Emergency presents you can order on-line

Presents for Him, Presents for Her and Presents for Anyone

Good things for men

Boy's toys

Categories such as "Boys Toys", "Batchelor Pad" and "Gadgets" will give you an idea of what’s on offer here. From casino dice at £5.95 to a powerboat at a mere £36,000 (!), you should find something to suit any man. The product reviews are well written and funny – we particularly liked the "Message Bag" which is a handy little device that can record noises or insults and play them back whenever someone walks past. Oh, the hours of fun … www.firebox.com

Silver stuff

A stylish collection of silverware for men and women. Cufflinks, photo frames, tableware etc. All classy gear, none of your rubbish here. Slightly random gift selector suggests suitable presents. Cufflinks from £60. www.linksoflondon.com

Wild days out

Vouchers for exciting experiences such as ballooning, yachting, the Orient Express etc etc. Lots of great activities are included in categories such as "Wet and Wild", "Air Adventures" and "Lazy Days". It’s not that cheap (most events are £100-£200) but there are some fantastic ideas for that one-off special gift. The vouchers are delivered with a personal message and last up to a year. It’s also possible to arrange group activities perfect for hen or stag weekends and to tailor them to suit your requirements. www.exhilaration.co.uk

Suits and ties

Formal work shirts, ties and cufflinks. Good selection, good quality, sensible prices (expect to pay about £45 for a shirt, £33 for a tie – but there are lots of special offers). You won’t go far wrong. www.josephturner.co.uk

CDs

A simple idea (cheap CDs) and a simple site. The choice includes the top 75 albums, all at considerably lower prices than you would pay in the high street. How low? Well, how does £8.99 sound? Worldwide delivery is free of charge. www.cdwow.com

Good presents for the ladies

Grundies

Excellent selection of upmarket grundies in a well thought out site. If you don't know what you're looking for, use their brilliant bras finder, briefs finder or legs finder. And if you’re a bit late, you can ask them to include a card from figleaves.com apologising for their late delivery, and promising they won't let it happen again! Prices vary, but lots of bras for under £25, lots of knickers for under £20. www.figleaves.com

Flowers

OK, it’s not original but flowers are great last minute pres, and this site makes it easy. Good quality bouquets from around £30. They also have a same-day last minute emergency service - most deliveries should be ok if you order before 2:00. They also offer a range of champagnes and wines, as well as a charming bear rather unfortunately named 'Bogie'. www.flowersdirect.co.uk

Chocs

Delicious Belgian chocolates. We recommend the Comedia selection from the Chocolate Gallery - 48 chocolates in 8 flavours (including coffee, tea, mint, orange) for £14.95. Neuhaus, please would you send us the rest of your range so we can recommend these too? www.neuhaus.co.uk

The Sanctuary

A tranquil haven in the heart of Covent Garden, it says (and it is). A variety of gift packages are available. For example, £40 buys one evening’s membership, allowing use of the atrium pool (and swing!), heat treatment, sauna and steam rooms, whirlpool, a visit to the "relaxation suite" and the opportunity to lie around like a great fat moose in the Koi Carp Lounge. Not bad at all - lots of other deals too. www.thesanctuary.co.uk

Perfume

This is great. All the big brands at discount prices, with an easy to use search engine for when you know what you are after. Plus, they do even bigger discounts on "testers" (products sold in plain boxes without caps) - ideal when buying for yourself or for popping into a pretty bag to make a cheeky cheapskate’s present. Nice. www.dutyfreeperfume.co.uk

Jewellery

When in doubt... jewellery is always a good option. The wonderful thing about buying jewellery is: it looks like you've made a big effort. And where buying presents for women is concerned, effort is everything. However, thanks to this pioneering website picking out the perfect pair of earrings is simple, you fill in a very basic form and they send you a list of suitable presents, then you pick your favourite and they'll wrap and despatch it for you. Genius. www.chezbec.com

Presents for anyone...

Unusual/Useful stuff

This site is jam-packed with gift ideas that are bound to suit even the most awkward-to-buy-for friends and relatives. From the funny (joke food seat savers) to the handy (insulated wine carriers) to the downright bizarre (digging Labrador garden ornament - our personal fave), take a quick browse and you'll soon be tempted by things that you never knew you needed. Useful categories such as "Difficult Dads", "Moody Adolescent Girls", "Stroppy Teenage Boys" and "Impossible In-laws" make it easier to find the perfect gift. www.thepresentfinder.co.uk

Kitsch

If you know someone who loves all things retro then you’ll definitely be able to find them a gift here. This site is all lava lamps, Barbies and superhero memorabilia at very affordable prices. We love the 1977 original Farah Fawcett Head on a pencil – at only £4.50 you’d be a fool to resist! www.kitsch.co.uk

Baby stuff

Gifts for babies without having to fight your way past all the pushchairs and proud grannies in Mothercare. There is a wide selection of good quality gifts on offer, prices are very reasonable and for a small fee they’ll gift-wrap and deliver them for you too. www.storkexpress.co.uk

Theatre tokens

Theatre tokens can be bought online, come beautifully presented and can be sent direct to the recipient with a personal handwritten message. The tokens are sold in units of £1, £5, £10,or £20, letting you spend as much or as little as you like. If you want to make them into a more substantial present, you can decide to have them delivered with restaurant vouchers, champagne, chocs, etc… www.theatretokens.com

Booze

A huge range of booze. Easy to navigate, and everything from a decent Aussie white for under a fiver to Krug Grand Cuvee at £77 a bottle. They also have a great selection of spirits. You can search via colour, country, continent, style or price. www.winecellar.co.uk

Lawyer stuff

This site quite simply has the largest collection of gifts for lawyers that we've ever seen. Or even imagined. Christmas cards, ties, t-shirts, mugs, teddy bears, desk toys ... the list goes on. From cartoons to cufflinks, if you want a gift with a legal theme this site won't fail to disappoint. RollOnFriday's personal favourite is the 10" Mr Fox QC handpuppet. They also have the widest choice of law prints on the planet. www.carbolicsmokeball.com

Classy furniture