2022 Holiday Gift Guide: Last-Minute Gift Ideas

(Meow clearly doesn't have time for this)

Somewhere, far off in the distance, a clock chimes eleven times.

We’ve reached the eleventh hour, friends.

For some of us, the gifts have been sitting wrapped prettily for weeks, each lovingly labeled with the name of a family member or friend.

For others, the tree may be half-decorated in the corner (I see you, and I want you to know that this is absolutely okay; it’s been a tough season).

For folks who are still struggling to find gifting inspiration for those hard-to-shop-for loved ones, I’m here to bring a little holiday cheer in the form of last-minute gift ideas for travelers and homebodies alike.

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Many (but not all!) of these gifts can fit in a card or an email; I’ve also included a few handmade items you can whip up in no time in your kitchen or on your sofa. There’s no time like the present, so let’s dive in:

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TRAVEL GIFTS

For many, an experience gift holds more value than a physical item; here are a few ways to gift an unforgettable memory:

An Excursion

Give the gift of adventure! This could be a traditional tour through companies like Viator or Intrepid, or it could be a complete surprise for all involved with programs like Pack Up + Go. Know them well enough? You might be able to pick their favorite tour without consulting them. But for everyone else, a gift card may be a safer bet.

Global Entry

Yes, they’ll have to fill out the application and complete the interview themselves, but for the person who has been holding out on applying because of the cost of the program, it would be such a sweet gesture to cover it for them. Related: if they don’t yet hold a passport, this could be another fun gift idea (complete with a nice lunch out and getting passport photos taken together!).

Travel Gift Cards

Sometimes a gift card is the easiest way to ensure they wind up on a trip they truly enjoy, and thankfully there are many options to suit every taste – and many can be emailed to the recipient on the big day. Consider gifting accommodations gift cards (think homeshares like Airbnb, hotel chains with large portfolios so they can choose to splurge or save, or luxury rental homes like Wander), transportation gift cards (such as the airline that operates the most flights out of their home airport or Amtrak), or gift cards to an experience at a destination they are planning to travel to (such as restaurants, museums, guided tours, or outdoor activities).

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GIFTS FOR STAYING HOME

Whether "staying home" means cozying up inside or exploring their hometown, here are a few gifts anyone would be happy to receive:

Edible Gifts

From traditional gifts like fruit baskets to cult-favorite ice cream subscriptions to an assist in the morning via a coffee subscription, it’s hard to argue with edible gifts! Consumable goods don’t leave much of a trace when they’re finished, but it doesn’t mean they don’t leave a lasting impression.

Staycation Essentials

A staycation means different things to different people: some like to cozy up at home without ever leaving the house, and others like to take a full trip without leaving the city limits. For our friends who want to stay home, an Uber Eats gift card paired with a snuggly blanket might just be enough. And for those who want to do it big, you can pick up the staycation essentials: a night at a local hotel, a gift card to their favorite restaurant, tickets to a local performance, and a booking for a spa visit.

The Gift of Time

Think through their day – where are they feeling most frustrated and stretched thin? Time is the most luxurious gift you can give someone, particularly someone who is constantly having to choose saving money over saving time. Are they frequently stuck in a brutal commute? A toll pass can alleviate some of that time stuck in traffic. Are they spending their sparse evening hours scrubbing the tub or mowing the grass? Consider hiring a cleaning or landscaping service to offset some of the burden. Is the task of getting dinner on the table too much to bear some evenings? Meal delivery services are fairly common here in the U.S. and can turn this chore into a treat. But you don’t always need to hire out help – you can also give the gift of your own time. From handling the school dropoff a couple of days a week to taking over grocery shopping, these seemingly small gifts can make a huge impact.

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HANDMADE GIFTS

My favorite category to give and receive: handmade gifts! There's something so wonderful about the small imperfections of homemade presents - I love knowing exactly whose hands created them. Here are a few you can create in just a few hours:

Baked Goods

Cookies are my go-to gift for others – so much so that I’m on my second (massive) pack of these food storage boxes. Some of my favorite recipes are these sturdy gingerbread cookies, these chewy sugar cookies, and of course, my Everything Cookies.

Candles

Candles are a great way to make a big-batch gift for lots of people at once (here’s a guide to get you started). Even better – you can upcycle this gift by using scraps from old candles and/or old storage jars.

Small Accessories

Calling all knitters, crocheters, and sewists! Break into your stash (bonus points if it’s your scrap stash) and make something fun. I’ve been knitting up lots of cozy wool hats for people this season, including a few that went from yarn to finished object in a few short hours.

A Boozy Wonder

I recently shared a recipe on the blog, and couldn’t omit it from this post. This Vegan Irish Cream has been a go-to gift the past few Christmases and it only takes five minutes to make. Not into whiskey? My other favorite giftable holiday cocktail is Coquito, a delicious Puerto Rican coconut nog spiked with rum. Just bear in mind these gifts need to be chilled (and maybe watch out for open container laws).

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Looking for more gifting inspiration? You can check out all of my gift guides here.

I’m signing off until after Christmas, but before I do – I wanted to say thank you for reading along, and for all of your support over the years! I’m grateful for each and every one of you. If you’re celebrating this season, I hope your holiday is filled with comfort and warmth – and if you’re traveling, bon voyage!