You’ve had the intention to put some time aside to run to the shops and buy those Christmas presents, you really have. No matter how hard you try, you are left with less than 48 hours until Christmas Day with the family and you have nothing to give them.
The good news is, you have options. Whilst the better prepared members of your family decided to shop earlier in the month and have presents delivered, you are still able to shop online and get some surprisingly cool gifts without having to rely on the postal service to get them to you in time.
This is how you do last-minute Christmas gifting like a pro.
Gifting Apps/Music/Video
Have you ever been tempted by an app but you didn’t want to put down the money to buy it? App gifting is a seriously cool way of getting that all-important app for someone that never got around to buying it or simply didn’t have the money handy.
If you are looking to buy a top-shelf game, reference app, show or video for your friend or loved one that owns an iPhone, Apple has made it easy for you, giving you a couple of options.
Option one is to purchase a gift card via iTunes which can then be emailed to the recipient. Once the code is redeemed, this can be credited to their iTunes account, allowing them to buy the media they desire. Gift cards are available in different denominations up to £30/$50.
Your second option is to find the specific app/game and then gift it to the person you want to receive it. Instead of clicking to buy the song, select the option “Gift This Item” and then specify the recipients email address.
Premium Subscriptions To Music and Photos
Do you know someone who has a Flickr account but complains that they don’t have enough storage or customisation options? The gift of a premium subscription to websites could save you a lot of hard work but also make its recipient very happy.
Both Flickr and Smugmug allow users to gift premium subscriptions, opening up a wealth of photo storage options. If its music you want, Spotify allows users to gift Spotify Premium accounts for 3,6 or 12 months.
The great thing about subscriptions is that they can be redeemed in the future if the recipient already has an account that is far from expiring.
Charity Donation
Likely to resonate better with the females in your life, a charity donation is a thoughtful gift for those who don’t want for much. With many organizations able to solicit donations via their websites, you will be able to sponsor something close to your loved-ones heart with minimal effort and for less than you would think.
Some suggestions if you are stuck:
Vouchers
With Amazon dominating the electronics retail space, you can’t go wrong with vouchers for sites such as this. Redeemable using a voucher-code, your recipient will be able to choose from millions of different products, in some countries actually getting groceries and consumables for the family.
Conclusion
These suggestions may get you out of a tight spot but you won’t be able to put these under the tree. Virtual items are often low cost but give the person who receives them an infinite amount of use. Knowing that someone wanted an app or was looking into upgrading to a premium account proves that you care, and that you can think fast on your feet when you’ve left your shopping to the last minute.
If you liked this guide, why not check out our Last Minute Gifts For Bloggers, Top 10 Last Minute Mobile Gifts and our Drop Dead Gorgeous Geek Gifts guides?
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