Last Minute Gift Ideas for Christmas

Pictured: My fashionable Christmas Card from TJ Maxx

Are you ready shoppers? This is it, the final Christmas countdown.  There are 3 days left to go. I have to admit it, I’m a little stressed. I made the last priority mail shipping today with final gifts and Christmas cards, but I am not done yet. It’s like an obstacle course at this point. I still have a few items to get for folks on my list. If you’re struggling like I am, here are a few last minute gift ideas.

iTunes Gift Card. You can’t go wrong with the gift of music. The recipient gets to pick their favorite tunes and you get to pick up a convenient and economical gift from the grocery, the drugstore or even online for sending via email. Its easy and a great way to avoid last minute shipping snafus.

Gift Cards. A gift card give you something nice to put under the tree or in a stocking. You can find American Express cards at just about any grocery or drugstore. The nice thing about the Amex card is it is fee free. That means if you paid $50.00 for it, your giftee gets to use $50.00 worth of your gift. There are no service charge fees added in.  Amazon Gift Cards are also readily available at stores or online.  If you give an Amazon card, you are allowing your giftee to select from thousands of great items are hard to beat  prices. Remember, if you have a credit card with a points program (like American Express Membership Rewards, you can cash in points for gifts online and print out the gift card from your PC to include under the tree or in a stocking.) Gift cards to shop H&M,  TheOutnet.com, Anthropologie, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, White House Black Market, Nordstroms, Gilt Group, Ruelala, HauteLook, Ideeli (see my top picks on the right nav for links) and other retailers also make great gifts. The money on the card will go farther at the after Christmas sales.

A Good Book. The holidays are usually the time I catch up on my reading. It’s the perfect time to escape into a good story or a biography. On my reading list this Christmas is Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy.  This is the inside track on life in the White House with JFK.  Oh sure, it’s not the whole truth, Jackie was way too PR savvy to tell all, she had to protect the Kennedy legacy.  But there are some great insights here on the mentality of Jackie as a 1960s er , career woman, plus her memories of world leaders.  For more book ideas, check the current New York Time bestseller list .  You can purchase good books anywhere this holiday, from the airport, to Costco, to Target.  You can gift a book and wrap it with a bow or simply gift a book certificate.

Make a Spa Stocking with items from the Drugstore, TJ Maxx or Nordstorm Rack for your favorite guy or gal.  A few suggestions that I like include items like Olay New Thermal Pedicure for women, or body wash for men. Other popular items include Burt’s Bees lip balm, shaving lotions and moisturizers. Always look for coupons for Burt’s Bees to maximize the savings. Nordstorm’s Rack has both Origins and Perricone MD on special. Look for Molton Brown, Elizabeth Arden, and even Estee Lauder sometimes at TJ Maxx and Marshalls.

Charitable Contributions. It’s a great time to make a donation to charity in the name of a loved one. Your gift is also tax deductible.