Whether out of sheer forgetfulness or the unfortunate case of confused expectations, we’ve all done it at least once… Christmas rolls around and someone hands you a gift, and you have nothing to hand back to them.

It’s possibly the worst feeling of the season.

Don’t fret. Here’s how to save yourself when this inevitably happens.

Take Them Out To Dinner

Some people get a lot of material things around this season, so it’s actually a nice alternative to instead treat them to a night out, the added benefit being that you can decide this is your gift for them within the 20 seconds of sheer terror when you realize you forgot a gift.

Bonus points if you think of it the night before and make up a fancy graphic coupon that explains the gift more eloquently.

Arguably not the prettiest, but it only takes a few minutes and a bit of creativity to put together a nice “coupon” to deliver. Spruce it up further if you have any miniature gift card boxes to deliver it in.

Subscribe To A Back-Up Plan

Subscription boxes are great gifts, and since the first box if you purchase one in December, be it mid-December (appropriate time) or late December (you’ve-gone-and-done-it time), will arrive in January no one has to know that you ordered that monthly order of their favorites things a bit later than everyone else.

Depending on how bad you feel (and budget) Subscription boxes can be purchased as a one-off, single month deal or you can get them several months into the year. Arguably, this is a great gift too because it gives your presents outside of the one month of the year some people get all their gifts.

Get Strangely Thoughtful…

Sometimes we forget the people we love most… if that’s the case, consider turning to your own belongings for that last minute gift. Find a well-loved novel and inscribe a heartfelt message on the inner flap. Suddenly your forgetfulness turned into a really special gift they can treasure.

Lie Your Face Off

“I knew you would be getting gifts from family and other friends, so I wanted to wait and get you whatever everyone else missed! I hated the idea of you missing out on something from your wishlist!”

This is basically a verbal gift card, but it can come across as a really genuine idea. Take it a step further by making it a shopping outing you do together whether to the mall or to a handmade gift fair, then when they find something they love, you float the bill and they get a gift and some quality time with you.

Be Honest

Sometimes, the best thing to do is just be honest. Tell them, “I didn’t know we were exchanging gifts,” but then follow it up with an offer to do some activity or event out together as a gift instead.

No matter how you make up for it, the end result is going to be just fine because at the end of the day whether you made up a gift last minute or you’ve been saving it in the closet for months, it’s the fact that you cared enough to lie about it, I mean, to think about those you love.