Great Last Minute Gifts

Last minute gifts don't have to be a candle or a tie. Most of the below are pretty interesting and  can last long past the day you give them. Others are more meaningful than just stuff. And these are the ultimate in convenience for you, as they can be bought with a few clicks - and you can send an e-notification or print out some of the pictures or descriptions and wrap it in a box! Here we go: 

Ecologi: The Gift of Trees or Climate Action 

After magazines there's this: Ecologi allows you to gift your person a year of zero carbon footprint. Meaning, Ecologi will put this money towards important climate projects around the world, as well as use it to plant 144 trees in his name. That might just be the best gift of all, especially for the person who has everything. 

Years Membership to Thrive Market 

Offering natural and organic food products at reduced costs. You can browse as you like, by category, or by diet -- keto, paleo, gluten-free, kosher, vegan etc, a small selection of frozen goods  and meats, wine, beauty products, vitamins, baking and cleaning products. I'm a member, use it monthly, and get free shipping to boot. I can also send food to other people as well from my membership.  Save at least 20% on products -- or become a member and save up to 50%. 

Fill in the recipients name and email, pay and schedule an e-gift card to be sent on the day you'd like.  TIP: TAKE ADVANTAGE of their  discounted memberships from $59 a year to only $39 for an entire year of discounted healthy foods delivered to their door. 

Anything Apple 

Believe it or not, Apple will get something to your door  in a few hours though I imagine you need to live with in a certain radius of a store. 

Find smaller gifts related to the products if you don't want to break the bank HERE. I recommend new phone cases (just be sure what phone size and generation they have). A silicone phone cover (lots of great colors) is $49, or leather ones with suede inside. These all aren't so impact resistant but the screens are better at not cracking much anymore. 

Or these new Air Tags! Attach them to your keys, slip one in your purse or back pack and they will help you locate where you left them, using the FIND ME app... for as low as $29 on up. A four pack is $99. Then you can peruse add ons like key rings, or silicone holders that can slip around a strap. 

Love for Sale 

Exclusively at Barnes and Noble, this ultra gift box collection of the great Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga doing their timeless duets. Any fan of Tony's will beam to receive it, as the box includes his drawings, as well as some photos of he and Lady G singing. Will please vinyl lovers or collectors too. 

The Custom 2 piece debossed, individually foil stamped & numbered telescope box includes: 

* The Love For Sale Vinyl record

* A 30 page custom embossed sketchbook with 3 of the pages featuring Tony Bennett’s sketches

* A custom envelope that holds the following 16 prints at various sizes:

4 photos, 6 lithos of Tony’s pencil and pen sketches, 3 watercolor prints, 2 concert poster reprints and 1 re-printed letter

*A custom long box to hold two custom sketch pencils and a pencil sharpener

All that for $149. You can call your local Barnes before you head out to see if they have it, and would hold it (or pay over the phone) till you can get there.  

TIP: While a lot of people stream their music, a CD is also available, without all the rest -so you get the real prize the music. 

Book of The Month Club

Yes, ye olde favorite, the original that started it all. There are are other clubs that do something similar which you can find by Googling, but what I like about this is that your recipient can decide not to get a book for month if they are still taking their time, it's a great way to discover new authors much like browsing through a bookstore would afford- and BOTM gets early releases too -- at a time when we may be going back to cutting out unnecessary activities for a bit (due to a variant).  And it's gets people excited to read more. 

Books are a wide range of vetted choices from early releases to classics and little knowns as far back as 1926. And they can also add books on, at a much lower cost. Lastly, they (or you) can cancel at any time.  

AUDIBLE

Give an audio book or one of 4 memberships

A book is always a great last minute gift that carries a lot of lasting enjoyment for a quick visit to the store. But what about those who listen to books? You can give a single title to any Audible member! And for those who are not, you can give a subscription for as low as $15 for a month for them to try it out, or a 3, 6 or 12 month membership. With the longer ones, they also get credits - one book per credit, which goes a long way for audio books which can get up past $20-40.  

And if they already have a membership? You can still give the gift of extending it too. 

Mash and Grape Spirit Club Subscription

For your favorite cocktailer, sophisticate, entertainer, the hard to buy for or has everything person. Ensure their supply of stuff to sip is never low by signing him up for a spirits club. Mash and Grape sources some seriously interesting whiskeys, tequilas, gins, and rum. Starts at $44 a month. Ain't cheap but right for someone.

Magazine Subscriptions

No, it's good - for some people. We can talk paper and ink waste and recycling but print does keep reporters and writers and the online versions going... And I'm interested in that. And many people like to have a physical magazine to read or thumb through. The nicest part? You'll be thought of each time they get it, or read it!

Go for the sure fire pleasers, like Rolling Stone, Time, or People Magazine, or introduce them to something different, from calm or journaling magazines, to marvelous ones like Cooks Illustrated or Milk Street, to Homesteading or Cabin magazines, to decorating, and just about any craft or hobby there is. The best selection is usually at a Barnes and Noble. 

For FUN: Go totally retro with Readers Digest, Farmers Almanac and even TV guide! An appreciated throwback for Grandparents and vintage enthusiasts.

Right now you can find discounted prices from places like Magazine.com or the Amazon magazine section to find lower prices. Or grab the mag you want, and either fill out the little cards found between the pages, or call the number inside their contents pages to arrange the gift subscription.  TIP: Barnes and Noble usually has the best variety of special interest publications. 

Sur la Table Online Cooking Classes 

Their lists look GREAT! They have a really wide mix of classes that would please just about any level of experience and every tastes, from traditional foods to global dishes and baked desserts.

TIP: They also offer a series for teens 

COMMUNE Learning Community

Great for that person on your list who's all about mind, body and soul and especially good someone who is feeling blue or burnt out from the pandemic repercussions. This is an online community where over 1000 classes are accessible for health and personal growth, social impact, yoga, meditation and more + daily practices to feel truly well. And it's all self-managed 

For a limited time (I think till 12/24), they can join Commune Membership at a specially discounted price of $25/month for as long as they're a Member. Save more with the Annual plan for $150 (only $12.50/month). If you get the monthly they can upgrade to the annual plan at any time.

Or you can do a buy one get one for $150!!  This gives full access to the entire library anytime, on any device + invites to all LIVE video calls and Q&A's with instructors.  

As you can see, the teachers are the top in their fields.

What's different is that this is also a community of like minded individuals who can choose to interact IF it appeals.IE: all can discuss topics forum style, or they can be connected to just their classmates to further fill out their learning. BONUS: They can usually ask questions of the host on live calls, or even get 1 on 1 Q&A with the teacher. A COOL gift! 

More Green Giving

A fantastic, low-waste gift would be connected to supporting a green cause. It would take only a few minutes to look for a nature center in their area to get them a subscription or membership to it. Print out photos from their website or a pamphlet to map of their location and wrap it up (if the recipient is local to you). If there are land preservation Trusts that give classes, do hikes, etc.. In these times, look for activities that can happen in open air, so they won't be canceled due to safety. Buy a pair of tickets to an outdoor concert or art show to a green charity to a green charity event or environmental org. And visit my posts that focus on general charitable giving for more ideas.

Find other last minute gift ideas from my past posts including Gifts Of the Month clubs and DIY, or the Gift Of Experience categories.