Don't get caught without a gift: Keep inexpensive stash on hand

By J.J. Jensen
Seattle Times staff reporter

GREG GILBERT / THE SEATTLE TIMES Yikes, they've got something for you, you have nothing for them! Here are just a few inexpensive things you can squirrel away to make sure you're not caught empty-handed this holiday season.

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Here are some holiday hijinks: You're roasting your toes by a Yuletide log (or radiator), and a knock on the door reveals a neighbor bearing gifts. You have nothing to offer in return. What to do?

We suggest a stash of emergency gifts — in-hand and wrapped by mid-December — that are tasteful, inexpensive and something you could use if you end up with extras.

Jill Stolt, marketing specialist at Wisconsin-based EverythingHolidays.com, says these items should be slightly generic yet of broad appeal. We've scoped out possibilities. Inexpensive, convenient and useful were our watchwords.

Candles/multipurpose lighter

Sooner or later everyone ends up at Bed, Bath & Beyond. There you'll find aisles of candles, some for as little as $2. The best part is the $1.49 multipurpose Handiflame lighter (the one with the long nozzle) for lighting the candles. It's handy for barbecues, camping and wherever flames are accepted. Haven't you always wanted one of those things?

Mini Fruit Basket

Professionally made fruit baskets are spendy. Make your own!

Pier 1 Imports has baskets starting at $2.50; a decent dollar store has nice cotton dish towels (everyone needs those, too) to line the baskets. You can also skip the basket and bundle the fruit in the dish towel using ribbon or twine.

Don't let the fruit sit around too long though, says George Stilnovich of Stilnovich's Corner Produce near Pike Place Market. Seasonal fruits usually don't keep long after New Year's.

You can also skip the fruit and include a mini bottle of Bailey's Irish Cream, schnapps or whatever your crowd likes. You can get minis at liquor stores for around $1.50.

Picture frames

As wrenching as it is to remove the photo of those beautiful people who come with the frame (man, they have great lives), everyone can use a picture frame. Check out Target's large selection starting at around $2. Or hit the secondhand stores.

Journals

Memories, musings, recipes for lobster bisque. You've got to jot 'em all down somewhere. Basic, hard-covered books and fancier, cloth-covered registers with traditional patterns range from $1.10 to $3.65 at Shiga's One World Shop in the University District.

Games and toys

Consider things that will keep the kids of unexpected guests busy, says Carol Hansen, a sales associate at Magic Mouse Toys in Pioneer Square. For older kids, try a cribbage board, dominoes, jacks. For younger kids, try coloring books or mini cans of Play-Doh (2-ounce cans, 98 cents).

Or, give them something good to eat. How about Pocky chocolate-covered biscuit sticks ($1.79) or Botan Rice Candy (79 cents), popular (and addictive) Japanese snacks. Look for them at Uwajimaya, Central Market or for more limited flavors at QFC, Albertsons and the like.

Just for fun

Find weirder but memorable selections at Archie McPhee in Ballard, such as a plastic potato gun (much less dangerous than a Red Ryder BB Gun) for $2.95 that launches spud scraps. Kids like the floating devil ducks ($8.50 for a set of two).

Wine

Local shop owners and stewards say there's lots of good choices for less than $10 at wine shops and upscale markets. (Go to www.seattletimes.com/wineadviser for ideas.) Trader Joe's has plenty of widely recognized wines, and the $2.99 Charles Shaw label (aka "two-buck Chuck") can be decent.

We suggest you buy a bottle, try it and if you like it go back and get more for your adult dropper-inners. (Don't forget to dress the bottle up with tissue paper and ribbon.)

The Shaw isn't top-of-the-list wine, but it works just fine with spaghetti or pizza on a winter's night. And if your friends are horrified at a $3 bottle of wine, hey, are they really your friends?

J.J. Jensen: 206-464-2761 or jjensen@seattletimes.com