Business & Tech

7 Convenient Last-Minute Gift Ideas

Gift ideas for procrastinating shoppers.

Most of us have been there, you look at the calendar and realize it's Christmas Eve and you still have a friend or loved one or two for whom you need to grab a quick gift. What to do? Buy a quick gas card, candy bar or bottle of anti-freeze at the gas station?

No, there are better ideas and Burlington Patch has some of them here. We put out the call on Facebook for last-minute-gift ideas and readers came through. Here are their suggestions, along with a couple of our own, for gifts you can either buy locally or online:

  • Gift Cards: Always a favorite as long as you choose the right store for the right person. Does your giftee like technology, consider a gift card to or Best Buy. Do they enjoy video games? Consider a card to . Crafts? Consider , or . Books? How about or Amazon.com. And of course, if they live close to Burlington, cards are available for any of Burlington's great restaurants and spas.
    • Visit our business directory to find the perfect place for gift cards for you loved ones.
  • Flowers: Many florists will be open today and grocery stores often have a floral section. A nice Holiday bouquet can lighten up any room and will be an appreciated gift.
  • Coffee/tea: Many people like to begin the day with a hot beverage. Consider a gift bag of coffee and/or tea. Check , or for Holiday packages. Want to go the extra mile? consider a Keurig coffee maker and a selection of coffee and tea packets. Keurigs can be purchased at in the . 
  • eReaders: The new Nook Color and the Kindle Fire are the hot gifts this year. They're kind of a less expensive iPad, featuring both a reader and a tablet for Internet browsing and email. They start around $200.
  • Movies at home: A subscription to Netflix for movies they can download (to their new Kindle or Nook!).
  • Lottery tickets: Looking for something fun to put in a Holiday card? The Massachusetts State Lottery has a few seasonal scratch tickets available that have both holiday cheer and the chance for holiday winnings. 
  • Donation: Trying to find a gift for the person who already has everything? Consider making a donation in their name to spread the Holiday cheer to those who need it most. One great organization is People Helping People Inc., who operate the Burlington Food Pantry, the Burlington Covenant for Basic Needs and the Holiday Program. Click this link to donate.

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