Holiday Guide: Last Minute Shopping for Difficult Recipients

There are always those select few people who are particularly difficult to buy for around the holidays. Whether it's your moody teenager, your new significant other, or your Secret Santa recipient at work you don't really know that well, it gets overwhelming in the home stretch of holiday gift giving.

Before resorting to the good old use-it-anywhere gift card, check out some of our helpful tips on how to speedily select a gift while still being thoughtful.

1. Pick one detail and run with it.

Do they walk into work with coffee everyday? If so, get them a colorful thermos with a coffee shop gift card. Are they constantly listening to music? Grab some earphones and a new iPod cover. Do they make a point of reading the horoscopes everyday? The Huffington Post has a way of choosing gifts based on a given zodiac sign. Whatever theme you choose, you will likely be able to get all the pieces of the gift in the same store.

2. Use the internet to your advantage.

The more specific your search is, the easier it will be to sift through the options. Try taking a quiz, like on Gifts.com where you can narrow down the gender and hobbies of the recipient to find gift ideas. When using a search engine, rather than simply searching "secret santa gifts," try word combinations like, "secret santa, coworker, man, New York Jets fan." Keep shuffling your phrasing until you find something you think is useful.

3. Facebook them.

Another advantage of the internet is social media. If you're Facebook friends or follow each other on Twitter, sift through the gift-ee's profiles. You may find out they are a travel-bug or a gigantic Harry Potter nerd. Whatever it is, a social media profile is like an autobiography. You're bound to find something useful.

4. Create an experience.

Sure, you could spend your whole per-person budget on one hefty gift card... or you could create the experience the card would buy. For example, you could buy a gift certificate to a spa, or you could create a spa for the same amount of money. Buy an inexpensive manicure set, a pair of moisture gloves, a small jasmine scented candle and an eye mask, all available in the same aisle of the drugstore.

5. The last resort.

If you absolutely, positively hit a brick wall in your quest for a creative gift, you can go for the gift cards. However, to show you didn't just go to the pharmacy and pick up the card 15 minutes before the holiday party, put some thought into it. Use the spying you did from tip #1 and focus your gift card. Whether it is for iTunes, coffee places, or attaching the card to a box of their favorite candy, prove you did a little research.

Do you have any good ideas or methods for last minute or hard-to-buy gifts? Tell us in the comments below, on our Facebook page, or Tweet us @SyossetPatch.