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Great Last Minute Christmas Gift Ideas

Great Last Minute Christmas Gift Ideas

Christmas is just days away and you still have gifts to buy.

Here’s the problem. It’s probably too late to order online. At this point, you don’t know that you’ll be able to get the gifts on time. Even if you can, it’s going to cost a lot extra to make sure that you receive the gifts by Christmas. And unless you love crowds at Christmas, you’ll likely want to spend as little time as possible in the malls.

There is still hope, however. Here are a few last-minute Christmas gifts you should be able to pick up without much trouble, for those people still remaining on your list.

Gift Cards

In the past, gift cards seemed impersonal. I used to avoid getting gift cards because it felt as though I wasn’t putting much thought into it. The reality is that a lot of people prefer getting a gift card because it allows them to choose an item they really want.

To make it special, give a gift card for an experience, like a day at the spa or dinner and a movie. This adds a personal touch, while the recipient can still choose how they want to use the card. Another good option is a favourite store or restaurant. Pick somewhere that the recipient would enjoy, but wouldn’t likely go on his or her own.

Purchase a Membership

Similar to gift cards, a membership can be appreciated as a special, thoughtful gift. Two of my favourites, Costco and CAA, offer gift memberships that can save the person money the whole year long! It’s a good way to give a gift that keeps on giving.

Make a Donation

Do you know someone who is thoughtful and loves to help others? Make a donation in that person’s name. This can be a great gift for those that have all they need and haven’t asked for much this Christmas. It’s a thoughtful gift that can increase someone’s stature. We all like to be recognized for what we do. Just make sure that you make a donation to a cause that the recipient is passionate about. Here

Food Gifts

Have a tasty recipe? Bake cookies or squares and give them in a festive tin or on a nice, decorative plate. Think about a treat that the recipient has expressed a love for in the past and create that. You don’t need to spend a lot on the presentation, but it should be classy and attractive.

As long as the person you’re shopping for enjoys the occasional drink, it’s hard to go wrong with a nice bottle of wine, a gift set of beer, or a fancy liqueur. Look for something unique that you think the recipient would enjoy and dress up the presentation a little bit with a bow or ribbon.

Don’t forget about gourmet gift baskets that include items like hot chocolate, fine coffee, artisan cheese or bread, or anything else that the recipient likes. You can even create your own basket with low-cost craft items and individually selected and assembled treats if you don’t want to spend on a pre-made basket.

Photo Gifts

Have a photo that’s meaningful to the person you’re giving the gift to? Get it enlarged and framed, or even put it on a mug or mouse pad. If you have time, there are plenty of online printing stores you can order from, or you can check out a local screen printing business, which may be able to fill your order in-house.

Careful Re-gifting

Did you receive something at a gift exchange or office party in the past month that you haven’t opened and won’t use? Re-gifting might solve your shopping stress, save you money, and hopefully the person you give it to will truly enjoy it more than you.

If you decide to go the re-gifting route, make sure you get rid of any individual information, and that you don’t re-gift to someone who gifted to you in the first place. If you decide to make re-gifting a regular feature of your holiday attempts, be sure that you create a spreadsheet that explains where you got the item, and who gave it to you. That can help you avoid uncomfortable situations.

Wrapping paper

How much would you appreciate receiving wrapping paper and tape just as you were running low on supplies? Be that wrapping paper hero. Use this link to print a tag.

Soap

Consider picking up some decadent soap at Bath & Body Works. With so many scents to choose from, there’s something for everyone. Also, you can have your purchase wrapped with cellophane and ribbons, and their soap is usually on sale near the holidays. You can print this tag to add a festive touch.

Homemade items

Do you have any homemade preserves on hand you could share as a last-minute idea? Tuck your delicious jams, jellies, sauces, or pickles into a gift bag with a tag and ribbon.

Made by children

Assist your children to create these simple Christmas ornaments. Dollar store cookie cutters and ribbons can be transformed to make these decorations for someone on their list.

Etsy gifts

Etsy gift cards allow you to give a handmade treasure without the required time or talent. And the recipient can choose that perfect item for their home.

More Ideas for Last Minute Christmas Gifts

With a little creativity, it’s possible to get something for everyone on your list, and you don’t have to break the bank or spend a lot of time at the mall to make it happen. If you’ve read this far, but are still having trouble coming up with last-minute gift ideas for your friends and loved ones, the following products will be a hit with just about anyone on your list.

Insulated Travel Mugs

If you’re looking for Amazon gift ideas, high-quality travel mugs make a very popular gift, because they are both practical and stylish. With so many brands to choose from, you shouldn’t have any problem finding one that’s just right.

Smart Home Speaker

Any tech lover will appreciate the features that come with a smart home speaker, like this latest generation Alexa Echo Dot. You can control your home entertainment using your voice, ask questions, check the weather, even control your thermostat. And the price is right too!

Premium Whole Bean Coffee

Know what that coffee lover on your list enjoys? Trying new blends of coffee. You can’t go wrong by picking up a premium whole bean coffee they’ve never had before. You can run out to your local gourmet coffee shop, or you can pick from a wide selection of premium coffee online.

Bamboo Bathtub Caddy Tray

Finding ways to relax at home took on newfound importance this past year. What better way to help that special someone relax than with a bathtub caddy tray. It’s perfect for propping up a Kindle device, and even has a spot for a glass of wine while they soak in a hot bath.

Board Games

Board games are a great way to have fun with the family. You can find a wide range of games for all ages on Amazon, and have them delivered to your door in time for your holiday family celebration.

Save Time and Money with Amazon Prime

If time is of the essence, an Amazon Prime membership may help to ensure that your online purchases get to your address before Christmas morning. In addition to other benefits, Prime members receive free two-day shipping on a large number of items sold on Amazon.

Depending on where you live, you may even qualify for same-day or next-day delivery. An Amazon Prime membership is $7.99/month after the initial free trial, definitely worth it if you’re an avid online shopper and will make use of the added benefits.

Wrap-Up of Last Minute Gift Ideas

If you still have gifts to buy this holiday season, there is time if you hurry. We’ve covered a number of great Christmas gift ideas here, including several Amazon gifts, and you can always come up with your own. If you’re buying online, try to save money with free shipping, and make sure your gift will arrive prior to Christmas Day.

I’d love to hear from you! What ideas can you add to this list for last-minute Christmas giving?

Comments

  1. Paul @ FiscalGeek

    At least for me you can’t go wrong with some baked items, tasty.

  2. Kathleen

    Memberships to things like museums and art galleries also make great gifts, because the recipient gets to enjoy them all year long. They’re usually not very expensive either.

  3. Werbeartikel

    Great idea Kathleen – a year long membership to something like a museum would be fantastic, and can be bought online. Y ou can then print the confirmation to complete a quick and useful gift which, as you say, will last a whole year!

  4. D. Harris

    In the planning stage getting a baked gift sucks but when you actually open up a tin of tasty brownies on the gift day it rocks beyond all manner of rockery.

  5. Tom

    Great post! I myself think that finding the right gift can sometimes be difficult. What I think is that people tend to like unique gifts that are hard to find and not sold in stores. People like the gifts more this way since they cannot be replaced. I have been buying a few items from http://www.thinkfuntoys.com and giving it away to friends and family. They all love it. The stuff there are pretty cheap and unique and they deliver fast.

  6. Grean Clean

    For my money the coolest and most unique christmas gift idea is a gift of the month club from http://www.monthlyclubs.ca.

    I was given a beer club membership for Father’s Day this past June and it has been a hoot! I swear by these guys now (I got the chocolate club for the wife for Christmas). I have heard good things about the wine club too.

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