Last-Minute Gift Ideas – Salem Happenings

Last-Minute Gifts for the Gamer in Your Life

Searching for a great last-minute gift for the gamer in your life? Looking for a way to give to charity and get some great games at the same time? Well, if you are looking for a way to help others through gaming, there’s probably no better way than purchasing a Humble Bundle.

A Humble Bundle is a collection of games from either a single publisher or a group of publishers offered by Humble Bundle, Inc. in which a portion of each bundle purchased is donated to charity. Each of these bundles will contain a number of great games, including games from a wide assortment of well-known and independent publishers for a variety of different platforms, and each set of games is only offered for a limited amount of time. As a result, you never quite know what will be in the next bundle, but there’s no question that it will be something worth playing. Best of all, there is no set price on each bundle, so you can actually decide how much you want to pay and whether you want it all to go charity or you want to split it between the developers and the charity of your choice. In fact, most bundles will actually throw in some extra games if you pay more than the average or more than a set amount, so you can get more if you give more. For more information on the Humble Bundle, including which games and/or other software is currently available, please visit the Humble Bundle website.

Photo credit: portalgda via Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC-SA

Give the Gift of Membership!

With Christmas now only a week and a half away, time is rapidly running out to finish up all of your shopping and wrap all of those gifts. In fact, if you have just looked at your list and realized that you forgot someone or that you still haven’t found gifts for some of the people that are hard to shop for, you may be starting to reach that point of panic. However, there’s no reason to fear the fact that Santa is coming to town because if you need some gifts quick, one of the easiest ways to grab some gifts (and help out a local non-profit at the same time) is to purchase a membership to a local public garden, museum, or zoo for your friend or family member.

Local public gardens, museums, and zoos typically offer annual memberships that will give your friend or family member a number of benefits including free or discounted admission, discounts on purchases in the gift shop or other similar locations, invitations to special members-only events, and a variety of other perks. In fact, many gardens, museums, and zoos actually have reciprocal agreements with other similar institutions so that if you have a membership for one garden, museum, or zoo, you may be able to use it to get free or discounted admission at another garden, museum, or zoo (although, it is important to note that only some institutions will accept memberships from other institutions, and there may be some additional conditions that apply in some cases.) Best of all, you don’t even need to leave your house to get one. All you need to know is your friend or family member’s address and the website of the organization you want to get them a membership from such as the Museum of Science or Zoo New England.

Photo via VisualHunt

Last-Second Christmas Gift Ideas

It seemed like a good time to take a break from some of the lengthier blog posts since today is Christmas. However, if you’re looking at the gifts under the tree and you just realized that you forgot to get something for one of the gamers on your Christmas list, fear not. It just so happens that the annual Steam Holiday Sale is going on right now, so if you don’t have a gift ready for the gamer you love (or, at least, like), all you have to do is fire up your computer and pick from one of the thousands of games that are currently on sale for up to 90% off on Steam.

And, if you forgot to get a gift for someone who isn’t a gamer, all hope is not lost. In fact, if you’re desperately looking for a last-second idea, you may want to try one of the suggestions from 2013’s or 2014’s post on last-minute shopping ideas:

Last-Minute Christmas Ideas from 2013

Last-Minute Christmas Ideas from 2014

Photo credit: blakespot via Foter.com / CC BY

Twas The Weekend Before Christmas 2014

Twas the weekend before Christmas, when you felt like a louse
Because you had forgotten to buy gifts for all in the house.
The gifts bags were empty, the wrapping paper was there,
But you desperately needed to find a gift with some flair.

As the kids stood watch with pans on their heads,
Using candy cane swords to strike their foes dead,
You sat quietly wondering “What the heck am I going to do?
Six shopping days till Christmas and I don’t have a clue.”

When, suddenly the cobwebs from your brain began to scatter,
And your fears of a giftless Christmas ultimately shatter.
“The internet’s the answer!” you think to yourself.
“It’s far better than any silly elf on a shelf!”

Then, the glow of that beautiful screen,
Suddenly seems a whole lot less serene
When the realization begins to set in
That there’s no way your items will reach you before Christmas is “Fin.”

You could always pay extra so they deliver it real quick,
But the amount of money involved would certainly make you sick.
And with only days left to find something in the mall,
It’s going to be tough to find your kids’ Christmas doll.

