Haven’t finished your holiday gift shopping yet? You’re not alone. According to the National Retail Federation, last year, 12 million consumers hadn’t even started popping into stores before December 19th -- so you may be ahead of the game. The question is how do you find something for everyone on your list at the last minute without overspending?
With a little thought and organization, it is possible. Here are some ideas to get you started:
General timesaving tips
- Schedule shopping as if it was a meeting. Set aside time in your calendar to buy gifts and stick to your specified start and end time.
- Don’t waste time browsing. Make a list of friends’ and relatives’ hobbies or favorite stores and stay on target.
- If you’re a night owl or live in a remote area, shop online when it’s convenient for you. Some online retailers even offer free gift wrapping and shipping. Remember to check holiday delivery cut-off dates to ensure your gifts arrive on time
Gifts for your spouse
- Find hard-to-find items your spouse would die for (like a 1962 Mickey Mantle baseball card or vintage designer handbag) at an online auction. Search by category or item and start bidding!
- Make a dream come true and rent a convertible for a week (schedule the actual week later). All it takes is a quick call to a fine car rental dealer. Have fun setting the tone by presenting your card with a wrapped toy convertible.
- Call your travel agent and book a last-minute trip to Las Vegas or a romantic Caribbean cruise. Wrap the tickets (or email confirmation) around a bottle of sunscreen for added effect!
- Pamper your partner with a certificate valid for a day at the spa, complete with pedicure, manicure, facial and therapeutic massage. Be sure to throw in free babysitting if you have young children.
Gifts for children
- Burn a customized music CD or download your kids’ favorite tunes and music videos right onto their MP3 players for them while they’re sleeping. At about 99-cents a track, the price is right. Choose from several online music stores.
- If you’ve got video gamers in the family, consider giving a membership to a reputable online gaming site (check for parental controls/family settings) so they can participate in online multiplayer games.
- Wrap up a gift card for a toy or clothing store and position it as a mini-shopping spree. Give a dozen $10 gift cards instead of a single $120 card to make the spree seem larger. Remember to wrap the cards around the store’s catalog so they can start “window shopping” right away!
- Call your financial advisor and buy shares of a cool toy or technology company your kids love. It will give them a sense of ownership, plus it’s a unique gift that will hopefully earn them some money. Frame a pretend stock certificate that they can hang on their bedroom wall.
Gifts for in-laws
- Create a digital family photo album/slideshow by burning your digital photos onto a CD or DVD and printing a customized gift label.
- Give priceless works of art. Frame your children’s artwork in an inexpensive frame, available from your local craft store.
- Make reservations at a nice restaurant and be sure to pay the bill in advance. Present the gift as a formal, written invitation.
- Give a gift that gives back to the community. Make a donation in your relatives’ names to their favorite charity. Gifts for friends and colleagues
- Dish things up a bit. Next time your neighbor hosts a holiday party, make your famous Black Forest cake and serve it on a ceramic cake plate for them to keep. Not only will they appreciate all the time that went into the baking, they’ll love the bonus keepsake.
- For the person who has everything but a million dollars, give them the chance to have that too. Buy a bunch of lottery tickets and present them with a horseshoe or rabbit’s foot for luck!
- You can’t go wrong with a fine wine or champagne. If you keep a supply on stock for the holidays, you’ll never be without a last-minute gift when the stores are closed and you’re out of time to shop.
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