So it’s down to the wire and you’ve still got shopping left to do. You want to give nice, thoughtful gifts but you’ve got no time. What do you do? Here are a few gift ideas for last-minute shoppers:

Gift certificates are a go-to classic, but sometimes feel impersonal. Some stores make them fun; Bull Moose offers traditional gift cards and a funkier option of gift certificates on blank CDs, given in a blank CD case.

If you’re not on a tight budget, you can also give someone several gift certificates that add up to a night on the town: one for a favorite clothing store, one for a favorite restaurant, and passes to a movie, bowling alley, or other activity-based venue.

Not only will the recipient get a practically free night out, but the gift will also help create memories (especially if the night out is made for two). Using multiple gift certificates helps to personalize the gift by tailoring it to the recipient. And now you can purchase gift cards for both retailers and restaurants at stores like Wal-Mart and Rite Aid, cutting down on your shopping time.

Baked goods are a safe gift as well. Why? Everyone loves food, and the holidays are a time when many take a vacation from dieting.

If you’re a good cook, whip up some treats from scratch; otherwise, hit up a local bakery or cafe and stock up on some tasty treats. Arrange them in festive packaging and hand out to recipients with a handwritten holiday card.

Voila! Tasty treats with a personal touch, and easily done in one night. (Just make sure you’re sensitive to friends and coworkers with allergies – try to have some peanut-free and gluten-free goods on hand if necessary.)

Get photographic. Find a favorite photo of you and the recipient and enlarge it to 5×7 or 8×10 (use black and white or sepia tones for a more artsy look) and frame it. Enlargements print out instantly at photo kiosks at stores like Wal-Mart, Rite Aid, and CVS, where you can also buy frames and cards.

Get tickets for concerts, sporting events, plays, etc. Sites like Ticketmaster let you print tickets immediately following your purchase. Choose the event, select the seats, pay with a credit card, and print the tickets. The whole process takes about 10 minutes, you’ll get immediate results, and the gift recipient will be super excited to get such a great gift.

IOUs work if you’re really in a jam and can’t get a gift, buy or make a card for the recipient. In it, let the recipients know you’re thinking of them at the holidays, and let them know you’d like to take them to dinner – your treat – once the holiday craziness dies down.

The most important thing is for the recipient to know you care about them and are thinking about them; your dinner offer will give them something to look forward to beyond the holidays.