There are just a few days left until Christmas and you may still have a few gifts left to buy on your list. And while you can turn to traditional staples like cash or a gift card, which are available at just about every grocery store — this year there are other ways to cross those last names off your list. Yes, you can still get a physical gift, one that shows a bit more thoughtfulness than cash or cards.

First of all, know you’re not alone in leaving some of your holiday shopping to the last minute. Over the past three years, searches for “overnight shipping” and “next-day shipping” have peaked on Dec. 22, and 1 in 3 holiday shoppers consider themselves procrastinators when it comes to holiday shopping, Google reported in a blog post based on its 2023 Google/Ipsos Holiday Shopping Survey of U.S. consumers. The search engine giant has updated its search features to make it easier for you to find last-minute gifts fast and know at the outset what you’ll be paying for expedited shipping.

Head over to Google and select “Shopping” in the top navigation bar. You’ll see a new filter called “Get it by Dec 24.” Type in an item or a broad category to see what’s available within that time frame. The results will include the merchant’s cheapest on-time delivery offering. You’ll also see any nearby stores that have the items you’re looking for in stock if you’d prefer to forego spending the extra money on express shipping.

With little time to spare, you may be more interested in tracking your package than usual, and Google has added a feature to make it easier to do that as well. When you order last-minute gifts, you might be keeping an extra close eye on their delivery dates. With its new Gmail package tracking, ​​you can see tracking information in your inbox without opening individual emails. Gmail will prominently display your current delivery status in your inbox list view and in a summary card at the top of individual emails. Updates include “Label created,” “Arriving tomorrow” or “Delivered today.” Google said it will bump an email with package tracking information to the top of your inbox if the delivery date changes.

For now, package tracking is available only on mobile devices. To activate it, you must have both “Smart features and personalization” and “Smart features and personalization in other Google products” turned on in your Gmail settings on your iPhone or Android phone. Once you’ve made sure these are on, open the Gmail app. iPhone users should then tap “Data privacy” and check the box next to “Package tracking,” while Android users will open “General” and do the same.

If you’d prefer to avoid the worry and cost of shipping and avoid last-minute shoppers, you can order from one of the delivery services. Let’s take a look at three popular services.

First up is Instacart, known for its grocery delivery service. The app is free to download and connects you with grocery stores, drug stores and a handful of retailers in your neighborhood. Take the time to scroll through the stores available in your area. Typically, there is a $35 minimum order, which doesn’t include tip or fees, so expect your total to be about 20% higher than the total of your items. However, some stores offer a quick shop option such as Smith’s Delivery Now that requires just a $10 minimum purchase and delivery is usually within 30 minutes. Delivery is free with an Instacart+ membership at $99 per year. Without it, delivery starts at $3.99 per order.

Shipt is another service and is the one that Target offers for home delivery at $9.99 per order or $99 for an annual membership with free delivery. Shipt also offers a monthly membership for $10.99, which may be cost-effective if you plan to only use the app during the holidays. Stores are few but may be just what you need.

DoorDash, known for its nearby restaurant food delivery, is another choice. You can easily gift food to any location by putting in the gift recipient’s address, which will let you search for restaurants near them. I send a delivery of donuts to my dad for his birthday each year from a tiny shop we used to go to when I lived in the Bay Area. A festive dessert or family favorite makes a great holiday gift. But DoorDash offers more than food. On the home screen, find “Retail” across the top of the app and see what’s available. Like with the other delivery services, you can order without a membership and pay a delivery fee, or you can subscribe to DashPass for $96 a year or $9.99 a month. Three orders a month is about what it takes to cover the cost of a pass.

Leslie Meredith has been writing about technology for more than a decade. As a mom of four, value, usefulness and online safety take priority. Have a question? Email Leslie at asklesliemeredith@gmail.com.

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