Last Minute Gift Ideas, That Aren't A Gift Card

Every year, without fail, I get countless gifts from coworkers, long distance relatives and aquaintances, of things I really just wish they wouldn't.

I don't need another pair of fuzzy socks to know you were thinking of me.

"It's the thought that counts" is what comes to mind. But why do we have to show people we care through a generic gift they don't need, and will be regifted, thrown in a closet or most likely thrown away?

If I've learned anything being quarantined in a 500 square foot apartment, it's - I have a lot of stuff. Random things that had a moment of satisfaction, now are just clutter.

What hapened to the Marie Kondo movement everyone jumped on at the beginning of lock down? Tossing anything that didn't spark joy, keeping what really mattered.

We need to carry this into the holidays as we rethink what brings us joy and if anyone else really need more stuff.

I know, it's last minute. But with our technology-based lives, you don't have to settle for a generic and thoughtless gift card. There a millions of options for personalized gifts that show you put a little effort without much work, time or money.

Here are three of my favorite.

1.Online Courses

Thanks to the internet you can learn anything you want. A lot of it for free. But sometimes the free courses lack structure and commitment. These are the best courses for structured and skill-based learning. Learn alongside the teachers with real-projects and assignment.

Coursera - Pricing varies. Coursrea offers certified training programs from top Universities and recognized certifications on completiton. College credit in the comfort your home, at your own pace. Learn or upskill in almost any degree. Chat in forums with other learners and work on assignments and projects to complete the course.

You can audit the classes for free but won't get the certification.

Udemy - Pricing varies. Similar structure to Coursera, with most programs offering certification on completion.

Udemy almost always has promotions going on where you can get classes at a fraction of the cost.

Skillshare - For $16/month you get thousands of skills based learning classes. You can learn anything here. From drawing, gardening to social media strategy and UX design. Hands-on, project based classes where you can learn programs like Photoshop and Illustrator by working on a project with the instructor and submit your design to be reviewed.

There's no certificate, but your knowledge will speak for itself. Also, I've found a lot of the offerings on Udemy avaiable on skillshare, of course without the certification.

2. Book Subscriptions

Let's face it, we all need to stop scrolling and start reading. When you've watched all of Netflix, it's probably time to pick up a good book.

Kindle Unlimited - For $10/month you get access to millions of ebooks from well known writers or public figures. Unlike traditional ebooks, you only pay the $10/month vs. the price of each book. You can access 10 books at a time and just exchange when you want a new one.

Audible Plus- For those who do not want to read, audible is a great option. I love it for when I'm driving or talking walks. But audiobooks can get very expensive. Audible Plus is similar to kinde unlimited where for $8/month you have access to a library of books, with no additional cost per book. The titles are more limited here and the book you're looking for may not be included but it's still a great option to explore.

3. Digital Photos and Photobooks

I miss the days of throw away cameras. As much as I love my iPhone camera's ability to caputure amazing photos and edit them on the spot, I never have printed photos anymore

Canva - This was the most fun gift idea for me this year. In a year that felt stolen of experiences, I wanted to make a highlight reel to remember that we had fun once and we will again.

With Canva, you sign up for a free account, then choose what you want to create. I chose a photobook, selected a template, and uploaded my photos from my computer and created a book of memories in an afternoon. Canva will create, print and bind your book and ship it to you for a great price, a 22 page photo book was $35.

You can create a digital version or choose from their other options like a calendar that you can access right away.

Framebridge - an extremely easy process, you choose the frame, upload photos from your phone or computer, view how your photos will look and adjust as necessary and they will print and frame your photos and ship them to you in a gift box.

Simple, easy and professionally framed photos for a good price. It won't come in time for the holidays but you'll have a proof of your masterpiece to share with your loved ones.

You're 2-day Prime won't work this year. Forget about shipping delays and stop worrying if you still haven't finished your holiday shopping. There are endless ways to give meaningful gifts that fill people's lives with value instead of just more stuff.