T’was the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring. Except for you. You forgot a Christmas gift, and you need to act fast. I know. Why the heck would you be reading this article if you weren’t looking for ideas?
I’ve anticipated your procrastinating ways, and prepared a list of gifts that you can truly give at the last second. Here, you will find some instant gift options. This list includes only gifts you can download, email, or print out. No muss. No fuss. And, no last-second trips to the convenience store down the street.
Without further ado, here are your choices.
Send a beloved movie, TV season, album, or app from iTunes or Amazon store
The gift feature on iTunes is not exactly new, but it can save you in a pinch. You pick a title, and a gift code is emailed to the forgotten person. This option is first, because it gives you the chance to send something personal. You can send your friends’ kids The Grinch that Stole Christmas or gift Easy A to your friend.
The gift feature on Amazon is similar to iTunes, but it does have a different library. If you want to send something that you cannot find on iTunes, or your target does not have an iTunes account, then this is a good choice.
In either case, you can email, or print the code to the recipient.
Prices for this option vary, from $.99 for a cute app, to $20 for select HD feature films.
A subscription to Pandora One
If your target loves music, but hates commercials, then a one-year subscription to Pandora One is the best gift ever! The subscription allows your target to make an unlimited number of custom radio stations, without the annoyance of being pitched every other song. Pandora One will set you back $36. All you have to do is go to this URL, log in (or create an account), buy the subscription and email it off. Alternativly, you can print it out and put it in a card.
The World of Warcraft: Cataclysm
If the person you have neglected is a fan of the MMORPG genre, then you may want to give them the newest update to the World of Warcraft game. Pulling this one off will require some finesse, and a co-conspirator who has access to the target’s Battle Net account. You can buy and enter the key code on their account. The next time the game loads, the update will auto-download. Just be sure to send an e-card so your target knows the gift is from you. This option will set you back $39.99, plus tax.
One note of caution, should you choose this option. The updates to World of Warcraft are cumulative. Unless your target is already running the Wrath of The Lich King expansion, it will not run on the computer.
A month (or more) of free TV – Hulu Plus
If your target person loves TV, or just does not watch shows when they air, then the gift of Hulu Plus could be a lot of fun for them. Hulu plus gives users access to new shows, and whole series runs of classic TV shows. It is also a great option for people who travel a lot, since they can watch it on any Web-enabled device. One month will set you back $7.99, and a whole year is $95.88. Any place on the Web that houses the complete series of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, is OK, by this reporter. Just be aware that there is not a print-out option here. You have to have the target’s email address.
An eBay gift certificate
When you are totally lost, this is your go-to item. Getting a gift certificate for eBay is giving them license to buy anything on the site, which is just about anything. They start at $5 and run up to $500. They can either be printed, or emailed.
A Netflix subscription
If your target is a fan of feature films, then giving them a subscription to Netflix is the ideal present. This one comes in a wide variety of options. The least expensive option will run you $7.99, and the most expensive will sent you back $119.88. You can either print out a gift-certificate, or email your target with the gift.
There you have it, we just saved your Christmas! We can’t help you, however, if target thinks of you as a last-minute-gift giver.
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