However, I’m here to say:
“Fear not on this wondrous winter day,
For if it is a last-minute gift that you need,
All you have to do is read here and take heed!”

1. Tickets

When I say tickets, I’m not talking about parking tickets or speeding tickets because while it would be great if you could give somebody you absolutely loathe all of your unpaid tickets and require them to pay them for you, the world just doesn’t work that way. Instead, what I’m actually talking about here is tickets to the theater or tickets to a sporting event. I mean when you stop and think about it, almost everyone has a band, a musical, a sport, or some other type of event that they absolutely love but don’t necessarily want to pay for. As a result, buying tickets to a show or a game that a friend or family member really wants to go to can be a great way to grab a last minute gift.

In fact, this type of gift is great for people that already have a lot of stuff because you’re buying something that they really want and something that doesn’t take up a lot space. Best of all, you can always print out the tickets at the very last minute and still have them under the tree for Christmas.

2. Coupons

Alright, I know you’re probably sitting there looking at the word, “coupons”, while slowly backing away from the guy who’s obviously lost his mind, but bear with me for just a second. I’m not suggesting that you should hand your beloved aunt or uncle the coupon booklet from [Insert Store Here] that you just got out of the mail. What I am suggesting is that you, like most people, have a very unique set of skills that may come in handy to other members of your family. For example, you may be good with a computer or good with a hammer while the rest of your family screams like somebody out of a horror movie every time someone mentions the word “mouse” or “batt” (for those of you who are not familiar with carpentry terminology, batt refers to a specific type of insulation.) This means that you may be able to offer your skills as a present if there is something that you can do to make someone else’s life easier.

In fact, you don’t necessarily have to have a unique skill. If there is a task that someone hates to do or a task that someone is simply too busy to do, you may be able to give that person a set of coupons that represents your promise to carry out some of the tasks that he or she finds time-consuming or bothersome. Best of all, some of the tasks that you offer could actually be fun (especially if you’re an adult and you use your imagination), and most of the time, they won’t cost you a thing.

3. Memberships

If you know someone that loves a particular museum, zoo, or another similar location, a membership to that location can be one of the best and easiest gifts that you will ever find. This is because memberships typically allow an individual to go to their favorite museum, zoo, gym, or other location for a substantially discounted price all year long. In fact, most of the museums and zoos that offer memberships will actually allow their members and, in some cases, their members’ friends and family, to enter the museum or zoo for free. This means that if you have a family member with young children that goes to the zoo several times a year in spite of the alarming amount of money it costs, you could buy them a membership that would allow them to go as many as times as they wanted for significantly less or, in some cases, without paying a dime (until the kids reach the gift shop and all bets are off.)

For more last minute Christmas ideas, see last years’ weekend before Christmas post.

Photo credit: asenat29 / DecorLove / CC BY

‘Tis the Season for Cookies and Crafts

Christmas Eve is only two weeks away, which means no matter which holiday you celebrate, time is running out fast. In fact, if you or your friends celebrate Chanukah, time has pretty much run out already as the celebration begins at sundown on Tuesday. This means that if you haven’t found gifts for everybody on your list yet, you may be looking for some not quite last minute, but pretty close to the end ideas. Fortunately, if this is indeed the case and you’re trying to cross a few more names off your holiday list, there are a couple of awesome events this weekend that are sure to help you find presents for all of the people and/or pets in your life.

First, if you’re searching for the perfect gift for the cookie-lover in your life, the Girl Scouts of America have you covered. This is because the Girl Scout Cookie Sale actually begins today, which means that if you know someone who just can’t live without their Thin Mints ®, Caramel Delights®, Peanut Butter Patties®, Lemonades™, Cranberry Citrus Crisps, or any of the multitude of other Girl Scout cookies out there, all you need to do is find a local Girl Scout troop. Now, finding a local troop can be easier said than done in some cases, but the Girl Scouts have actually already thought of that. In fact, if you’re having trouble finding a local troop, you may want to try out the Girl Scout Cookie Finder because this handy little website (or app) will allow you to put in your information and a local troop will find you. For more information on the Girl Scout Cookie sale, including all of the cookies that are available, please visit the Girl Scouts of America website.

