Last-minute gifts for procrastinating holiday shoppers

Key insights

• Shop local to get your gifts faster, and to support your community and local business owners!
• If you accidentally procrastinated your holiday shopping, think about purchasing a subscription or experience gift.
• Gift new and existing homeowners something special for their space.

With all the hustle and bustle of winter weather and activities, it’s possible that holiday gift planning has slipped through the cracks. If you’re in need of some quick gifts, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a list of holiday present ideas that are both thoughtful and easy to wrap up, even if you waited until the last minute.

What’s better than two-day shipping?

While giant online shopping sites can offer two-day shipping, you can get same-day peace of mind by shopping locally. By supporting local establishments, you’ll get your gifts instantly and help the small businesses in your community thrive.

Consider starting out at one of the larger holiday markets in the metro, each of which offer dozens of vendors, some on a rotating basis, right up until the end of December:

• Winter markets at Earl Giles Restaurant and Distillery in northeast Minneapolis
• Holiday markets at Keg & Case Market in St. Paul

Alternatively, make a day of heading into the Twin Cities, Duluth or Rochester to check out these top holiday shopping spots:

• The best gift shops in Minneapolis and St. Paul
• Holiday shopping in Duluth’s Canal Park
• Novelty shops in downtown Rochester

Order a subscription gift

No time to head out for a day of shopping? Subscriptions are perfect for last-minute shoppers hoping to offer a meaningful gift, while avoiding the hustle-and-bustle of holiday shopping. Most subscriptions can be purchased online, so all you’ll have to do is plug in your payment details and your gift will be complete. Just be sure to include the recipient’s address in the subscription details.

Many Minnesota-based businesses offer subscriptions. Here are a few local companies to shop for holiday subscriptions gifts:

• Coffee beans from Peace Coffee
• Mushroom CSA boxes from R&R Cultivation
• Artisan goods from You Betcha! Box
• Doggie snack boxes from BarkuterieBox
• Cheese of the month club from Wisconsin Cheese Mart

If you have extra time to prepare your gift, wrap something to represent the subscription so your loved one still has something to open this winter. For example, include a wrapped candle and artisan matches with a certificate for a Frostbeard Studio subscription.

Give a shared experience

Sometimes, the most memorable gifts are experiences everyone can share together. Plan a special event that you can give as a holiday gift, such as:

• An evening filled with games, food and drinks at PunchBowl Social or Can Can Wonderland
• A gift card for a dinner in the city (Owamni and Young Joni are award-winning options)
• An intuitive tattoo session in Brainerd
• Tickets to a show at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater
• A private session or class at Palm and Pine Yoga Studio in La Crosse
• Tickets to an exhibit at one of Minnesota’s art museums
• A day trip or overnight staycation in Minnesota

Last-minute gifts that homeowners love

There are plenty of gifts for new and first-time homeowners. Luckily, these gifts can be purchased on a budget – and with little to no planning. Here are gift ideas for the homeowners on your list:

• A gift card to a coffee shop in their new neighborhood
• A gift card to a hardware store nearby (in case they’re taking on DIY home projects)
• Indoor plants that are both sturdy and beautiful
• A kit of homeowner essentials, like green cleaning supplies, tools, pet toys and more
• A contribution to a prospective homeowner’s mortgage gift fund

Finding the perfect gift this winter

Don’t worry if you waited too long to fulfill your plans for holiday gift-giving. This list of ideas will help you find a present for everyone on your list, even if you’re shopping on a whim.

But, if you’re moving forward with a home purchase or sale this season, now is the time to get in touch with Edina Realty or your agent. A trusted home expert will help you stay on track for a successful home transaction, which is the ultimate gift you can give yourself.

Note: We did our best to look into the companies and gifts named here, but we cannot guarantee the products or services. Please read the fine print when ordering any gifts, to ensure they meet your needs and expectations.