12 Days of Christmas: Last-minute gift ideas

So you saved that gigantic project for finals week and did it all in one night, but you survived. Now, it’s almost Christmas and you still have to find one more gift. Here are some ideas for a gift when you’re short on time.

Tickets to a Performance

Does your brother love Post Malone? Maybe your mom loves Broadway? Concert or theater tickets can be the perfect last-minute. Not only does it give the person something to look forward to, but it also shows that you put some thought into the gift. Figure out what the person likes and do a quick Google search to see if there’s a related performance.

Technical Help

Maybe Grandma can’t figure out how to access her recorded Hallmark movies or Great Uncle Joe’s fishing photos are stuck on his camera because he doesn’t know how to get them on his computer. Either way, our generation is prepared and equipped to help out with these sorts of issues. Sometimes, digital assistance can be meaningful, like scanning in old photos or videos. Or maybe you can just help your grandpa to stop sharing overly-political Facebook posts. That’s a gift that keeps on giving.

Gift Cards

If you have no idea what to get that special someone, gift cards are convenient. Most grocery stores have a whole wall of cards for various restaurants and shopping locations, so you’re bound to find something that appeals to the person you’re buying for. If you’re really running out of time, most gift cards are also available online, where you can either email or print out your gift.

A Personalized Outing

Often, the best gift you can give is time. The winter break gives you a perfect opportunity to spend a day or maybe just an hour with a loved one. You can go for a walk, visit a museum, go mini-golfing or really anything. It doesn’t have to be expensive, just put your phone away and spend time with another person.

Homemade Food

Do you have a favorite recipe? What’s the person on your list’s favorite food? Whether you’re gifted in the culinary arts or can just make a solid chocolate chip cookie, food is the key to almost anyone’s heart. Maybe you can whip up a treat together to spend some quality time with them (see above).

If you want some more ideas, check out this recent forum on Reddit.

—alek.nelson@aggiemail.usu.edu

@nelsonalek