Look, we've all been there (heck, some of us are there right now): The holidays are fast approaching, and you find that you don't have a gift for someone on your list and zero ideas about what to do.
Well, this week when a viral Reddit thread asked users, "What last-minute gift for Christmas is always a winner?" it was us procrastinators who were gifted with a gold mine of creative, and thoughtful ideas.
Here are just a few of the best last-minute gift ideas shared:
1."Tickets to something that person would enjoy, whether it's a play, musical, concert, dinner theater experience, etc. It's easy to get (literally just buying tickets online), but also VERY personal. It can go from being a cheap gift (like movie tickets) to a more expensive gift (like a Broadway show) depending on your price range/closeness to that person."
2."Last year, I was buying someone a drone, and they had these bins of 32GB flash drives at the checkout counter for $3 a piece. I bought 15 and put them in everyone's stockings. People loved it."
3."Get them a Shop Vac. They're eminently practical and it sucks having to buy one for yourself. The person you gift it to will laugh when they open it, but then you’ll get a text or a call in like a month saying it’s the best thing they’ve ever received."
4."Last year, I put hundreds of the best rock songs I owned on a USB for my dad to listen to in his car. I literally made it the night before Christmas, and he still uses it every day."
5."One year, I went to my grandma's house and snapped a few pictures of the old albums. I went home, made some collages out of the pictures, and made them into magnets. I did this at home with what I had, but there are also mail order places that do it. I didn’t know if people would like them, but several people cried when I gave them out. They all compared pictures and still have them up."
6."One of the best gifts I've ever personally received was a big box of thrifted books. I am a big reader of trashy romance novels and I go through them pretty fast. The person literally paid $5 for this box of books that gave me like three months of reading material."
7."Homemade cookies. One year, I was particularly broke and decided to make everyone biscuits. Felt a bit stingy, as I didn’t really spend anything on it (had all the flour, eggs, spices already at home and only had to buy a single chocolate bar for the chips), but people LOVED it and now ask me for them each year. As time's gone on I now will personalize the flavors and ice the person’s name on them."
8."Snacks as stocking stuffers are ALWAYS a win with me. They're cheap, easy to get, and personal (also, if my wife is reading this, please give me BBQ Pringles)."
9."If they drink alcohol, a nice bottle of champagne does the trick. New Year's is right around the corner, and that way they'll have a nice bottle of bubbly to enjoy their night with, and you can pick one up at pretty much any liquor store."
10."A gift card or voucher for a massage. Most adults don't really need physical things, and the ones who do will either buy it themselves or outright ask for it. The best gift you can give someone is something they'd never get for themselves."
12."I once made custom coasters for my entire family. Step 1: Go to Home Depot and get the free floor samples. They're already the perfect coaster size. Step 2: Use a wood-burning tool to put the person's initials on them. Step 3: Give as a gift. I did this SEVERAL years ago and — whenever I visit — I still see the coasters out. Two hours of burning and $0 spent, and I had a heartfelt gift for everyone."
13."One year, my dad warned everyone in advance that he was 'just getting everyone gift cards.' Okay, sure. Come Christmas morning, I open mine to find a $100 gift card to a local butcher that I love with a note that said I could use it on anything EXCEPT meals for the whole family. I had to spend it on me. Even just $20 would've gotten me an amazing steak that I wouldn't have wanted to spend my own money on, so it was an incredibly thoughtful gift."
15."Movie theater gift cards. I buy them in $25 increments so that people can have a date night. I don't care how many streaming services you have, absolutely EVERYONE loves seeing a movie on the big screen, and a lot of people don't go for themselves anymore. I get those for teachers, coaches, etc. Everyone loves it."
16."For me the answer is always scented candles. I, personally, can never have enough of them, and even if you give me the same scent twice...well, now I have an excuse to burn through them. It's a personal and cozy gift for anyone!"
Now it's your turn! What's the best last-minute gift you've ever given? Please share your suggestions in the comments below! Help those of us who only possess the gift of procrastination!
