Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
52Kviews
Someone In This Online Group Asked “What Last-Minute Gift For Christmas Is Always A Winner?”, 30 Folks Delivered
Buying last-minute Christmas gifts can cost a few weeks' worth of stress. But deciding what to give to the giftee is half the job. The other is probably divided into earning money/making the gift, buying, and wrapping.
One person asked Reddit users "What last-minute gift for Christmas is always a winner?". The question got 35,6k upvotes and over 8k comments. Bored Panda selected the most popular ones to give you some ideas.
More info: Reddit
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
One of the best gifts I've ever received was a big box of thrifted books. I am a big reader of trashy romance novels and I go through them pretty fast. They paid like $5 for this box of books and it gave me like 3 months of reading material. I was super happy!
Responses varied from very practical gifts like socks, food, amazon/grub hubs gift cards to experiences such as massage coupons or theater tickets. A few people mentioned cooking, and it is often true that a handmade gift someone put a lot of thought or effort into creates more warm fuzz than an expensive one.
RELATED:
#2
Homemade cookies. One year I was particularly broke and decided to make everyone Xmas biscuits. Felt a bit stingy as I didn’t really spend anything on it (had all the flour, eggs, spices etc already at home and only had to buy a single chocolate bar to make choco chips) but people LOVED it and now ask me for them each year. I usually personalise the flavours or ice the person’s name/something they like on them. For one friend (who loves warm cookies) I gifted a log of cookie dough and cooking instructions, that went down pretty well.
Barbara L Bristow 3 years ago
I was AMAZED that everyone loved the book marks I hand made. They were so easy
#3
People always say children are a gift from god. Maybe I will start giving out children for Christmas. Not like the ball pit at ikea has armed security, shouldn't be too difficult to get a dozen children or so.
#4
This has been a rough year for me. Funds are tight so I am making 100 dozen tamales to give to my family and friends this year. And for my Christmas grandchildren's birthdays I am making them their favorite cake. Hummingbird. I know every one will be happy as I am always being asked to make these items for them throughout the year.
Huddo's sister 3 years ago
I've made coconut ice or truffles in the past when I couldn't afford as much, as well as jam.
People based their responses either on what they always like to get or what they know their family loves to receive. A few were in a festive mood and gave joke answers, but someone might actually appreciate them, like "Bag of batteries with a note saying 'toy not included'".
#5
Super soft blanket
TheDivineMsM 3 years ago
You can never have enough cozy blankets. This is often my go to gift- especially if I can find this soft and oversized and cuddly.
#6
Last year i put hundreds of the best rock music on a USB for my dad to listen to in the car. It was the night before Christmas. He uses it everyday still.
Kate Fowler 3 years ago
I did this for mybrother inlaw. He still plugs that thing into the port in his car on his fishing/roadtrip each year
However, someone pointed out that a lot of suggestions were pretty expensive gifts "ya'lls last minute gifts are my 'If I won the lottery 3 months before Christmas' gifts". Hopefully, this person has enough to buy a shop vac as a last-minute gift this year.
#8
I feel like snacks for stocking stuffers are always a win with me. If my wife is reading this please give me bbq pringles please for my stocking.
#9
A card with $5 in it and a super sweet message from my grandpa about how proud of me he is.
Happened to me when I was 12. My grandpa had just passed away and he had already made cards for everyone. I still have the card and the $5.
Danielle Terese 3 years ago
I got a card from Grandpa just after he passed away too! I was living in another country at the time, and it reached me just a day or so after his death. Very sweet, cried so much.
#10
Last year I was at Microcenter buying someone a drone, and they have bins of 32GB flash drives at the checkout counter for $3. I bought 15 and put them in everyone's stockings. People loved it.
If you need more ideas for what to give or not to give check out what Bored Panda wrote about it before.
#11
One year I went to my grandmas house and snapped a few pictures of the old albums. Went home, made some collages out of the pictures, made them into magnets. (I did this at home with what I have, but a mail order place can do it too) I didn’t know if people would like them but several people cried when I gave them out. They all compared pictures and still have them up.
#13
If you've got a fairly geeky group of friends, fancy leather notebooks from Barnes and Noble will do the trick easily.
If not, the amazon gift card always works.
Huddo's sister 3 years ago
I always asked for a journal or sketch book as a teen. Still would like them to be honest.
#14
Tickets to something that person would enjoy, whether it's a play, musical, concert, dinner theater experience, live podcast, comedy show, sporting event, movie, museum, art show, historic place tour or tour of something else. It's easy to get (just buying tickets/passes to something) but also very personal & meaningful. It can also range from being a cheap gift (like movie tickets) to more expensive (like a Broadway show) depending on your price range and closeness to that person.
Martha Meyer 3 years ago
Where did they dig up that picture of a 20 year old ticket with the price both in Euros and DM!
#15
Food basket with sausage, crackers, and cheese. I love getting them, it makes for great snacks or even a good meal.
#17
A gift card to a store they like + a home baked treat (banana bread or chocolate chip cookies)
#19
I work at a coal mine. I usually grab a chunk every year for someone.
Ovata Acronicta 3 years ago
As a child I asked specifically for coal for Xmas. My grandma played the game and got me this nice little pouch filled with three coal pieces - a joke gift on top of whatever else she gave me. Thing is, I don't remember what else she got me, I remember and still have the coal and it's a favored Xmas memory. The other adults there reacted poorly to the joke at the time, but I *literally asked for it* and it was hilarious. I'd still love a piece of coal for Xmas!
