Last Minute Gift Ideas
by Kathy Burns-Millyard
No present, yet? Running out of time? Have you procrastinated and
are now in a bind? Pulse rate up and heart beating fast? Geez...
scrambling to find gifts at the very last minute can be stressful and downright
pathetic. Relax. Don't lose your cool. Here are a variety of
quick gift ideas that are guaranteed to please:
Gift Certificates Gift certificates are the ultimate life saver. They're
quick and easy to buy and come in any denomination. Most retailers offer
gift certificates or gift cards. Also think spas, beauty salons, gas
stations, country clubs, gyms, restaurants, etc.
Flowers Well, flowers may not be original, but they are always welcomed.
Stop by your local florist to pick up a wonderful bouquet of roses of assorted
wild flowers. Other places to try are supermarkets, corner peddlers and
mass merchandisers such as Wal-Mart and Target. Or go online. All
the major wire services (i.e. FTD and Teleflora) have Web sites that you can
order directly from.
Bottle of Wine or Liquor If you need a gift in a hurry, pick up a bottle
of fine wine or liquor. Agency liquor stores usually carry gift bags that
are specially made for bottles. Many also carry a small selection of
greeting cards and other possible gift alternatives such as sparkling cider.
You can complete your gifting needs in one quick stop.
Bath and Body Gift Set A bath and body gift set is a great present for
your mom, girlfriend, sister, niece, etc. Stop by your local pharmacy,
gift shop or fine department store for a delightful selection of personal care
gift sets.
Stuffed Animal For a child or for someone that you love, a stuffed
animal is a perfect last minute gift. You can find them almost anywhere -
from gift shops to convenience stores.
Cash Now here's a gift that we can all use. Cash! Just put a
little in a card or wrap some up. With money, they can always buy or put
it towards what they really want.
Passes to a Local Attraction Stop by and pick them up tickets for
admission to a local amusement park or museum. Get creative in your giving.
Put the tickets in an unusual box or container and present them to the recipient
with a smile.
You're down to the wire or just learned that a gift is expected. What do you do?
No, you don't start pacing and chewing your fingernails off. Just opt for one of
the quick gift ideas above and you're good to go. Breathe... one, two,
three.
Kathy Burns-Millyard. Need more gift ideas for a variety of people and
occasions? Visit The Home Gift Shopper at
http://www.homegiftshopper.com -
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