Give yourself a spa day at home. Gather together inexpensive bath products such as facial masks, bath oil and foot scrub in sample-sized bottles. Send everyone out of the house to visit relatives or friends for the afternoon. Light some candles, put on relaxing music and spend a few hours treating yourself to some extreme pampering.

Soak your feet and give yourself a pedicure. Relax in a tub with a good book and a glass of wine. Give yourself a moisturizing facial, get rid of the stray hairs in your eyebrows and cover your body in some great-smelling lotion. After two or three hours you’ll have a whole new attitude on your life and the people in it.

If no one managed to give you the one thing you hinted about all through December, treat yourself to an afternoon at the mall and get it for yourself. Gather together all the gift cards people gave you. Everyone gets some from people who have no clue what to buy and they come in handy in times like this. Search the newspapers online for Kohls coupon specials or coupons for other stores at your favorite mall. Dress up in comfortable holiday wear to make the occasion more special.

Have a latte or a cup of tea while indulging in one perfect slice of lemon cake or scone. Find your holy grail of gifts and take it home for yourself. Prop it up in your house somewhere everyone else can see it, and gloat over the fact that someone you love knows exactly what to buy for you.

Forget all about the stress of the holidays and the disappointment of missing gifts by doing something for someone else.

Visit a nursing home and read holiday stories to the residents. Volunteer to serve at a soup kitchen. Knit or crochet scarves and hats for homeless people or the troops overseas. The feeling of giving will win out over any lingering bad thoughts you’ll have about the past holiday.