Tell them you'll make something. A photo book, a calendar of your photographs, a table, anything. But make sure it's something that you would need some direction on so you don't look like a slacker who forgot.

The key is that you thought to make it for them, but you'll need some specifications.

waffles

If the problem is time, not money, then I might suggest a twist on Waffles' idea. I once gave my wife a pad of paper and a set of colored pencils and the business card of the city's top seamstress. She could sketch any dress design she wanted and I'd have it made. I might have just bought her clothes, but this was more fun and more memorable. It wasn't last minute, but it might have been. Likewise, give an opera CD with the promise of a night at the opera of your recipient's choice (or music that they like). Season passes or individual tickets to plays, musicals, operas, dance performances, and theatre performances can usually be had online and sometimes wouldn't ship until shortly before the performance anyway. In general, I like gifts of experiences rather than things, because memories last forever, they give the recipient something to look forward to, and there's no returns or regrets. It will never end up in the hall closet or attic.

Paul

I'm a fan of the cheesy yet endearing (if done correctly) "life coupons" wherein the person receiving the gift gets a "free back rub" or "breakfast in bed". Really easy to make.

settes

This was a combination of last-minute, an impossible to buy for brother in law, and 'OMG my niece and nephew have too many toys--I refuse to add to the clutter!'

So I bought them all a family membership to the children's museum. I'm at a distance, but I got someone local to print out the membership details and wrap it in a gift box. And the best part is that if they like it, I'll just renew it every year until the kids outgrow it.

TinaT

I actually ended up doing this, go out buy a lottery picture and then make a card saying. HERE IS A MILLION DOLLARS! Fast.. hopefully effective. (Yeah. I realize this isn't at home)

ipodrulz

Make a mix tape...ok I mean CD.

I made one for wife's birthday a year or so ago and she still has it in her car.

We did this for our neighbors this Christmas. They always bring over food and we usually bake, but for some reason this year we didn't. I made a Christmas CD and ripped it. Then I found some old green and red construction paper and made these ([www.ceoself.com]) to hold them. The kids decorated them and then handed them out.

CEOself

@Max: I just noticed this at our local Dominick's. It's so convenient!

Kyle Pott

Several of the local drug stores and grocery stores here in metro Boston have a large display of gift cards from major retailers: Best Buy, Home Depot, AMC movie theaters, iTunes, etc. Not the most original gift, I suppose, but it works great at the last minute.

Max

I have a friend who really enjoys cooking. I've put together a book of some of my favorite recipes. I've added some stories about where the recipe came from, how I've adapted it, etc. I printed the recipes out, slid each sheet into a sheet protector, stamped a cover (using my sister's rubber stamp sets) and "bound" the pages together using metal key rings. I think it turned out really well and I think he and his new bride will really enoy it.

gt0163c

I have a few tried-and-true bricks-and-mortar places.

First are independent mom-and-pop shops. The SF Bay Area has a fair selection of stores with unusual items: independent booksellers, art supply shops, weird little specialty stores, etc. Want to give a memorable gift? Don't buy some mass-produced commodity item at a big-box store.

Second are plant nurseries. We have quite a few good ones around here, and as the Cali climate is mild, there are fun items for garden-loving folks all year long. There are some specialty nurseries as well (orchids, carnivorous plants) in the SF Bay Area if you're looking for something extra special.

Third is the farmers' market. It's not just fresh fruit and veggies anymore. My town's farmers market doesn't allow craft vendors, but I know a few neighboring farmers' markets do. However, the vendors in my town's farmers' market include florists, potted plants, salami, cheeses, coffee, tea, honey, dried fruit, smoked salmon, etc. This is a great place to buy gifts for a foodie plus you're supporting local business. Heck, I can buy grass-fed, sustainably-ranched Porterhouse steaks for my carnivorous friends (or myself, for that matter).

Fourth: chocolatiers/candy shops. The SF Bay Area has some kick-ass chocolatiers (and I'm not talking Scharffen Berger -- they're mass-market now).

Fifth: wine shops. Buy champagne. The best bang for your buck is to buy a less-known label. There are superb champagnes at some of the local independent wine shops for $30-40/bottle, a fraction of Dom Perignon, Cristal, etc.

Deprong Mori

i've commented elsewhere on this, but definitely the best and most appreciated present i ever got my 5 and 7 yr old boys was last xmas when I downloaded 10 or so kid friendly freeware games, pre-installed them on the PC but 'hidden' until xmas morning. I have some graphics bkgrnd, so whipped up a pseudo-professional looking 'daddy-ware' brochure.

I don't know who had more fun, them or me, but we certainly got a lot of smilage out of not much cash!

TechTalk WRLR 98.3FM

I wrote a few articles on last minute gifts ([www.mahalo.com]) and making your own gifts ([www.mahalo.com]) for Mahalo. You can always do charitable gifts with sites like Kiva.org and Donors Choose, Netflix subscriptions, making CDs or comic books with programs like Comic Life or magazine subscriptions -- where you buy one copy of the magazine to give as the gift and send in the subscription card for later. You can even put together an approximation of a gift basket from 7-11 at midnight on Xmas Eve if you have to.

julialat34

There's always the old standby.

Always available, instant delivery via email, gets 'em damn near anything.

HeartBurnKid

Hey yeah, that's brilliant, TechTalk! I wish I would have thought of that. Download freeware or open source programs for adults too! I'll have to remember that one for birthdays. Most people are't tech like us to know the differnce either. And if they are they'll still appreciate it.

My thought was to just purchase a program they may not have, such as Advanced System Optimizer; and rather than give the disk, just give them the link and key.

Dr.Bohemian

Consider an online charity gift via www.justgive.org. If you know your giftee's giving interests, you can specify the cause. Otherwise, an electronic charity gift certificate allows the receiver to go online and choose from over one million charities. For more details on online giving, please see [www.giftgivingguy.com]

giftgivingguy