You don't need to spend a fortune on last minute presents at your nearest petrol station, Here's 8 affordable gift ideas to save the day.
If you've left it too late to order online there’s no need to fork out more than you need to on what’s left in the shops.
Here are 8 last minute Christmas gifts you know will be ready for the big day.
1. Experience day vouchers
From a day at a luxury spa to a thrilling balloon ride or a session of adrenaline filled paintballing experience days make a fantastic gift – and they don’t need to break the bank either.
Because there is such a wide range to choose from, you can easily find a gift that suits any friend or family member and fits your budget.
Plus once you’ve bought the experience online you simply have to print off the voucher to wrap up for Christmas day, or get it sent directly to an email address of your choice.
Red Letter Days and Lastminute.com both have a wide range of experience days to choose from.
2. Event tickets
Several ticket websites, including Ticketmaster, now allow you to print off event tickets as soon as you’ve paid online and these make great gifts.
This means you can book tickets for gigs, sporting events, theatre and comedy shows online, print off the confirmation and wrap it up.
Simply visit the Ticketmaster website, choose the event and print off your tickets .
3. Reserve & collect
If you've left it too late to get your Christmas shopping delivered to your door it doesn’t mean you have to miss out on online offers.
Lots of department stores and retailers now offer a reserve & collect service which means you can buy your present online and pop in to pick it up from your nearest store.
Check on the shop's website or contact customer services to make sure they'll have it ready for you to collect in time.
4. Gift vouchers
While not the most inspired gift ever, vouchers for a favourite store are always appreciated.
They’re the perfect last minute gift and you can give as much or as little as you like. Many retailers now let you buy gift vouchers online and print them off, or email them.
Alternatively, everyone from petrol stations to supermarkets now seems to stock a variety of gift cards so if you leave it really late you can pick them up literally hours before the big day.
5. High street sales
Hitting the high street so close to Christmas can be a daunting prospect but there are also some great bargains to be had.
Plus many of the shops have started their January sales early this year, meaning you could pick up a real bargain:
If you get time then checking prices online before you go to the shops give you the chance to price match the best online offers.
Many stores offer price match guarantees or will match a competitor to secure a sale so use this to your advantage.
Read our guide How to Compare Prices While You're Out Shopping to make sure you don’t pay over the odds.
6. Charity gifts
A thoughtful charity gift can make a fantastic last minute Christmas gift.
The WWF allow you to adopt an animal and print off a certificate to give as a gift and will then send a thank you package in the post as well.
There are hundreds of charities that offer similar donation packages, so you can choose one that best suits the person you’re buying for.
But remember these aren’t always appreciated by everyone so make sure it’s the right choice before you part with any money.
7. Magazine subscriptions
You can now buy a friend or family member a subscription to their favourite magazine online so every week or month they'll receive a copy through the post.
Magazine subscriptions are often a lot cheaper online than in stores, so you can get a great last minute present and know you’re not being ripped off at the same time.
Take a look at the magazine deals currently on offer to see if any suit.
8. Hampers
Putting together a last minute hamper can make a great gift and you can include anything you like to give it a personal touch.
All you need is a box and some wrapping paper for the hamper itself and then you can fill it with favourite wines, chocolates and cheeses etc.
If you’ve got the ingredients to hand they why not bake some mince pies or biscuits to add a homemade feel to your hamper and make it an extra special Christmas gift.
