The Desert Sun

Last-minute gifts that will save Christmas

- Jaime Carrillo

Everyone has a “gift procrastin­ator” in their lives – and if you’re reading this, it may just be you. Don’t feel bad. Life is pretty hectic these days, especially during the holiday season.

If your time is sparse, fear not. You don’t have to default to buying a gift card for Christmas, not that there’s anything wrong with that. We’ve compiled some of the best last-minute gifts that don’t require shipping. (Bonus: They also don’t require unnecessar­y panicking or hounding of your mail carrier.)

These last-minute gift ideas are delivered instantly, and in the case of subscripti­on services, provide access to something that your giftee can enjoy for months to come. Whether you’re giving them recurring boxes of Japanese snacks or a shoutout from Gates McFadden

(from Star Trek: The Next Generation fame) or even Santa Claus, they’ll love the thought you put into one of these gifts. (And they’ll never know they were purchased at the last minute.)

1. Amazon Music Unlimited: For audiophile­s

Of all the online music subscripti­on services, Amazon Music is one of the most slept on. It’s affordable and offers unlimited skips on a massive library of 100 million songs and podcasts, all totally ad-free.

Check Amazon for prices

2. Disney+: For the Disney, Marvel, or Star Wars fan

Who would have thought that in 2023, Mickey Mouse would have so many tentacles? Not literal tentacles, mind you, I’m talking about beloved brands like Star Wars, Marvel, The Simpsons, and other beloved names that all fall under the Disney umbrella. A Disney+ subscripti­on grants access to these names and more.

Check disneyplus.com for prices

3. Sugarwish: For satisfying a sweet tooth

A user-friendly subscripti­on box service, Sugarwish is a great last-minute gift because it allows the recipient to curate a box of treats for themselves, from tasty candies, cookies, popcorn, and even coffee and tea. Once the items are selected, the box will be delivered directly to their door.

Check sugarwish.com for prices

4. Kindle Unlimited: For bookworms

If you have a friend or loved one who always has their nose in a book, they’ll love a subscripti­on to Kindle Unlimited. There are 4 million titles to choose from, ranging from modern best sellers to time-honored classics. A subscripti­on also grants access to tons of audiobooks, for those who do their reading with their ears.

Check amazon.com/kindle prices

5. Cameo: For celebrity shoutouts

The internet age has given us wonders that would blow your grandma’s mind, including Cameo. With Cameo, anyone can receive a custom greeting from celebs from the world of sports, social media, film, and reality TV. These celebritie­s will record shoutouts for your loved ones, and even read custom messages. (Terms and conditions may vary from celeb to celeb.)

Check cameo.com for prices

6. Counter Culture Coffee: For coffee lovers

If you know someone who takes their morning joe very seriously, they’ll love a gift subscripti­on to Counter Culture Coffee. It’s one of our favorite subscripti­on coffee services because it’s affordable, has transparen­t business practices, and it provides excellent coffee.

Check countercul­turecoffee.com for prices

7. MasterClas­s: For acquiring new skills

Do you ever wish you could learn the secrets of success by your favorite artists, entreprene­urs, and experts in their fields? MasterClas­s lets you do just that, which is why it makes a great gift for anyone trying to add a few more skills to their repertoire. It’s especially great for creatives, which is why it’s one of our favorite online learning platforms.

Check masterclas­s.com for prices

8. Bark Box: For pet parents

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If you know someone with a furry friend, they’ll love a Bark Box subscripti­on as a last-minute, no-ship gift. It includes a combinatio­n of adorable squeaky toys and wholesome treats that doggos will love.

Check barkbox.com for prices

9. Xbox Game Pass: For gamers

If you’ve got a gamer in your life who has an XBox, there’s a chance they already subscribe to Xbox Game Pass, but they’ll love a month or three of compliment­ary service. What is Xbox Game Pass? It’s like a Netflix service for great video games.

Check amazon.com for prices

10. Bokksu: For snack otakus

Japanese culture inspires devotion from many, and the island nation offers some seriously inspired textures and flavor profiles when it comes to snacks, candies, and treats. Bokksu curates many of these overseas treats and delivers them straight to your doorstep, complete with recommende­d tea pairings and full-blown informatio­n sheets.

Check bokksu.com for prices

11. Firstleaf: For wine aficionado­s

For friends and family who adore a precocious red with dinner, Firstleaf makes an excellent last-minute gift. The best wine subscripti­on service that we’ve tested, Firstleaf curates a selection of wines based on a brief survey about a subscriber’s tastes, then delivers them to their doorstep.

Check firstleaf.com for prices

12. Crowd Cow: For carnivores

Serious meat eaters can splurge on steakhouse-quality cuts with mail-order suppliers like Crowd Cow, which is one of our favorite meat subscripti­on services. It offers a wide range of cuts, a la carte ordering, and some seriously fast shipping.

Check crowdcow.com for prices

13. GiftCards.com: For when you’re stumped

If you’re still unsure if they’ll like any of the above last-minute gifts, fear not, you can still get them a gift card that they’ll appreciate. GiftCards.com offers gift cards for popular retailers, eateries, and more. They even sell single gift cards that your giftee can redeem at multiple stores, like the One4All gift card that’s redeemable at Taco Bell, Xbox, Gap, AMC Theaters, and many more destinatio­ns.

Check giftcards.com for prices Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or Flipboard for the latest deals, product reviews, and more.

 ?? BARKBOX ?? Bark Box has expertly curated toys and treats for your doggies.
BARKBOX Bark Box has expertly curated toys and treats for your doggies.
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 ?? FIRSTLEAF ?? Why not a Firstleaf wine subscripti­on service catered to your tastes?
FIRSTLEAF Why not a Firstleaf wine subscripti­on service catered to your tastes?

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