If you have no clue what to buy for your daughter’s new boyfriend, stop in the movie theater next time you’re passing by. Pick up a gift certificate or a couple of movie tickets. If he’s still in school, he probably only has a part-time job and will likely appreciate a night out with your darling that won’t cost him a big chunk of his paycheck. This is a great gift for others on your list as well and it’s certainly quick and easy. Pick up a nice card and pop it inside.
The video store is another option. Give a gift certificate for movie lovers (or let Romeo have a movie night with your little angel at home, with parents nearby).
The music store or a bookstore are also great resources. For the person who seems to live in the car, some music or a great book on tape (or CD) might be perfect. Pick out something or grab a gift certificate and let the recipient do the choosing.
You can also drop by the cellular phone store. You can purchase a stylish cell phone case, a headset, a car charger, an extra battery. Buy extra minutes for a teen that has a “pay as you go” phone.
What about the florist? Not only do houseplants, poinsettias, and fresh flowers make great hostess gifts, but many florists also have gift shops inside. Many offer an assortment of gift items from music boxes and other collectibles to jewelry, photo calendars, daily planners, and cute, cuddly stuffed animals.
For truly last minute gifts (this is great if you didn’t get a gift package shipped in time) you can order online gift certificates that can be delivered by email. Isn’t that awesome? You can find a variety of sites that have such offers (and some will let you order up until Christmas Eve) or simply check out Gift Cards. You can order and the recipient can choose where to shop (just make sure the recipient doesn’t lose the e-card in his or her junk mail folder).
Gift certificates might not seem like the most thoughtful gift to some people, but when you pick one from say a music store or garden center instead of just grabbing some generic gift card, it shows that you did put some thought into the recipient’s interests.
For more gift ideas, see:
15 Simple, Low Cost Gift Ideas