Even the savviest shoppers sometimes procrastinate when it comes to holiday shopping. It’s the busiest time of year after all, and summer seems like it was just here yesterday. But, alas, here’s the hard truth: If you wait too long, you might miss this year’s shipping deadlines. The global pandemic, bad weather, a worker shortage and supply chain disruptions are just some of the reasons why your gifts might not make it to your loved ones in time for the holidays.
So be sure to check your favorite stores to find out the last possible day you can order online and still have your presents delivered before the holidays. But if the deadlines have already come and gone, or that ideal gift is no longer available, don’t despair. We’ve compiled a list of the best, last-minute holiday gift options that don’t involve stepping foot into a store.
Take Advantage of Curbside Pickup
With all the holiday parties to attend and sappy Christmas movies to stream, the holidays will be busy this year. If you’ve waited until the last minute, curbside pickup can make your holiday shopping as easy as a click and a car ride away.
With curbside pickup, you still get the convenience of online shopping (you shop and check out entirely online), but you don’t have to wait for shipping. Many retailers will pull your order the same day. That makes it a good hybrid option for last-minute shoppers.
These are some major retailers offering curbside pickup this year:
Nordstrom
Just enter your ZIP code when shopping Nordstrom online to see your local pickup locations. When your order is ready, you’ll get an email or app notification with directions for curbside pickup. This service is available at Nordstrom stores only (not at Nordstrom Rack). But, on a positive note, free gift wrapping is available!
Sephora
Each year, Sephora stocks an amazing selection of well-priced gift sets for beauty lovers, and happily, they also offer curbside pickup. When adding items to your basket online, select “Buy Online, Pick Up in Store,” and proceed to checkout. Once you receive an email confirmation saying the order is ready (usually within a few hours), call the store to let them know you would like curbside pickup. They’ll provide instructions from there.
Target
Target’s complimentary Drive Up service has saved me tons of time over the past two years. When shopping for gifts on their website or app, select items that are eligible for order pickup, and choose the location that’s most convenient for you.
To pick up your order with Drive Up, you’ll need to select that option on the Target app once your order is ready. The app will lead you through the rest of the steps. When you arrive in one of Target’s designated Drive Up spots, your order will be brought out to your car faster than you can say “happy holidays.”
Macy’s
If you’ve waited until the last minute, and there’s a sweater, bathrobe or necktie on your list, then you might want to take advantage of Macy’s handy curbside service. Available at select locations, it works like this:
- Place your order online with Curbside Pickup at a store near you.
- Order by 12 p.m. local time for same-day pickup; orders placed after 12 p.m. are ready on the next business day.
- The selected store receives your order.
- Your merchandise is selected from the store’s current inventory and prepared for pickup.
- When your order is ready for pickup, you’ll receive a “Ready for Pick Up” email that includes directions on where to go to pick up your order, the phone number to call when you arrive and the date your order will be held until.
After you place your order, you have 15 minutes to make changes or cancel it. Visit the Macy’s website to see if curbside service is available at a store near you.
Walmart
Just shop your local Walmart online or in their mobile app and filter by “Pickup” to see which items are eligible. Then:
- You will receive an email notification when your order is ready for pickup.
- Simply go to the designated store and park in the reserved parking.
- Hit the link in your email (or check in via the Walmart app) to notify the store that you are there, and an associate will load your items into your vehicle.
Give an E-Gift Card
E-gift cards are one of the best options for last-minute holiday shopping, especially when you have friends and family who live far away, or you just can’t decide what to get that special someone on your list. Most major retailers now have e-gifting available online, which is awesome because you don’t have to worry about shipping deadlines. When you purchase an e-gift card online, the recipient instantly receives an email letting them know they received a gift card from you. They can use it to buy something they would really love. Here are some of our favorite e-gifting options.
Darden Restaurants
Perfect for foodies on your list, an e-gift card from Darden Restaurants lets your recipient enjoy a meal at one of Darden’s many restaurants, including Olive Garden, Yardhouse, Longhorn Steakhouse, Cheddar’s, Seasons 52, The Capital Grille and Eddie V’s. Many holiday-themed designs are available to choose from on their website. Bonus! If you spend more than $500, you receive a second gift card valued at 10% of your total order. E-gift cards can be scheduled for delivery or sent immediately to your recipient’s inbox.
Fandango
Make some movie magic for family and friends this holiday with a Fandango digital gift card that can be delivered instantly to their inbox. You can even upload your own photo to personalize it! Fandango gift cards can be redeemed on the Fandango or Flixster websites or apps, but not directly at the theater. To redeem, your recipient selects a theater, a movie and a show time, and then, under the Payment section, clicks on “Use Gift Card or Promo Code,” to enter their gift card info.
