Christmas gift shopping is an event that has to be planned meticulously; otherwise, theres a chance that on Christmas eve you will find yourself scurrying from shop to shop, jostling with the crowd, buying the first thing you see without giving it any thought.

If you are in a last minute crunch, there are some safe gift options that will save the day-- not to mention face. A box of chocolates is always a safe bet, assuming the receiver has a fondness for chocolates. Similarly, an assortment of cookies is sure to please the guy or gal with a sweet tooth on your list. Colognes and perfumes are also a popular gift if youre having trouble deciding what someone might like. Just keep the scent subtle and buy whats in in the way of scents.

If you know the size of the person you are buying for, a blouse, shirt or sweater is always nice. Stick with basic colors, unless the person on your list has diverse tastes. Then, you might want to indulge them in bolder, more colorful attire. For the men on your list, ties, wallets, briefcases, mp3 players, and organizers are sure to please. For the ladies, jewelry, scarves, cosmetic kits, watches and gift certificates are popular gifts. Teens love receiving money or gift certificates so they can buy what they want, and children love toys and books.

Shopping for Christmas gifts is really an art, and given the time constraints we all seem to face and the number of family and friends that we have to buy for; making a list and a budget should make for a Merry Christmas for all.