#20
I like my gifts to be practical, no matter who's getting them.
Small, bright keychain lights like the Photon Micro or the Olight IE3 EOS.
Small Swiss Army knives like the Swiss Army Classic.
Awesome socks like Smartwool or Darn Tough or Fox River.
High quality beanie from Outdoor Research, Arcteryx, Smartwool, Sealskinz.
Space pens and a small, quality pocket notebook.
Coffee Travel mugs from Contigo.
Small car emergency kits, everyone needs them and literally no one has them.
Powerbanks
If you live some place it snows: A good snow scraper, because again, for some reason, everyone has some piece of junk from a gas station.
Magnetic charging cables. Seriously. I give these all the time and they're a huge hit, especially for iPhone users who seem to be constantly breaking either their cord or the charge port. I like the NetDot and Volta.
Small, quality multi-tool from Gerber, Leatherman or SOG. These are especially popular with women that get them from us.
#21
I’d say candy as a former child
#22
If they're drinkers, a nice bottle of Champagne. New Year's is right around the corner, and that way they'll have a nice bottle of bubbly to enjoy their night with.
#23
I might be a bit biased, but those mind teaser puzzles where you try to get the loop out of the contraption.
#24
Cold hard cash baby
J 3 years ago
There is academic research into how and when it's perceived as better to give cash. For example, $5 cash is usually thought of as a better gift that a $6 item that you don't want. There are exceptions and nuances to this, but unless you have something special, unique and tailored planned, buying almost under about $50 is probably a waste of your time. /gift cards. https://www.amherst.edu/media/view/104699/original/christmas.pdf
#25
Massage voucher. Most adults don't really need physical things. The ones who do either buy it themselves (if they can afford it, ofc) or they would ask for it, which would make the gift not so much a last minute one.
Susan Reid Smith 3 years ago
Not everyone likes to be touched. Make it for a salon or spa where other services might be available?
#26
I made custom coasters one year for my entire family.
Step 1- Go to Home Depot get free floor samples(already perfect coaster size)
Step 2- Use a wood-burning tool to put initials into them.
Step 3- Give as a gift.
I did this several years ago and whenever I visit I still see the coasters out.
About 2 hours of burning and $0 spent and I had a heartfelt gift for everyone.
Savannah Barnett 3 years ago
I did this as a wedding gift! I'm new at wood burning so it wasn't perfect and took a lot of time but I'm sure if you practice and get better at it then it's an even better gift.
#27
Shop vac. Eminently practical and it sucks having to buy one for yourself. The giftee will laugh and then you’ll get a text or a call like a month after saying it’s the best thing they’ve ever gotten
Anaïs Grobin 3 years ago
I second this. I need a shop vac so much. I asked my other half to get me one for Christmas
#28
Depends on person.
My wife never complains about jewelry. Also one time I couldn’t think of what to get her. I let her have a shopping spree at a make up store she likes.
She only wanted 3 things. It costed 85$ and they were on sale so tread carefully on that land mine idea.
#29
Sword. Imagine showing up to Christmas Day gift swap with a badass cleaver or katana. Plus, they aren’t marked up this time of the year.
#30
For me, Scented Candles.
Can never have enough, and even if you give me the same smell twice, now I have an excuse to burn through them.
What do you think ?
Jayne Kyra 3 years ago
You guys know those metal boxes that you open expecting cookies, but get sewing supplies? Yes, get one of those, a new one of course. The insides vary from chocolates and biscuits, to alcohol, even stuffed toys depending on the shop. What is inside will be consumed and the box stays as decoration and storage. This has never failed me.
Olive 2 years ago
As a true last minute idea- I always like getting scratcher tickets in my stocking. I also second the snack idea. Can't go wrong with snacks.
Yort 2 years ago
I think most people hate getting scratch off tickets for Christmas. I think a lot of people interpret it as cheap and classless. So I definitely wouldn’t give them to someone if I didn’t already know they actually wanted them (like you). I do like scratch off tickets, so I’m not judging, just saying that’s not a good idea for most people. Also, yes, snacks. Everyone is happy getting free food, as long as it’s good. I actually asked for flour for Christmas this year.
Load More Replies... Jayne Kyra 3 years ago
You guys know those metal boxes that you open expecting cookies, but get sewing supplies? Yes, get one of those, a new one of course. The insides vary from chocolates and biscuits, to alcohol, even stuffed toys depending on the shop. What is inside will be consumed and the box stays as decoration and storage. This has never failed me.
Olive 2 years ago
As a true last minute idea- I always like getting scratcher tickets in my stocking. I also second the snack idea. Can't go wrong with snacks.
Yort 2 years ago
I think most people hate getting scratch off tickets for Christmas. I think a lot of people interpret it as cheap and classless. So I definitely wouldn’t give them to someone if I didn’t already know they actually wanted them (like you). I do like scratch off tickets, so I’m not judging, just saying that’s not a good idea for most people. Also, yes, snacks. Everyone is happy getting free food, as long as it’s good. I actually asked for flour for Christmas this year.
Load More Replies... You May Like 30 Times Christmas Gifts Were So Epically Funny, The Internet Had To See Them 50 Christmas Tree Pics People Just Had To Take As They Did Such An Amazing Job (New Pics) 50 Funny Christmas Gifts For A Peal Of Merry Laughter
Aurelija Rakauskaitė
Eglė Bliabaitė
Linas Simonaitis
Related on Bored Panda
