10 Inexpensive Last Minute Teacher Gifts to Show Appreciation During the Holidays

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You’ve come to the right place if you need ideas for fun, creative, and useful last-minute teacher gifts.

With all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it’s easy for things to slip through the cracks. Shopping for your kids’ teachers often gets forgotten until the end of the year, which can be a chaotic and stressful time to find teacher appreciation gifts. 

Educators deserve to be thanked and appreciated for all their hard work and dedication. Even if you’re short on time or shopping on a tight budget, there are many thoughtful presents and DIY teacher gifts to thank them before the holidays. 

These last-minute teacher gifts are affordable and easy to arrange before the last day of school yet make a significant impact.

1. Flower Bouquet

A bouquet is a simple yet impactful way to thank teachers for all their hard work. Fresh flowers are an excellent gift for anyone and guarantee smiles. Pick up a bouquet from your local grocery store and treat an amazing teacher to a classic token of gratitude. 

Consider arranging a faux bouquet for a floral gift that lasts more than a week or two. Craft stores like Michaels offer realistic and durable fake flowers so teachers can give their classrooms a hint of freshness year-round. 

2. Themed Gift Basket

Themed gift baskets are a fun and creative teacher gift option. Kids will love creating a theme and shopping for small gift items to pack in a celebratory basket. Every teacher will love receiving a movie night gift basket with popcorn and candy treats. You can also opt for a book-themed basket with one or two classic novels, tea, and a fragrant candle.  

See also: 3 Wick Candles: 6 Candles That Smell Like Heaven

3. Heartfelt Card

There’s no better way to thank a special teacher than with a custom card and a handwritten note. While you could purchase a pre-written card at the store, why not get creative and make one at home? Browse websites like Etsy and Pinterest for style inspiration and get crafty with colored paper, pens, stickers, stamps, and more. 

Some stores even sell cardmaking kits with everything you need to make a unique “thank you” card. Decorating a handmade card is a kid-friendly activity that ensures a one-of-a-kind gift. 

4. Survival Pack of Classroom Supplies

Teachers can never have enough school supplies! Prepare a survival pack of classroom and office essentials for your favorite educator. Items like notebooks, markers, pencils, and stickers are practical and budget-friendly. You can also easily find a premade craft box for teachers with must-have classroom and art supplies. Regardless of the classroom, every teacher will appreciate being gifted these essential school items. 

5. Gift Card

You can’t go wrong by saying thank you with a gift card—they’re popular gifts for teachers because you can purchase them virtually anywhere. They’re also an easy present that can be spruced up with a fun card and note of thanks. If you know little about the teacher’s interests, stick with popular options, like a Target or Amazon gift card. Meanwhile, teachers who rely on caffeine will be thankful for a Dunkin’ Donuts or Starbucks gift card. 

6. Candles

Candles are some of the best teacher gift ideas to say thanks for all their hard work. Not only are candles a fun and thoughtful “thank you” present, but they’re also relatively budget-friendly. Stores like Target and Bath & Body Works carry fragrant and affordable candles that anyone will love. Etsy is another great place to browse for Christmas gift candles like this “Smells Like Christmas Break” option, which lets you customize the scent and candle size. 

7. Sick Day Goodies

Help your favorite teacher prepare for flu season with various sick day goodies and essentials. While Christmas break is full of seasonal cheer, it’s also a common time to get sick with a cold or flu—no one wants to celebrate the holidays feeling under the weather! 

Stock a gift bag with sick day items like vitamin C supplements, hand sanitizer, tissues, tea, honey, and more, which you can find for an affordable price at your local pharmacy. Teachers will be thankful for the gift of cold and flu goodies before heading on holiday break. 

8. Mason Jar Kit

Another great last-minute teacher gift is a mason jar with everything you need to make soup, cookies, or hot chocolate at home. Grab a pack of mason jars and decide on your recipe. There are many mason jar recipes online, from festive baked goods to hearty soups and potpourri mixes. Fill the jar with all the dry ingredients the recipe calls for and attach a small recipe notecard with twine. You can also decorate the mason jar for an extra custom touch.

9. Gift Certificate From a Local Store

For a more personal teacher present than a generic gift card, consider picking up a gift certificate from a local store. A certificate is a great teacher appreciation gift that allows recipients to choose specific items they want and will use. 

Clothing boutiques, specialty food stores, and local coffee shops are the perfect places to purchase gift certificates. These certificates also give teachers the ideal excuse to check out a new local store or treat themselves to something special. 

10. Mugs

A coffee mug is a classic last-minute teacher gift if you’re searching for something cute, thoughtful, and practical. Who doesn’t love adding a new mug to their collection? You can shop for teacher mugs at most home and lifestyle stores like Target and T.J. Maxx. 

Retailers like Etsy and Amazon also offer customizable mugs to add the teacher’s name, a unique touch they’ll love. Since coffee mugs typically range in price from $5 to $10, they’re affordable last-minute teacher gifts for those shopping on a budget. 

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