Secondly, if your loved one is a fan of handcrafted gifts and you can’t make it to any of the craft fairs that I mentioned last week (which with the exception of CraftBoston are still running), there is another local fair that you may want to check out. The 11th Annual SoWa Holiday Market is scheduled to take place from 11:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. on Saturday (December 13, 2014) and 11:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. on Sunday (December 14, 2014) at the Benjamin Franklin Institute on Berkeley Street in Boston. This holiday fair will feature candy, cards, candles, ceramics, clothing, coffee, glassware, jewelry, and more. For more information on the SoWa Holiday Market, please visit the SoWa Holiday Market website.

Photo credit: JD Hancock / Foter / CC BY

Girl Scouts ®, Thin Mints ®, Caramel Delights®, Peanut Butter Patties®, Lemonades™, and all associated names and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of the Girl Scouts of the USA.

Twas The Weekend Before Christmas

Twas the weekend before Christmas, when all through the house
Every creature was stirring, even the mouse.
For nothing was wrapped and the tree was still bare,
In fact, half of the presents still aren’t there.

The children, with scissors in hand, are jumping on their beds,
While visions of a gift-less spouse or child dances in your head.
And everyone thinks you’re desperately seeking that elusive baseball cap,
But what you really want is just one more minute to nap.

When, all of the sudden, you get a look like the mad hatter,
And your spouse begins to wonder what’s the matter.
Away to the computer you fly like a flash,
Click away the screensaver and begin your shopping dash.

Then, the quiet click of your mouse,
Is interrupted as all through the house,
Your screams can be heard for everyone to know,
When you realize there’s no way for your presents to get through the snow!

You sit silently contemplating if there’s something you can click,
To make your gifts appear at your home really quick.
Unfortunately, with only days left to order,
There’s nothing you can do except make a run for the border.

However, I’m very happy to say,
That there is still hope on this winter day.
For if it is a last-minute gift you seek,
Here are some ideas to make your holiday less bleak!

1. Candy

There’s really no question that everyone from kids to adults loves candy, and candy, as a result, has become one of the staples of many holidays. Candy canes, chocolate, and peppermint bark are only a few examples of the sweets that are typically associated with Christmas. However, there’s nothing that says that you have to go with candy that is specifically related to Christmas, and you may find that putting together a basket or a box of some of your friend’s or loved one’s favorite candies can be a great way to come up with a last-minute gift.

2. Digital Goods

Almost everyone loves books, movies, music, and/or video games, but trying to make your way through the mall around Christmas time to get these gifts is never a simple task. However, there is an easier way to get these items, as all of these items have one thing in common. They can all be downloaded.

In fact, if you have a friend or family member with a Kindle, a phone or tablet with a reading app, or another similar device, you can actually buy books online and send the books that you buy right to their device using the e-mail that they have associated with that device. If, on the other hand, you have a friend or family member who is really into movies and/or music, all they need is a computer, a laptop, or a streaming device and you can buy any song, CD, or movie that you want and send it directly to them. And, if you have a friend of family member who is really into video games, all they need is a computer or a console for you to buy them a game and download it.

In the end, the only thing that you need to remember is that you will need your credit card and you will need to make sure that you buy something that will actually work with the device that your friend or family member has. It is also important to note that not every game and movie is available for immediate download, and if you are looking for something specific, you may not be able to find it in some cases.

3. Gift Cards

Alright, I know what you’re probably thinking. Anyone can give a gift card, and it really doesn’t require a lot of thought. In fact, you may be thinking that, even if you wanted to get someone a gift card, there is no way that you will be able to make your way through the crowds this weekend to pick one up.

Fortunately, gift cards don’t actually have to be boring, and they can be a lot easier to get than people think. This is because most grocery stores, pharmacies that belong to national chains, and other similar stores not only sell their own gift cards, but sell gift cards for other retailers as well. As a result, you may be able to go to your local grocery store or pharmacy and find a group of gift cards to all of your friend’s or loved one’s favorite places without going to every store under the sun. Best of all, if you choose a group of gift cards to places that you know your friend or loved one goes to all the time, it will prove that you actually put some thought into it and that you didn’t just pick up a gift card at random.

Photo credit: stuartpilbrow / Foter.com / CC BY-SA