Tips for Last Minute Shopping for Getting Different Presents for Each Recipient

In order to minimize stress, I suggest making a list of the people that you still would like to get presents for, then look at each recipient and write down a few things about them that come to mind.

For instance:

• Lauren – Loves hats, skinny scarves and strong coffee; has new job and new home; enjoys knitting.
• Tim – Loves sports and the Patriots and Celtics in particular; enjoys Calvin and Hobbs (though has probably read them all), loves humor, beer and Titos salsa.

By generating some broad ideas in this way you are brainstorming not just about what they may want but about things they enjoy. Now you can scrutinize each list a bit more and jot down a few specific gift ideas for each person. Taking this approach will allow actually give you ideas for now and in the future. And, if you keep this list on your computer, you can add to it so that you will always have a gift idea. Now, that you have your list and have checked it twice, get to the store and buy those presents so that you can get home to wrap them!

Tips for One Size Fits Most Gifts that You Can Add Personal Touches To

What if you just don’t the time or the money to buy each person a gift at this stage in the game? There are a few one size fits most gift ideas to fall back on (and none of them are impersonal gift cards!):

• Baked goods could be generic, but you can personalize this gift by making a signature treat and adding special wrapping or including a treat like a special decorated sugar cookie, maybe one that looks like an ornament with the recipient’s name or with a symbol that is meaningful to them.
• Magazine or newspaper subscriptions can be a good last minute gift since there are topics for a wide variety of tastes.  Make sure that you get this for someone who enjoys magazines or reading the paper and take the time to buy a current copy of the subscription you are giving them and wrap it up!
• Music is beloved to many.  It isn’t too hard to stop by the store and grab a few cds in the style or artist that your recipient loves.  Because this is such an obvious gift, get creative with wrapping.  Buy a few really inexpensive stockings and add your recipients name in glitter then, put the wrapped cd into the stocking with an assortment of inexpensive, fun items like mini-bubbles, bouncy balls, playing cards, etc.
• Give something you are good at. Are you artistic?  Crafty?  Can you make music?  If you are an artist, you could consider making mini works of art for people (a 3×5 or 4×6 canvas for instance); if you’re crafty make up some pretty but easy ornaments; if you are a musician consider recording a Christmas carol that you love and burning it onto a cd or even e-mail an mp3 version of it to those of your loved ones who are far way (since mailing them won’t get it there by Christmas).
• A bottle of wine is a frequent gift and if you go this route make it more special and personalized by bot only making sure to get the type of wine your recipient loves but by also adding some special accoutrements.  Add a special label to the wine, give it with wine glasses, wine charms, a bottle stopper, cheese and crackers, fine chocolate, etc.  Be creative!  The point is, a bottle of wine is just a bottle of wine but if you can make a bottle of wine into a personalized gift.
• Give a donation to a charity that your recipient would likely support. For the eco-conscious person a donation to an organization that protects the environment, the pet lover a donation to an animal shelter, etc.  This makes the gift far more personal than if you donated to a charity that you would normally support – make it about your recipients likes, not your own.

Try to steer clear of things like cheap bath sets, gift cards, lottery tickets and the like. These “gifts” scream “I waited until the last minute and had no idea what to get you.”  It is honestly better to give no gift at all than to give a meaningless gift.  Spend the time you would have spent getting the last minute gift writing a warm greeting card to give them instead.

Remember, you don’t have to give a gift! Giving is not a social obligation, it should come from the heart. You don’t have to give a gift to every person you know, you can give only to those close to you or just give cards and simply share the joy and spirit of the holiday season with those you love.  A gift can be a telephone call to wish them a Merry Christmas, singing Christmas carols together or playing reindeer games with joy and good humor.

Whether you get a gift at all or even if you get the “wrong gift” your intentions, your love and your care are more important than what is actually wrapped under the tree.  If you give with love then, regardless of what you give, it is already the perfect present.

Happy gifting!