The Wirecutter Show — Gift Guide 2025: It's Not Too Late to Get Something Great!

Date: December 19, 2025
Hosts: Christine Cyr Clisset (A), Caira Blackwell (A), Producer Rosie Guerin
Guest: Samantha Shea (C), Senior Staff Writer on the Wirecutter Gifting Team

Episode Overview

This episode wraps up The Wirecutter Show’s special holiday gift series with essential advice for last-minute gift-givers. Senior staff writer Samantha Shea, an expert on gifting, shares practical tips, product ideas, and psychological hacks for navigating the stress and challenges of buying thoughtful presents under pressure. The discussion covers common mistakes, inventive solutions, and a variety of items and strategies to help listeners find great gifts, even when time is short.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Stress of Last-Minute Gifting

• Pitfall of Panic Buying

  • Many people overspend or buy unsuitable gifts in a rush to compensate for being late.
  • Quote:

    “People spend way more than they were planning on to get something quickly, sort of make up for the fact that they’re late. Kind of panic buying.”
    (Samantha, 03:22)

• Personal Anecdote

  • Sam recalls her father panic-buying a mini kitchen TV for her stepmother on Christmas Eve, which turned out disastrous—not just as a gift, but as a memorable example of why panic buying fails.
  • Quote:

    “It was just such an obvious panic buy. It was like, 'okay, I’m gonna spend a lot of money on something and that’ll make up for the fact that I have not thought about this.'”
    (Samantha, 03:45)

Truth About Budget and Timing

• Do You Need to Spend More?
  • Not always. There are clever, economical in-person options: fancy olive oil, chocolates, spices, or lottery tickets from grocery or drugstores.
  • The main cost increase is for expedited shipping if ordering online.
  • Quote:

    “I don’t think you necessarily have to spend more... We have a gift guide, for example, of stuff you can buy at the grocery store that’s talking like very last minute...”
    (Samantha, 04:18)

Presentation and Thoughtfulness

• Wrap it Up!

  • Even a last-minute gift feels meaningful with good presentation.
  • Gift bags, tissue, and a little effort go a long way.
  • Quote:

    “Nothing says I forgot you existed like a gift in a paper bag. Presentation means a lot.”
    (Samantha, 05:26)

• Show Care with Choice, Not Just Cost

  • Still put thought into what the recipient would enjoy. Wirecutter’s guides can help inspire ideas tailored to different interests.
  • Quote:

    “Just because you’re doing it last minute doesn’t mean that all the same rules don’t apply of thoughtful gifting.”
    (Samantha, 05:44)

Gift Options When Time Is Tight

• Subscription Services

  • Great for digital delivery; recipient receives a notification even if physical goods arrive later.
  • More personal than generic gift cards and can be tailored to interests (music, books, magazines, food, puzzles, pet supplies, beauty, etc.).
  • Libro.fm: Audiobook subscription supporting local bookstores, “so you could give someone from one to ten books for them to listen to.”
    (Samantha, 07:21)
  • Vinyl Subscription: “You put in your musical preferences and they'll pick out from one to three albums and send them to your recipient… They nailed me!”
    (Samantha, 07:38)

• Physical Store Recommendations

  • Try grocery stores, drugstores, big-box retailers, and local boutiques—many are open on Christmas Eve.
  • Bookstores and record stores also make excellent last-minute shopping locations.

• Online Shopping

  • Amazon and other retailers with expedited shipping are helpful, but order at least two days in advance to avoid disappointment.
  • Quote:

    “Amazon... has really saved a lot of procrastinators. Just make sure that it is something that is going to ship overnight... I would try and give yourself at least two days.”
    (Samantha, 09:29)

For Anyone and Everyone

• Universal Gifts
  • “Although there’s no such thing as an absolutely universal gift, there are gifts that will appeal to a very broad spectrum… like olive oil, candy, a candle, a bottle of champagne.”
    (Samantha, 10:56)
  • These fail-safes work in both professional or semi-anonymous gifting situations.

What Not to Do & When to Call It Quits

• Avoid Unnecessary Luxury and Panic Buys

  • Don’t default to an expensive, impersonal gift if you’ve run out of time; a heartfelt card or simple treat is preferable.
  • Quote:

    “It’s better to give somebody a heartfelt card or a box of chocolates than some expensive thing they don’t really want.”
    (Samantha, 08:56)

• Missed the Window?

  • “Once [the holiday] is over, it's over and you're gonna have to wait till next year.”
    (Samantha, 08:25)
  • If you’ll see someone shortly after the holiday, a gift may still be appropriate.

Specific Last-Minute Gift Recommendations

• Watercolor Paints
  • Kuretake Ganzi Tambi Watercolors: Creamy Japanese paints, $20, ships overnight from Amazon.
  • Glass Teapot
    • Hario Chacha Kiyoso Maru: Elegant and affordable, ships quickly from Amazon.
  • Glare-Up Slip-On Slippers
    • Popular with Wirecutter staff and readers, easily available.
  • Pocket Knife / De Elite Umbrella
    • Durable, high-quality, and quickly deliverable—umbrella is “like Fred Astaire”—expensive but long-lasting.
  • Quote:

    "It makes me feel like Fred Astaire. It will never break. It will last your whole life. It's expensive but it will ship overnight from Amazon..."
    (Samantha, 13:01)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Panic-Buying:

  “It was just such an obvious panic buy... That wasn’t why [the marriage didn’t last], but...”
  (Samantha, 03:45)

• On Scratch-Off Tickets:

  “I’ve given them to like nine year olds. They love it.”
  (Samantha, 05:04)
  (Playfully highlighting unorthodox but fun gifting)

• On the Universal Gift Dilemma:

  “Although there’s no such thing as an absolutely universal gift, there are some gifts that will appeal to a very broad spectrum of people.”
  (Samantha, 10:56)

• On Gift-Giving Deadlines:

  "Once the holiday’s over, it’s over and you’re gonna have to wait till next year."
  (Samantha, 08:25)

Advice Recap

• Start with Wirecutter’s guides: Thoughtful, well-vetted, and designed for every situation—even last-minute ones.
• Think: Grocery Stores & Subscriptions: Olive oil, chocolates, subscription boxes, and digital gifts.
• Don't Skimp on Wrapping: Gift bags and some tissue upgrade even the most rushed present.
• Avoid Expensive Placeholders: Simple but heartfelt is better than costly and impersonal.
• Allow Two Days for Online Orders: Don’t trust overnight promises during peak holiday crunch.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:22 – Panic buying and overcompensating with price
• 05:26 – Importance of presentation in last-minute gifts
• 06:33 – Subscription services as last-minute lifesavers
• 07:21 – Libro.fm and supporting indie bookstores
• 09:29 – Physical and online stores for true last-minute shopping
• 10:56 – Universal gifts for difficult-to-shop-for people
• 12:11 – Favorite specific last-minute gifts (paints, teapot, slippers, umbrella)
• 13:24 – No real gap between “great gifts” and “last-minute gifts” today

Closing

While time might be running short, inspired choices and a little care go further than panic purchases. With tips from Samantha Shea and Wirecutter’s thorough recommendations, last-minute giving can be as thoughtful—and joyful—as gifts planned months in advance.

Links to recommendations and guides mentioned are available in the show notes at nytimes.com/wirecutter.

Happy Holidays!