You’re a high schooler. You’re busy either scrambling for finals, playing sports, or even working part-time jobs. Most importantly, you probably don’t really have your sh…-I mean, stuff, together yet.

     So whether it’s your Great Aunt Glinda, your favorite cousin you only get to see on holidays, or a secret santa with friends, sometimes these things just slip your mind with Christmas right around the corner. We hear you and understand you, so here are some sure-fire last minute gift ideas.

Gag gift

     Starting off with a classic: the gag gift. If you know someone who loves to laugh then this one is an easy choice. The gag gift is pretty versatile, from the World’s Okayest Dad mug, to a t-shirt with your face on it. It can be nearly anything as long as it’s silly and a bit over the top.

     Some classics are the ugliest christmas sweater money can buy, my personal favorite: the joke mug, and small decorations with funny one liners like “Duct tape can’t fix stupid but it can muffle the sound.” These are some generic options but I personally believe that the best gag gifts are often a result of inside jokes.

     Thoughtfulness is one of the big things that makes a gift, if not the big thing, and remembering these little jokes is a sure way to bump up that score.

Coffee mug gift basket

     Next on the list is the coffee mug gift basket. You buy a mug, stuff it with goodies, put it in a bag, tie a bow and you’re done! It’s a pretty simple gift but it has a lot of flexibility. The obvious option is to stuff it full of holiday candies and the like but the greatest strength of this gift is how easy it is to personalize.

     In my case, my mom is a nurse so I know her hands get dry from constantly washing them. I’d probably put in some hand cream and a skin care set. Have a friend with a caffeine addiction? Put in some coffee beans and a cafe gift card. Do they draw or paint? New pencils and brushes. The possibilities are endless! Well, as long as it fits in a coffee mug.

Card game

     Last Minute Gift number three is the card game. If your friend is competitive, loves games, and/or you enjoy spending time together (I hope so if you’re getting them a Christmas gift) then the card game is a great option.

     A couple of my favorites are Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza, a quick and simple card slapping game, and Exploding Kittens which is better experienced than explained.

     Hot tip: make sure to play the game right after opening and make some good memories, either teaching them the game or learning it together. This gift is about having fun and spending time together with your friends. And absolutely crushing them before they get the hang of it.

Something homemade

    Our next item is a little vague but it’s usually a safe choice: Something homemade. Whether it’s a cookie recipe you learned last night, a craft you looked up on your phone, or those friendship bracelets you learned how to make a while ago but never got around to making on your own, making something yourself can definitely get you brownie points with most people. Bonus points if you actually made brownies.

     This option is also usually the cheapest for those of you in a pinch this holiday season. Most of these crafts and goodies can also be made in batches or very quickly if you want to knock multiple people off your Christmas list in one go.

     Not everyone knows how to make something but there are so many crafts that you can pick up quickly. Friendship bracelets are easy to make and you can pick someone’s favorite color’s for thoughtfulness points. You can make brownies or cookies or someone’s favorite sweet by following a recipe. You can even make someone that focaccia bread they’ve been asking for for months now (this is targeted at a specific person. You know who you are.).

Coupon Book

     This last one is for people who are really in a bind. I’m talking about a night-before-secret-santa and no money kind of bind. The Coupon Book. You remember the ones you made for your parents, “1 free chore I should’ve been doing anyway.”

     This one really only works for people you’re going to spend a lot of time around so it’s probably not the best gift for your Great Aunt Glinda who’s going back home to Virginia after Christmas. The coupon Book is a bit of a mix between the homemade and the gag gift in that it’s the thoughtfulness that counts and you can add a lot of inside jokes.

     Coupons can range from “I carry your bag” or “I buy you a meal” to “I let you set my lockscreen” and “unrestricted access to my search history for five minutes”. You can be as tame or as wild as you want but make sure you’re willing and able to actually do what you write down: Coupon Books live or die on committing to the bit.

And lastly, some gift-giving hot tips:

Tip 1: If your gift isn’t something that can be immediately enjoyed (like an air-fryer, perchance), get them a little sweet or goodie to enjoy immediately. Something like a Lindt chocolate or their favorite candy. That instant hit of dopamine will add just a touch more joy on Christmas or whenever they remember getting the gift.

Tip 2: If you really want to step up the personalization and meaningfulness of your gift, tack on a christmas card. Bring up meaningful memories, let them know their best qualities, and make them say, “aw thanks, that’s really thoughtful” before they shred that wrapping paper covering the air-fryer to oblivion.