Somehow, it’s almost 2021—and you haven’t finished your holiday shopping. It’s OK, you’re not alone. Whether you forgot about your babysitter, or you succumbed to choice paralysis and waited too long, there’s still hope. If you’re in a crunch, these gifts can be delivered in minutes. The good thing is, with most of us keeping away from each other, digital gifts won’t be seen as a last-ditch effort this year.
If shipping delays don’t scare you, check out our many other gift guides, including Great Gifts Under $25, Gifts for a Good Night’s Sleep, and Gifts for Remote Workers.
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Photograph: Amazon
The Obvious Choice
Gift Cards
Gift cards are always an option. No, they’re not the most novel idea, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Choose a store your recipient likes, and an e-gift card can be delivered by email within minutes. Saving money on gift cards can be tricky, but Raise offers up some discounts. You can also use an app like Givingli to package the gift in a way that’s more personal than forwarding someone a redeemable code.
Another site, GiftNow, lets you pick a gift, which the recipient then customizes or confirms before it ships. They can pick out sizes or exchange the gift for something entirely different. It’s a good solution if you have no idea what to get. And let’s be honest—you probably don’t have any idea, considering how long you waited and all.
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Photograph: Walmart
Practical Magic
Service Subscriptions
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Photograph: Amazon
No Wrapping Necessary
Digital Games, Books, Movies, and More
Movies, books, games, and other digital items make easy last-minute gifts, provided you know what your giftee likes. I’m a fan of Kindle books for digital gifts, because they can be read without a dedicated Kindle device, using an app for computers, smartphones, and tablets.
Digital games will depend on the system your recipient uses, but if they’re a gamer, you should be able to deduce the title they’re drooling over by bringing video games up casually in conversation. For digital movies and shows, Vudu or Amazon Video are good options, and there are frequent discounts there as well.
We’re very biased, but WIRED is only $5 for a year during the holidays. You’d be supporting the journalism and testing we do every day.
