13 Last-Minute Gift Ideas

With only three days left till Christmas, ordering online probably isn't the best option any more.

So here are some suggestions for shoppers who are out of ideas, who hate crowded stores or who have hard-to-buy-for people on their lists.

The Wow Factor

If price isn't an issue, these are trendy gifts -- and one size fits all:

• The new Nook Color and the Kindle Fire are the hot gifts this year. They're kind of a poor man's iPad, featuring both a reader and a tablet for Internet browsing and email. They start around $200.

• A Keurig one-cup coffee maker, with an assortment of coffee, tea or hot chocolate.

• A subscription to Netflix for movies they can download (to their new Kindle or Nook!).

No Crowds, Please

Some local suggestions if you want to avoid shopping centers:

• Get your Strongsville Mustang a sweatshirt or novelty item from the in the . 

• How about a membership to the rec center? It's a gift that keeps on giving.

• A massage is a great gift. Search "massage" in Strongsville Patch's Directory of Places for a dozen local options.

• Cleveland Metroparks has the EarthWords Nature Shop and Golf Shop for items for nature lovers and golfers. A gift certificate for a couple rounds isn't a bad way to go, either. 

• Scratch-off lottery tickets. Not everyone thinks this is a great present because if you lose, you're left with no gift at all. But others might like the thrill.

They Don't Need Anything!

For older people and others who are difficult to buy for:

• The gift of food is always nice. Fill a holiday bag with treats like nuts, cookies and candy. Or if the person is health-conscious, soup mixes, trail mix and dried fruit.

• A gift card to a grocery store is often appreciated by seniors. Restaurant gift cards are nice, too.

• Here's something Dear Abby suggests for older people: A selection of greeting cards they can send out during the year for birthdays and other holidays. Throw in a couple books of forever stamps, too.

• A photo calendar of the family. You probably have a program for it on your computer. You can make one up in an evening; get it bound at an office supply store.

• Something for the pet of the house -- and a donation to a local animal shelter. Pick up some toys at a pet store, or at Berea Animal Rescue, and contribute some cash in the recipient's name.