By now, last-minute holiday shopping chaos has surely ensued and the scramble for last-minute gifts is on. And speaking of last minute, this time of year makes it entirely acceptable for gift-bearing neighbors to show up at your door unannounced, and it’s never unusual to receive a short-notice party invite, right?
Right.
the predicament of not wanting to show up to a holiday shindig empty-handed, or not having a gift on hand when a friend unexpectedly rings the doorbell. Their musical ode to the perfect-for-any-last-minute-occasion gift, the candle, is all too familiar for anyone who’s ever been caught sans present.
So to save you from dusting off a useless item à la Kate McKinnon or searcę§hing for that Christmas gift from last year that remained unopened, Kait Hanson, creator of has some last-minute go-tos to spare you from the social suicideâĻ of being a non-gifter.
“There are always random things I keep on hand that can be gifted to a menagerie of different people. They’re all affordable and all can be found in what I deem my ‘prize closet,'” she says. Here are a few items that she recommends you might have on hand, or are easy to pick up during holiday errands week for those of us who are less prepared.
 1. Creative candyÂ
“My go-to for the hostess with the most-est or your co-worker that you only know through casual happy hours or your BFF is A bottle of wine is tired,” says Hanson of the instinct to reach for the booze. And for your rosÃĐ-loving friend,
2. Beverage containersÂ
Something everyone needs regardless of the weather, Hanson loves  as a functional gift that won’t collect dust once you hand it over. “They come in about a million sizes and colors, don’t sweat and are so practical,” she said.
3. Stationery
“Is letter writing a thing of the past? I hope not,” says Hanson, who turns to  on Etsy or  when it comes to gifting stationery. Want to skip the rush shipping cost?  and  are heaven for someone who appreciates a good card, anything for a DIY project and so many other gifts that are unique enough to not be considered totally random.
4. Don’t forget the pets
“If I’m invited over for dinner where I know there is a dog, I’ll gift the pooch instead.” Hanson says durable are a fave of her two dogs.
5. Cooking utensilsÂ
What Hanson refers to as her “best-kept secret,” she likes to gift the if she’s heading to a gathering where the host likes to cook. “If I’m gifting the spatula, I’ll often swing by and grab a fun oven mitt, stick the spatula in there and wrap a fun bow around it.”
6. Home decorations
If all else fails, “SNL'”s candle idea or other types of neutral decor will save you. Hey, it’s a go-to for a reason.