The best last minute Christmas presents!

by Robert Powell on 23 December 2011  |  4 comments
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With Christmas right around the corner, we take a look at how to avoid picking up a last minute, panic buy present rip-off…

It’s the afternoon of Christmas Eve and you’re out on the icy high street desperately hunting for those last two presents that you’ve meaning to get since November! Long queues, angry shoppers and staff that really want to get home – we’ve all been there and it’s not nice.

But last minute shopping is still no excuse for wasting money. So if you've left it late, and don't fancy traipsing around the high street, what gifts should you go for?

eVouchers

Sites like Groupola, Groupon, Keynoir and Living Social offer cut price flash deals on everything from spa and beauty treatments to off-road driving lessons that take place in your local town or city.

There’s usually between 50 – 90% off the high street price – and all you do to buy the product is pay over the internet, print off the voucher and give it to your friend or family member for them to redeem.

The deals only last one day and so the sites rely on a large number of people signing up to each one. This means if you can convince your friends to buy as well, you’ll be rewarded! For example Groupon will give you £6 credit for each person you sign up, while with Living Social, if you get three friends to buy the deal after you – you get yours free! Perfect if there’s a whole group of you stuck for present ideas!

Online subscriptions

Subscriptions to magazines, clubs or online services are another great way of picking up a last minute gift without leaving your front room.

Spotify offers giftcards that allow you to give away an unlimited, premium subscription to the music streaming service for one, three, six or 12 months.

LOVEFiLM.com also offers gift subscriptions that can be sent by e-card or printed off – these allow the person to have rental films delivered by post or streamed direct to their computer or PS3.

You can also take out magazine and newspaper subscriptions online or sign your friend or family member up to online news services such as Times Online or FT online.

Make your own gift!

Homemade gifts are a great way of quickly and cheaply knocking up a present! They can also show that you’ve really thought about the present and not just gone down the shops and bought any old tat!

If you’re stuck for ideas, a quick search online will give you hundreds of suggestions. Some personal favourite ideas are homemade shower curtains, gift baskets made up of free beauty samples and a dammit doll – which, for those not in know, is a home knitted doll which you can chuck about and swear at anytime you’re annoyed!

Edible or drinkable gifts

Another great make your own idea – spend Christmas Eve in the warm kitchen rather than on the cold high street. Head to our very own Frugal Recipes blog for some inspiration!

If you don’t fancy knocking up a present in the kitchen, food and drink still makes a great gift at Christmas. You can pop down to the local supermarket and pick up a bottle of bubbly or a selection of cheeses, chocolates or chutneys for your friends and family to gorge on come Christmas day

Our Frugal Food blog will help you sniff out the best culinary deals in the supermarkets!

Promises!

It may sound a bit soppy, but if you’re a bit light on cash you could always give a promise as a present! For example, promise to babysit 10 times in the next year, or do the washing up every week or even look after the dog one weekend! It could end up saving your friend or family member a tidy sum in the New Year.

Make sure you send a signed card to go with your promise so the deal is all in writing though.

Charity presents

Let’s be realistic, charity gifts aren’t suitable for everyone – chances are your eight year old nephew isn’t going to see the value in getting a gift donation, but some people may.

Oxfam offer a range of Christmas charity gifts including donating a goat to a family overseas, teaching a teacher, planting an allotment or feeding a family.

You can find a full list of charitable presents at charity-gifts.org.

Vouchers or cash

A lot of people see vouchers and cash as rubbish Christmas presents, but I’m certainly not one of them! After all, the person gets to choose exactly what they want!

You can pick up an iTunes gift certificate and have it e-mailed over to your friend without even leaving your house!

Frugal high street gifts

If you really have to head out onto the high street this Christmas Eve then you can still make sure you don’t panic buy an over-priced item. Take a look at our Frugal Friday blog for some bargain Christmas gift ideas for men, women, kids, parents, grandparents and the most difficult people to buy for of them all – the in-laws!

This is a lovemoney.com classic article, updated for 2011.

More: Six steps to a stingy Christmas | Seven things you can get for free this Xmas