Last-minute holiday shopping can be stressful. However, various sought-after items can be secured at the last minute, ensuring gift givers’ loved ones have a happy holiday season.

It’s unlikely that anyone aspires to be a last-minute holiday shopper. Putting off holiday shopping until the last minute can make for a stressful home stretch to the season, and there’s no guarantee store shelves won’t already be picked clean or that gifts purchased online will arrive on time.

Despite how unappealing last-minute shopping can be, it’s still a fact of life for millions of holiday shoppers. As the clock winds down this holiday season, shoppers can look to these ideas for inspiration.

Gift cards

Gift cards may never earn a distinction as the most sentimental item to give a loved one during the holiday season, but they are surprisingly sought-after. A survey from the National Retail Federation found that 54 percent of participants identified gift cards as the most-wanted gift of the 2022 holiday season. Chain retailers, small businesses and restaurants are among the many establishments that sell gift cards, so shoppers are bound to find a card to please anyone on their shopping list.

Food & beverage

The holiday season is a popular time to indulge in great food and wash it down with a favorite wine or adult beverage. That makes food and beverages a great holiday gift. Shoppers can take a loved one to a favorite restaurant, prepare a homemade treat, or purchase a favorite dish from a local specialty grocery store or eatery. Pair the food with an appropriate beverage, and this accessible last-minute gift idea will surely be a hit.

Tickets

Tickets to a movie, sporting event, live theater performance, or concert are another gift idea that likely won’t be gobbled up by early bird shoppers. People of all ages enjoy experiences, and a 2022 survey from the travel booking platform GetYourGuide found that 50 percent of survey respondents indicated they would want tickets to a concert or show.

Books

Books make an ideal holiday gift for everyone, from young kids to grandparents. Traditional print books are small enough to arrive on time, even if purchased just a few days before Christmas. E-book sellers enable gift givers to pick the perfect time to notify loved ones they have received an electronic book. Audiobooks, downloaded to a smartphone or given as a CD, make an ideal gift for loved ones who spend a lot of time behind the wheel.