Cheap Last-Minute Christmas Gifts

Gift cards are the ultimate last-minute gift. Just zero in on a store or restaurant that the recipient likes, and your work is done:

• Businesses Offering a Gift Card Bonus

Jump online and order a magazine subscription for everyone left on your list. Magazines.com and amazon.com are great sources for discounted subscriptions.

Tip: Take advantage of the option to print off a free gift notification on magazines.com, and you'll have something to slip inside a card.

Put together a book of coupons with things that you're willing to do make the recipient's life easier (let's face it: we could all use a dose of easy this time of year):

• Printable Coupons

Think of something that you can make/do for the recipient on a once-a-month basis (bake cookies, mow the lawn, etc.). Then, make up a certificate announcing your gift.

Dig up a special photo of you and the recipient, and present it in a nice frame.

With the new year just around the corner, a calendar is the perfect last-minute gift. Pick one up at the store, or whip one up tonight while you're watching TV:

• 2012 Printable Calendars

Surprise someone with a pack of rechargeable batteries and a charger, so they can start using all those new gadgets right away.

Stay home, and make a batch of cookie dough to give. If you choose a variety that freezes well, the recipient will have the choice of baking cookies now or freezing the dough for later:

• Refrigerator Cookie Dough
• How to Freeze Cookie Dough

We're all ridiculously busy this time of year. So, if you give someone the gift of bread, you could be saving them a trip to the store. Think how popular that will make you:

• The 10 Best Breads for Gift Giving

Pull one of your home-canned goodies out of the pantry, and present it as a gift. Then, pat yourself on the back for doing all that canning last summer.