Apple
Apple likes to say their gift cards do it all, and it’s hard to argue with that. Apple gift cards can be used to shop the App Store, Apple TV, Apple Music, iTunes, Apple Arcade, the Apple Store app and Apple.com. Whew!
Products, accessories, apps, games, music, movies, TV shows, iCloud and more can all be purchased using an e-gift card from Apple. Simply purchase online at Apple.com and choose email for instant inbox delivery.
Streaming Services
Streamflation has pushed up the cost of streaming services, and some of those on your gift list may have cancelled their subscriptions this year. Help them watch the shows they’ve missed with gift cards they can use toward Disney+, Hulu or Netflix.
When you give a gift card for a streaming service, all a recipient has to do is activate it via their existing account (or open a new account).
Surprise Someone With a Really Cool Subscription Box
Subscription boxes make great gifts and are perfect for last-minute gift giving. Your lucky recipient will be notified instantly about the gift and will look forward to receiving their first delivery — after the holidays. They can try out the service, and then decide if they want to renew or sign up. Most subscription services also let you purchase a gift card in any amount that can be applied toward a subscription or a first box. There are many subscription boxes to choose from. Here are some good bets for everyone on your list.
FabFitFun
Treat your special someone to the surprise of FabFitFun. Gift cards can be applied to a box membership, members exclusive sales and any purchases on their website. Each box contains six to eight high-quality, full-sized products and you can choose from fashion, fitness, beauty, wellness and more. Visit the FabFitFun website to purchase an e-gift card that can be delivered immediately.
KiwiCo
With a gift subscription to KiwiCo, the kids in your life will think of you every time they get a fun and educational KiwiCo box in the mail. To give a gift, simply visit their site and choose from a one, three, six or 12-month subscription or gift card. You can also select from various product lines, such as art and design, science and cooking, or geography and culture, depending on their interests.
Glossybox
Glossybox is the ideal last-minute gift for beauty lovers. They’ll get five quality products lovingly wrapped and delivered to their door every month. Choose from one-, three-, six- or 12-month plans, enter your personal message and the e-gift voucher will be sent to their inbox. There is even a holiday-themed voucher available. The lucky Glossy recipient follows the link in their email to start their subscription.
Hunt A Killer
Give the gift of mystery for anyone on your list who loves true-crime or paranormal thrillers. Gift a full season or two of the highly rated mystery or horror subscriptions from Hunt A Killer. Every month, the plot thickens as a box is delivered containing new clues that wanna-be detectives can use to try and solve the mystery. With the e-gifting feature available on the Hunt A Killer website, a subscription for six or 12 months can be sent immediately to a recipient’s inbox. You choose the subscription genre (mystery or horror) for the recipient. The subscription will not auto renew unless they choose to continue.
Give a Last-Minute Digital Subscription
From learning a new language to streaming a new release, these digital subscription gifts are sure to please even the pickiest recipients on your list. Because there’s nothing to ship, there’s no need to worry about shipping deadlines. Your recipient will receive notice of the gift in their inbox.
MasterClass
MasterClass offers e-gifting for annual membership, allowing your gift recipient to choose from hundreds of interesting video classes taught by the world’s best experts for an entire year. Class categories include everything from cooking to sports, tech to design, wellness to business.
Visit the gifting page at Masterclass.com and click the “Give Annual Membership” button. Enter your recipient’s name, email and gift message. This will send them an email with a link to a gift redemption page where they can set up their account.
Rosetta Stone
Give that special someone on your list the gift of learning a new language with a subscription to Rosetta Stone. Visit their website to select a subscription length (three months, 12 months or lifetime), add it to your cart, write a gift message and select an e-delivery date. Your recipient will be notified by email and can choose the language they want to learn. It’s easy as uno, dos, tres!
Audible
For the bookworms on your list, a subscription to Audible is sure to add cheer to their holiday. You can gift Audible to anyone, even if they are already a member. Choose a subscription for one month, three months, six months or 12. Gift memberships include one monthly credit, good for any title to keep forever, and unlimited access to the Audible catalog, which includes podcasts and Audible exclusives.
Ancestry
Give your loved ones a new way to connect with family this holiday season with a subscription to Ancestry.com. Ancestry offers the world’s largest collection of online family records, making it possible to trace your family’s roots back generations. When it comes to gift giving, Ancestry lets you choose from three different membership plans: U.S. Discovery, World Explorer or All Access, for either six months or 12 months. Enter your friend or family member’s information, a personalized gift message and the date you’d like the gift to be delivered. Your recipient will receive a gift membership email with easy instructions on how they can access their Ancestry membership.
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