Perhaps you completely forgot about the Secret Santa gift exchange, or the estimated delivery date has been pushed back to 2026. Whatever your reasons, you need a last-minute gift and your options are limited. If you're reading this at a time when it's too late for online delivery and in-person stores are already closed, then all you have left is the glory of your local 24-hour pharmacy.
If you have access to a major chain like Walgreens or CVS, you may be in surprisingly good shape for this last-minute gift. All it takes is a little creativity to transform that gift from a “protein bar” to a “gym bro collection” or from “a little nail polish” to a “streamlined at-home spa day.”
Following this logic, I have carefully divided your gift options into three tiers. The first is for donors who are willing to panick and shell out a little extra cash to create something somewhat personalized. The second level involves purchasing individual items that are simply acceptable gift options. The third level is warning.
Level One: DIY Signature Collections
Like a chef turning baskets of mystery ingredients into a three-course meal. ChoppedThis gift category is dedicated to your innovation. In these DIY schemes, the sum is greater than the sum of its parts, which should all be available at most chain pharmacies. Here are some of our themed collection ideas, but you can customize them to suit your needs.
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Movie night: Popcorn. Unusual filling for popcorn. Candies. Hot chocolate. Fluffy socks. A small piece of paper with your Netflix login on it. You can't go wrong with a cozy theme for movie night.
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Pamper yourself: Consider spa supplies such as face masks, nail polish and bath bombs. Add a candle to create a relaxing atmosphere.
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Health and Wellness: Find gummy vitamins, supplements, protein powder and whatever else catches your eye in the fitness aisle. Be careful: this option can get expensive quickly.
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Jetsetter: Choose from a variety of travel essentials, including earplugs and maybe even a neck pillow (with a note on how to wear it correctly).
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Techie: Go to the electronics section and go crazy with all the gadgets available in your price range. Portable chargers and speakers are quality gifts in themselves.
Level two: the thought is important
These items are not required bad gifts, but many of them can easily be spotted as last-minute purchases. The success of second-level gifts in a pharmacy will depend on the charm of the giver and the coldness of the recipient.
What are your thoughts so far?
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Gift cards
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Candles
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Cosmetic bags
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Therapeutic massager
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Jewelry
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Isolated mugs
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Calendars or planners
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Laptops
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Coffee/tea packages
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Wine and corkscrew (depending on your state's liquor laws)
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Photo frames
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Electronics such as headphones or portable chargers.
Level three: “Gifts” that will do more harm than good
Hey buddy. All is lost, right? Personally, I recommend lying about an imaginary gift that didn't arrive on time. If you're not sure you can give a joke gift, proceed with caution if you decide to give someone anything from the list below.
Here it is. If you have access to a pharmacy, you can put together a last-minute gift with moderate success.
