Last-Minute Holiday Gift Ideas with New Jersey Lottery Games
There are two types of people during the holiday season — those who purchase gifts for everyone on their list back in October, and those who wait until the last minute. If you’re more of a last-minute shopper (and there’s nothing wrong with that), you have to be a little more creative with what you give since some big-ticket items are likely sold out or won’t arrive in time.
Here are a few of my last-minute holiday gift ideas for everyone on your list.
Subscriptions
Subscriptions are a great gift that are a mix of tangible and experience. Technically, the recipient will receive a tangible gift eventually once the subscription begins, but at the time of giving, it’s more of a future experience. Examples of subscriptions you can gift include magazines, meal and food-based services, beauty products, toys, and more. You can truly cater the subscription to whoever you’re buying for.
To make the physical gift a little more appealing, print out the details of the subscription and put it in a nice festive frame. I’ve had this gifted to me for bridal and baby showers when the item hasn’t arrived yet (or is too large to bring to the event).
Handmade Treats
Maybe it’s because I love food, but some of the best gifts I receive each holiday season are handmade treats. A college roommate of mine always made me her infamous fudge every Christmas, a family friend just gifted me some of her homemade cranberry jelly, and my boss often gifts us some of her handmade soaps (ok — the last one isn’t edible, but it’s still handmade!) Everyone has that one something that they’re really good at making, whether it’s their Grandmother’s cookie recipe or the homemade bread they learned to make during the pandemic, and it can easily become a gift-giving tradition each year.
Scratch-Offs
Instead of just giving cash, holiday Scratch-Offs are a more festive and fun way to give the potential gift of money. The New Jersey Lottery has four new Holiday themed Scratch-Offs available for the Holiday season for anyone and everyone on your list over the age of 18. They’re available in $1, $2, $5 Happy Holidays, and $10 $1,00,000 Spectacular options.
Scratch-Offs offer the wonder of a wrapped gift, the entertainment of a game experience and the potential for a large cash payout! And while there’s no wrapping required — making them easy to give or send — you can spruce up the presentation in a nice holiday card, in a box with fun ornaments and ribbons, or a DIY bouquet. You can see how I’m packaging mine for the holidays in the photos below. (These tickets were provided to me by the New Jersey Lottery).
0You can purchase these Holiday Scratch-Offs at any local NJ Lottery retailer (like 7-Eleven, QuickCheck, or Wawa). I find that these make great gifts for teachers, mail carriers, Secret Santas, etc. If you’re feeling extra lucky, you can join the VIP Club and enter the Million Dollar Replay.
Disclaimer: You must be 18 or older to buy a lottery ticket. The New Jersey Lottery reminds players, it’s only a game…remember to play responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER®. For more information visit New Jersey Lottery.

