christmas pinch, pull this out, your handy reference guide to The Best Cheap Gifts for Christmas This Year.

1. Lottery Tickets. Don”t hate. Wait until you see where I”m going with this. Get the Powerball if you must, but I”m pushing for the scratch off kind. You see, after the grand old age of 18 (Lottery legal), there are actually very few gifts that most of us actually find entertaining past the 40 seconds required to unwrap. Lottery Tickets? Well, the scratch off kind will give you that extra minute of fun searching for a quarter, AND the scratch time of fun! And the Powerball? Depending on the drawing, that could give you additional hours, even days of anticipation and Christmas gift fun! And the bonus? Wait until the last minute if you choose, they never sell out!

2. White Chocolate Fudge Oreos. I”m kindof upset with myself for sharing this with you. Ohhhhhh. Hoooolyyyy. Niiiiiight. White Chocolate Fudge Oreos. GET. IN. MY. MOUTH!!! They are seasonal, and like all things Christmas come out sometime before Halloween or so, but only a limited number are put out each year. Then you won”t see them again until next year. So you might have to take care of your shopping early on this one, but I promise no one will appreciate your four bucks of thoughtfulness more, ever. You”re Welcome.

3. New Underwear. Like lottery tickets, this one has a limited age range. Kids 4 and under, always wanting those character ones. Oy. I can”t find them at “The Dollar General.” Come Christmastime and this new Eight Present minimum, I”m thinking this is a good way to give them something they actually do want. And they will use it. And one less toy crowding up the kitchen floor precisely three and a half minutes after opening. If you”re looking for one more present, for whatever reason, I think this is a winner.

This also could apply to mothers of young children. Although I don”t know how you”re gonna get away with the presentation of the whole thing, but ask one when the last time she had some new for herself. I bet the response sounds a lot like, “Well the First time I was pregnant, I thought”d it be fun to go in on of those swanky boutique style shops and get myself some maternity undies. I didn”t know I”d be double using them as underwear and spare Kleenex to blow my nose, eight years later…“

: Need I say more?

4. “Poppies” Surely somebody on your list got a “real” present this year, right? Perhaps you ordered it from Amazon, and they gave you a complimentary brown box for wrapping, complete with a brand-new set of never-been-popped wrapping bubbles?? Hours of fun! For kids of all Ages! Who doesn”t love a good “POP” now and then? Or better yet, a good size sheet, you can twist for a pop-sequence. Or spread across the floor for some good time-run-and-Pop! The real problem with this present is going to be deciding, who you Love the Most, to give them too!

If none of these work for you, you”re probably in trouble. A lot of trouble. Like the kind that maybe only a bottle of whiskey- Christmas present will be buying you out of. Just watch yourself with that one. Don”t buy the Cheap Stuff!!

Any Cheap gifts you”d like to see under your tree? Santa”s reading!