The Procrastinator’s Guide to Last-Minute Christmas Shopping
(Thinkstock)
It’s almost desperation time. Christmas is less than a week away, and you got nuthin’. Blow this holiday, and you are hosed. Your friends will hate you, your family will disown you, and it will be a long, cold winter before your significant other lets you get close enough to snuggle.
In this case, your misery enjoys plenty of company. One in five shoppers wait until the weekend before Dec. 25 before they start shopping, according to a survey by online coupon merchant RetailMeNot. More than half still have presents to buy just days before the big event.
Read: Last-Minute Christmas Gifts That Your Family Won’t Hate
Fortunately, it’s not too late. There’s still time to find great gifts for your loved ones and get them there before the fat guy with the white beard shows up in your living room. Here are the six ways to save your Christmas from a total meltdown:
1. Get your ship together.
You may still have time to buy stuff online and get it there before the big day. If you order before Dec. 20, you may be able to get it on time using standard domestic shipping. Wait till Monday or Tuesday and you’re looking at expedited shipping charges — and gambling on the weather. One bad snowstorm, and you’ve missed Christmas entirely, making you the tool with no gifts under the tree. Last year more than 2 million packages arrived after the holiday due to shipping snags.
The good news: Many sites are offering two-day or overnight shipping for free. No guarantees about the weather, though.
2. Go from click to brick.
Major chains like Best Buy, Macy’s, Target, Walmart, and others let you order gifts online and pick them up at your local store, assuming the items are in stock. The advantage is that you don’t have to elbow other last-minute shoppers for the last Snow Glow Elsa Doll in the store, wait days for it to arrive at your door, or play roulette with the weather.
Elsa and friend. Raise her arm and she sings “Let It Go.” Don’t give in to temptation — just let it go. (Toys R Us)
Sears and Kmart go one better, letting you order online and have someone else pick it up at another location — even if she lives on the other side of the country. Yes, it’s a little cheesy to give someone a gift and make her collect it herself, but heck, at least it arrived on time.
3. Seek instant gratification.
It you’re up against the wall and willing to pony up extra cash, you may be able to order a product online and get it delivered the same day, depending on where you live.
Amazon offers same-day delivery in a dozen major metro areas, from Atlanta to Washington, D.C., for an extra charge of $6 (Prime members) to $10 (non-Prime). Get your order in by 10 a.m. local time on Christmas Eve, and it will arrive hours before the fat guy comes skidding down your chimney.
For an extra $5, eBay Now promises to deliver your purchases within one hour if you live in New York, Chicago, Dallas, or the San Francisco Bay Area. Google Express adds Boston, D.C., and West Los Angeles to that list.
So far, the FAA has put the kibosh on drone product deliveries. Tune in next year. (Associated Press)
Barnes & Noble, Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, and Nordstrom also offer same-day delivery in select cities. Sadly, none of these companies is offering deliveries via drone — yet. Guess we’ll have to wait until Christmas 2015.
4. Give the gift of digits.
If you’re right up against Saint Nick’s deadline, your best bet may be a downloadable movie, book, game, or app. It’s fast, easy, and not quite as impersonal as you might think. Apple and Amazon let you pick out exactly the songs and books you want to send to your loved ones (Apple will also let you pick movies or TV shows). Steam will let you choose specific PC or Mac games to send. Others, like Microsoft and Sony, let you send gift certificates or download codes via email.
The best part? You can do this right up to the moment you’re eating the cookies and hot chocolate the kids left out for Santa.
Read: How to Give Digital Gifts From Apple, Amazon, Google, and More
5. Go month to month.
Leaving a bottle of wine or a pair of socks under the tree screams, “I spent almost 15 seconds thinking about this before I bought it for you.” Combine those with a subscription to a socks- or wine-of-the-month club, though, and suddenly you’re Mr. Thoughtful Gifter. Better yet, they’ll remember your generosity for at least one day every month.
These days you can subscribe to pretty much anything under the sun. Do your loved ones love chocolate? Give them a new box every month from Treatsie ($12 to $23) or The Chocolate Gallery ($30). Buy your favorite meat eater a treat from The Carnivore Club, BaconFreak, or Pig of the Month for prices starting around $50 per delivery. PETA members and other animal lovers would probably prefer the Vegan Cuts Snack Box ($20 a month) or the Healthy Surprise Snack Box (starting at $49).
Did someone say chocolate salami? Count us in. (Carnivore Club)
Nothing says holiday cheer like beer. Microbrew fans will appreciate a membership in the Original Craft Beer Club ($39) or Micro Beer Club ($39 to $52). Wine snobs can receive three bottles of curated red or white grape from Glassful ($45 to $100 a month) or two to four bottles from Plonk ($50 to $90). Members of the Taster’s Club will get a different bottle of premium whiskey, bourbon, or scotch for $70 a month; or send your favorite amateur mixologist the ingredients and instructions for five classic cocktails from Bitters and Bottles ($95).
Teetotalers can opt for Tea Sparrow ($20) or Tea Force One ($59), or amp up the caffeine quotient with a gift subscription to Craft Coffee ($30) or Bean Box ($20).
That just barely scratches the surface of subscription box giving. You can also give dainty underthings from Splendies ($8), footwear from SockPanda ($12 to $19), or DIY kid projects from Kiwi Crate ($20). You can even subscribe to environmentally friendly poop bags for your pet ($60 to $90 a month). No s**t.
Read: 10 Great Gadgets for Pet Lovers
6. Give to a cause in their name.
If you’re still stuck for ideas and time, altruism may be your last, best option. Donate to a charity in your loved one’s name, and they will likely be both honored by your thoughtfulness and shamed into doing something similar. JustGive, Charity Choice, and TisBest give you numerous ways to give your money to those who need it most.
That certainly beats wading through crowds just to buy another crappy Disney toy.
Send holiday greetings and spiked eggnog to Dan Tynan at ModFamily1@yahoo.com.
