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Are you behind schedule on getting gifts for your family this season? Did you get an unexpected invite to a party but have nothing to bring the host/hostess? Don’t worry you are not alone. The Today show has created this list of last minute holiday gift ideas. Check it out:
- Cash - this is perfect since people can take it and buy what they really want or need. Today points out that college students/grads probably will appreciate this most because "student debt has more than doubled in the last decade. Young people are emerging from school with an average $19,000 in student loan debt and another $3,000 to $4,000 in credit card debt. And that’s why 65 percent of them end up moving back home to live with their parents. " Wow. Those are sobering statistics!!!
- Stock market shares - Introduce young people to the stock market! Give a Hershey’s share to the chocoholic or a Microsoft share to the techie! One size fits all!
- Financial aid – Buy a gift certificate for an hour or two of professional financial advice. Fees range from $150 TO $300 an hour. Two hours of advice could be split into two sessions: One could be used to work out a plan to get out of debt, and the other used to learn how to rebalance a stock portfolio or retirement savings.
- Charitable donation – Everyone has a favorite charity or pet cause. Just find out what that is and make a donation in their name. It’s easy to do, too. Visit a site like justgive.org, and choose from over a million national and local charities. Write a personal gift message, and the recipient will receive an e-card instantly. Plus, YOU will get a tax break (keep all documentation).
- Lottery Tickets - These are lighthearted, fun gifts, and make for great stocking stuffers. The odds of winning a single state lottery are 18 million to one, and the odds of winning multiple state lotteries like a Mega Millions are as high as 120 million to one. Pick one up at the gas station!
- Gift cards – They are a popular gift, and they are easy to get. Over 125,000 stores sell them now.
- E-cards – Many retailers now offer e-cards, which you can buy online and have emailed to the recipient. These can even be ordered on Christmas day! Before you buy, make sure the recipient is comfortable shopping online (and many companies limit purchases to online only). E-cards are offered by most major retailers, including Barnes & Noble, Bloomingdale’s and Costco. E-cards issued from the likes of J.C. Penney, Nordstrom’s, Neiman Marcus and Saks can be used online, in stores, and even for catalog sales.
Happy Shopping!!!