Last-minute Christmas gift ideas from the supermarket on December 24

If you’ve managed to get all your Christmas gift shopping done in a timely fashion, good for you – we mortals are insanely jealous.

For those who have forgotten that their forever-single cousin now has a partner, or for that family member who always has better plans but is now showing up for Chrissy lunch, don’t fear – a supermarket shop at 6pm on Christmas Eve can solve all your problems.

We searched the catalogues of Aldi, Woolworths and Coles for the best cheap and cheerful gifts you can snag at the very last minute.

For the home chef

Slap a celebrity chef’s name on kitchenware items, and you have an instantly elevated supermarket gift at the ready. Jamie Oliver’s kitchenware range for Woolworths covers all bases. The Jamie Oliver Pestle & Mortar ($20) is a safe bet if you want to fill a gap in your receiver’s kitchen. The Jamie Oliver Ramekins 4 pack ($9.60) is great for the friend who is always baking. Throw them both on the Jamie Oliver Antipasti Board ($20), wrap in some festive cellophane, and you have the perfect gift for your food-loving pal.

For someone you want to say thank you to

All of the profits from sales of Thankyou products go towards ending extreme poverty. Give back this Christmas by purchasing any of their wide range of products as a gift, and say thank you to a family member or friend who has made the year a bit easier.

Available at Coles and Woolworths for a limited time is the Thankyou Botanical Aloe Vera & Lemon Oil Hand Wash ($8.50), a collaboration with Sage x Clare. The bottle is reminiscent of something from Aesop but for a fraction of the price and available at the last minute. Other great gift ideas from the range include the Thankyou Botanical Geranium & Rosewood Coffee Scrub ($15) and the Thankyou Botanical Geranium & Rosewood Hand Cream ($6.50).

For the whole family

It should come as no surprise that Aldi is great for buying the most random homewares you never knew you needed. It also makes it a top spot to pick up a last-minute gift for the whole family.

There’s plenty on offer for summer family fun in the catalogue before Christmas day. Break the ice on the day with a Lawn Games set ($19.99) which comes with both Lawn Toss and Croquet equipment. You also can’t go wrong with an Ice Cream Maker ($39.99) or a Bru Iced Coffee Cold Brew System ($29.99) to keep the family cool through the rest of summer. If they have the room for it, the Double Hammock with Frame ($59.99) is another option.

For the green thumb

Want to test the strength of your relationship with somebody? Buy them an indoor plant and see how committed they are to keeping it alive. Coles and Woolworths have a variety of indoor plants to choose from in selected stores, from crowd-pleasing peperomias to a statement bromeliad. They often come with a stylish ceramic pot. Wrap a ribbon around it, and you’re good to go.

If you want to take the perceived level of effort from “barely any” to “thoughtful”, you can buy potted herbs from both Coles or Woolworths. Pick up two or three on Christmas eve and place them inside a Loaf Cake Tin ($10) for a windowsill herb garden. Wrap in cellophane and instruct your gift recipient to simply add water to the bottom of the tin to keep the herbs alive.

For the kids

The best part about buying a last-minute kid’s present from the supermarket: they probably won’t notice. But if you don’t mind making it obvious you bought their gift from the supermarket on Christmas eve, this Play Grocery Shopping Cart ($10) is an excellent option for that on-the-go toddler in your life. Woolworths have plenty of other kids toys on offer. Wwf Matching Cards Game ($15) for an animal-loving child, the Sand And Water Table ($40) for the creative type, or a collection of Star Wars books ($7.99) for the movie buff.

For the adults

A nice bottle of alcohol is a classic go-to for Christmas giving (and re-gifting). Supermarket liquor chains are becoming savvier, and you’ll find it easy to buy a nice alcohol gift set around Christmas time. For the gin-lover, this Four Pillars Gift Pack 200ml x3 pack ($85) from Woolworths is hard to beat. For the beer connoisseur, this The Craft Collection Beer Gift Pack Bottles 6 pack ($26) will give them a taste of everything.

There’s the Bluetooth Party Speaker ($39.99) from Aldi which is great for entertaining or taking to the beach, DIY Bee and Insect Houses ($16.99) for a friend who is continually talking about the decline of our bee population, and Adult Tin Games ($9.99) for something to do once lunch is done.