Streaming, classes or cash: Try these digital gift ideas for last-minute holiday shopping

It happens to the best of us. You don’t mean to wait till the last minute, but somehow, here we are. It’s almost Christmas – and more than midway through Hanukkah – and you haven’t gotten a gift for someone you care about. You even missed the mailing deadlines. Now what?

Believe it or not, digital gifts – those you can order, buy, and send without getting off the couch – are hotter than ever this year. They’re better for the planet, thanks to less packaging and shipping, and they can even feel more personal than another scented candle or store-bought box of cookies you pretend you baked yourself. (I can’t be the only one who has done that …)

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Here is a handful of go-to's for everyone you "almost" forgot. (You can thank us later!)

Niche video streaming services

The latest Consumer Technology Association (CTA) poll shows streaming services among the top tech gifts this year, with 75% of adults in the United States planning to purchase one this holiday season. The bigs are great here – Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, – but why not consider a more personalized pick, too?

• For a true film buff, the Criterion Channel is incredibly smart and super-thoughtful. It has more than 1,000 classic and contemporary films. It’s well-curated, with themes and staff picks too. True cinephiles will find everything from the greatest of all time (GOAT for the cool kids) films to knee-slapping old sitcoms they really can’t find anywhere else. ($11/ or $100/year)

• For anyone into sheer terror with a side of entertainment, streaming services like Shudder can fright and delight. As the homepage says, the titles are curated by humans, not algorithms and include genre classics, hidden gems and even exclusive shows you can’t find anywhere else – like Host, a horror flick shot entirely on Zoom. ($4.75/month or $57/year)

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There are several other fabulous choices, depending on your recipient's tastes. I’m a fan of CuriosityStream (documentaries), BritBox (British shows), ShoutFactoryTV (pop culture favs) FuboTV (live sports), and Crunchyroll (Anime). Pick just one, or a handful of favorites and let them know you really do pay attention to those movie lines they drop into everyday conversation, even when you have no clue what they’re talking about.

Streaming Everything Else

Streaming music services are all the rage as well, but following the same line of thinking here – you can always grab a Spotify or Apple Music subscription, or you can try something a little more customized. And speaking of hitting your gift-giving target, why stop at video or music when you can also stream audiobooks, podcasts, and even video games?

• Tidal HiFi Plus is to music lovers what the Criterion Channel is to film buffs. It’s like a playlist reimagined for the most discerning ears. It supports Dolby Atmos Music and 360 Reality Audio, and has more than 90 million tracks and music videos. ($20/month)

• For younger readers, Epic! offers audiobooks and a digital reading platform for kids ages 12 and under. It also features some 40,000 titles that include interactive videos, quizzes, tracking tools, badges, and rewards to encourage reading, as well as personalized recommendations. ($80/year)

• Libro.fm makes it even more local. This service supports local booksellers (you can pick a store) and splits the profit from your purchases. It even shows favorites from your area booksellers. There are 1,900 titles, and the list is updated hourly. (Starts at $30).

If that gamer guy or gal on your list already has a subscription to Playstation Plus Essentials ($60/year) or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate ($15/month), then look to some of the lesser-known platforms here too.

• Humble Bundle is an easy gift for gamers that also helps out a host of charity groups as well. The service offers limited-time collections of games, software, and more and lets you pay in tiers depending on how much you contribute. Humble Choice memberships run around $12/month and offer access to new mainstream and indie PC games every month, as well as a curated library.

• Steam PC game store gift cards are another off-the-beaten-path choice. It boasts a library of more than 50,000 games for people who play on PCs. These, too come in various sizes and dollar amounts, starting around $20.

Experience gifts

Gifts that I can share with friends and loved ones – cooking classes, weekend adventures, doing something I’ve never done before, even learning a new language – are by far my personal favorite kinds of presents. The choices here are more vast than ever before, too.

• Wilderness survival anyone? How about dog training or bread baking? For $180 a year, you can take an online course on anything, from just about anyone, via MasterClass. Right now, the site’s offering two memberships for the price of one.

• For students (of any age) learning to play an instrument (at any level), check out Lessonface. Your recipient can choose their own teacher, schedule private lessons or join a class based on their interests and goals. It even has nice gift certificates you can print out at home and present with a song and dance you make up on the spot, of course. (Starts at $25)

• For language lessons, I picked Rosetta Stone for my daughter, who already speaks French and now wants to add Spanish, and a few others. It teaches real-life scenarios you can actually use for travel, work or whatever setting you need to converse in. Its “TruAccent pronunciation engine” is cool new tech, too, instantly comparing your voice to native speakers, so you get real-time feedback for the most accurate pronunciation. The company has several specials as of the time I’m writing this, including $179 for lifetime access to all of the languages they teach, which are more than 25 at the last count!

How to give money as a gift

Cash is still the No. 1 go-to gift for many people out there, and peer-to-peer tech tools such as PayPal, Venmo, and others can help you get the job done with a touch more class (and security) than shoving a wad of grubby bills into an envelope and hoping for the best.

Just a few taps on an app, and you’re in the money – splitting party costs or chipping in on group gifts for teachers, kids, or a shared vacation with loved ones. You can even personalize this gift too with an array of digital wraps, including a new limited edition one featuring Mariah Carey herself, adding a little sparkle to those last-minute gifts!

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Whenever you send money online or through an app, though, choose a unique password and make sure to turn two-factor authentication on. Also, double-check the recipients' email or phone number before you push send. No matter what, never send money to someone you don’t know!

Some of your precious time

Finally, don’t write off something heartfelt and homemade. From a jar of your homemade pasta sauce to a few photos from your smartphone that you print out at your local drugstore and added to a frame, these can also become beloved last-minute gifts.

Another hit, year after year, is the gift of your time and full attention. 'Tis the season, after all, and if you’re like me, sitting around a good old-fashioned board game with the people you love most is often the best present you could ever hope for.

Happy Holidays!

Jennifer Jolly is an Emmy Award-winning consumer tech columnist. Email her at jj@techish.com. Follow her on Twitter: @JenniferJolly. The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Digital gift ideas for last-minute holiday shopping help