Last-Minute Gift Ideas That Are Outside the Box Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again. × Search search POPULAR SEARCHES SUGGESTED LINKS Join AARP for just $9 per year when you sign up for a 5-year term. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Leaving AARP.org Website You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply.

​Get Last-Minute Gifts That Are Outside the Box​

Consider giving experiences or sustainable presents

Isabel Pavia / Getty Images This holiday season you may find it hard to get gifts in time for Christmas because of supply chain constraints, or maybe the pandemic has caused you to get behind in your shopping. But there’s still time to find things that will delight friends and family.
Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. That may mean, however, shifting your perspective away from tangible objects to experiences like concert tickets, a pass to play a round of golf, a spa day or an outdoor activity. Or think about gifts that are alternatives to items and materials that might be . “With these times we just have to continue to be creative and kind of think outside of the box for our loved ones. It doesn't take anything away from the Christmas spirit,” says Julie Kenney, founder and chief executive officer of the Gifting Experts. “You can still be creative and surprise your loved ones.” Here are three ideas for last -minute gifts that won’t have you worried about shipping.

Use technology to give

One of the fastest ways to give gifts instantly to loved ones is through your smartphone or computer. Kenney recommends using mobile apps, like GiftYa, that allow people to send gift cards with personalized messages and videos to loved ones. She gave her niece a $21 gift card to iHOP on her 21st birthday using GiftYa , along with a personal video wishing her a happy birthday. Gyft is another mobile app and website for sending gift card s. Consider cards to popular eateries , such as Starbucks and Panera , or , for a dad, grandparent or DIY buff , opt for one from Home Depot or Lowe's. If you’re already doing last-minute online shopping on Amazon and Target with hopes of getting gifts in time, these major retailers offer digital gift cards that you can send to the recipient by email. Make sure to be cautious about purchasing gift cards online, however, and never purchase them for people you don’t know who reach out to you by phone, email, text or social media. In a nearly 1 in 3 adults said they or someone they know had been asked at some point to purchase a gift card to pay a bill, fee or some other debt or obligation , or to claim a prize. Entertainment $3 off popcorn and soft drink combos See more Entertainment offers > “We're all kind of and why not take the holidays to cut back and start focusing a little bit more on meaningful giving , rather than giving stuff because we feel like we have to have a box under the tree,” Bordessa says. In pre-pandemic times, Bordessa would suggest planning small trips or weekend outings for loved ones, , she recommends buying gifts of fun classes or activities that last beyond the holiday season. A zoo pass for children or concert tickets for teens who want to see their favorite band or comedian can be great for grandchildren. Adults might enjoy a voucher for a round of golf, a massage or a day trip to the spa. Last year, Bordessa enrolled her mom, who is Portuguese, in a specialty online cooking class. “I gave her a cooking class to learn how to make a specific type of pastry that they're famous for in Portugal,” Bordessa says. “She loved it.” Bordessa also recommends what she calls hybrid gifts — that is, a small gift to open on the holiday that offer s an activity beyond the gesture. This works especially well with children , who may have expectations of ripping open colorfully wrapped boxes during the holiday. For a child, “I might give them a basket of some really cool , or vegetables that they could grow… ,” she says, “and then , in the springtime , offer to help them .”

Shop secondhand

One way to purchase in the moment and be sustainable at the same time is to shop in antique and secondhand stores. Shopping secondhand can lead to hidden treasures. AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe . U.S. households have an estimated $580 billion worth of products that they’re not using, which calculates to roughly $4,500 per household, according to the from Mercari . “You can imagine items that people have in their garages, attics and storage units that they're not using,” Olson says. Whether you’re shopping for vintage clothes, used toys , or smartphones and other devices, Olson says people can find some great presents while shopping on platforms like Mercari, Facebook Marketplace and Ebay. “I have two twin girls at home, and I've been buying gifts for them for the holidays , like vintage toys that I used to have,” Olson says. Mikaela Cohen is a digital news and features intern for aarp.org. She is a graduate student at the University of Georgia, where she has covered business and culture news for The Red & Black Newspaper, a local publication. MORE FROM AARP AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS