Hellllloooo procrastinators!  You know who you are.  You are now looking at the home stretch into Christmas and staring the 20th of December right in the face.  If you still are working on your Christmas shopping list, you might be coming a little late to the party.  It may not totally be your fault; it is after all, a very busy time of the year.  Those best laid plans to not put the holiday shopping off are now all but abandoned.  Folks, now it’s crunch time.

We’ve come up with a few helpful tips to assist you with your last-minute shopping endeavors.  You might have to get a little creative, but there is still time to pull off an amazing holiday.

Upgraded Shipping:  It’s a modern world we live in folks and you’d be surprised how fast you can get merchandise from point A to point B, and shipped right to your door–even now, just days before Christmas.  Many sites will offer deeply discounted overnight or 2-day shipping service to ensure your gifts are delivered just in time for Christmas.  Take advantage of these deals that are designed for you last minute shoppers and skip the store while doing so.  Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus!  With the large throngs of fellow procrastinators that are out shopping in a mall near you, avoiding the store might be a very good thing, indeed.

Twas The Night Before Christmas:  And everything was found on sale!   Did the post-Christmas sales come Early? Holy Hannah–there’s deals a-plenty out there! You aren’t imagining things, in many instances it does look like an after-Christmas scenario in the shop-o-sphere.  Many retailers get really aggressive with their markdowns right before Christmas in order to move merchandise out of their door and into yours.  You procrastinators might be in luck, after all. If you can still find what you are looking for, chances are the price may already be marked down. 

Re-gifting:  Say that word and you might immediately think of that ancient fruitcake that’s been passed perpetually around your family for the past 5 years.  The truth is, however, that in a recent survey, most people say they wouldn’t care about receiving something that has been re-gifted; it simply depends on what it is.  You’ve heard it said that one person’s trash is another’s treasure.  If you have something on hand that you are certain another person could use or enjoy more than you do, why not pass it on?  This methodology could actually be called gift recycling rather than re-gifting–and what’s not to love about that?  You should, however, avoid passing on that nasty fruitcake.

Give the Gift of Yourself:  You have plenty of time to come up with some cleverly crafted coupons that are good for a gift everyone can use–a gift of your time.  A coupon that can be cashed in for a day of garage cleaning or pantry re-organization might be very appreciated by a loved one.  Other ideas (depending on the recipient) can include: free babysitting, free dog walking, free yard work, etc.  Not only will you get some long overdue work done, but you also may even get to spend some quality time with someone that you might otherwise not have.  Everyone wins!

Gift Cards:  This old standby gift reigns supreme in the minds of procrastinators everywhere, and why?  Because everyone loves to get gift cards!  It’s not going to win you any awards for originality this holiday, but you can bet your gift won’t have to be returned during the post-holiday rush, either.  When in doubt, a gift card is a very safe bet that will definitely be put to good use.

Attention, last minute shoppers. On your mark, get set, go!  There’s no more time to waste.  Before you know it, this holiday season will be in the bag.