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"  It&amp;#039;s not very merry to suddenly realize you forgot to get a little something for your newspaper delivery person/babysitter/nice neighbor who lent you his lawnmower when yours was on the fritz. And it&amp;#039;s even worse to be empty-handed when someone who slipped your mind hands you a present. Keep these $20-or-less items at the ready (pre-wrapped but Post-It labeled so you know what&amp;#039;s inside) in case a gifting moment catches you by surprise. Gift Cards They&amp;#039;ll Actually Use Make your money go further by choosing gift cards for treats. Twenty bucks at an ice-cream parlor, a coffee or sandwich shop, bakery, smoothie shop, etc., might even cover more than one visit. Same goes for iTunes (as long as you know your recipient uses it). Another thought: Go \u00FCber-practical, with a gift card for a supermarket, drug store, or gas station \u2014 after all, every little bit helps. Plus, if you end up not giving them out, you won&amp;#039;t mind using them yourself. But skip: Clothing stores (not everyone likes the same ones, and an Andrew Jackson won&amp;#039;t buy much) and online-only retailers (you don&amp;#039;t want to stick your recipient with shipping charges). Also, while cash cards are great to receive, they&amp;#039;re probably not worth the purchase fee for the relatively low balance of $20. Homemade Goodies Bake up your fave treats, or try one of our 30 delectable cookie recipes. Wrap in festive plastic bags with ribbon ties and keep on hand for the next few days. Worst case, you can dole &amp;#039;em out to family come New Year&amp;#039;s Day. But skip (or at least be wary of): Anything with nuts or peanut butter \u2014 allergies are all too common. Practical but Pretty Some suggestions that most everyone will like: A cuddly fleece throw blanket or nice quality tea towels, gourmet teas or coffees (if they don&amp;#039;t drink &amp;#039;em, they&amp;#039;ll at least have &amp;#039;em on hand to offer guests), earbud headphones with a variety of rubber tips (to fit anyone&amp;#039;s ears), or maybe a clear travel toiletry bag and bottles that are TSA-compliant (OK, so it&amp;#039;s not gorgeous, but definitely better-looking than a disposible zip-top bag). Need more ideas? Look around your own home and consider what might brighten up your space or could stand to be upgraded \u2014 chances are, someone you know will feel the same way. But skip: Candles or bath products (some people are sensitive to scents) and picture frames (who prints out photos anymore?). What extra presents do you always keep on hand for giving in a pinch? "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/institute/a24345/emergency-gift-ideas/>