Last Minute Christmas Gift Ideas: 9 Down-To-The-Wire Presents For Wine Lovers, Sophisticates, Do-Gooders And More

We’re in the home stretch, shoppers! Christmas is just around the corner and, if you’re like many of us, you’re probably struggling to cross those last few people off your holiday shopping list. “What could uncle Jim or aunt Susan possibly want for Christmas?” you might be asking.

If divine inspiration hasn’t hit you yet, it probably never will. That’s where we step in. Here are some last minute Christmas gift ideas to get you started.

Ion Lamp For The History Buff

Inspired by Thomas Edison’s original light bulb experiments, the Ion Lamp from School House Electric is made right here in the U.S. With a base made of porcelain, the Ion Lamp features an on/off toggle switch and a twisted cloth cord. It’s a great addition to any history buff’s home décor!

Ion Lamp from School House Electric and Supply Co., $95/each, schoolhouseelectric.com

Wine Sack For The Wino

Ditch the Prada or Coach this season and go for a purse with a more utilitarian design. The sleek and stylish wine sack from Uncommon Goods is the ultimate statement accessory this holiday season. It will keep her boxed wine fresh and the party even fresher.

Wine Sack, $69.95, uncommongoods.com

Cookie Cutter Candles (DIY) For The DIY Lover

Want to get your hands a little dirty? How about making her some custom cookie cutter candles out of honeycomb wax? This gift idea will require a bit of elbow grease and some creativity, but the finished product will be well-worth the effort.

DIY Cookie Cutter Candles, Price Based On Supplies, directions at spoonful.com

Magazine Subscription For The Sophisticate

Whether he’s a fashionisto, a sophisticate or a political junkie, there’s a magazine to fit his every whim. A one-year subscription can be a great gift idea for that hard-to-shop-for individual. Get him a paper subscription or, if he’s tech-savvy, why not go digital?

GQ, $12 (12 issues), gq.com; New Yorker, $90 (47 issues), newyorker.com; The Atlantic, 24.50 (10 issues), palmcoastd.com

Fandango Gift Card For The Movie Buff

Does he like to go to the movies? The next one -- or two or three -- are on you! Maybe even throw in some money in for a popcorn and soda. Voila!

Fandango Gift Card, starts at $15, fandango.com

Make A Donation In His Name For The Do-Gooder

A great last minute gift idea for someone with a social conscience is to make a donation in her name to a charity of her choice. Give her a card explaining that you’ll make a $25, $50 or $100 donation (whatever you choose) in their name to the organization they support, and then send her the confirmation!

Or, make the donation ahead of time and give her the confirmation along with the Christmas card. Heifer International, Kiva and charity:water are all good places to start.

Black & Decker 20-Volt Matrix Drill For The Handy-Man Or -Woman

Every home has its fair share of fixes now and then. If she likes to fix things herself, or just has a proclivity for DIY projects that require a lot of drilling, help her out by getting her a brand new drill!

Black And Decker Drill, $59, Walmart.com

Row Boat Salad Bowl With Wooden Utensils For The Dinner Party Host

Add a little flair to his dining room table with a rowboat salad bowl and wooden utensils. All aboard!

Row Boat Salad Bowl, $65, uncommongoods.com

Amazon Gift Card For The Picky Consumer

When all else fails, a gift card is the best way to go. Put the purchasing power in their hands, and let them make the hard decisions about what to get for the holidays.

Amazon Gift Card, $50 or more, amazon.com