Call us Rudolph

Holiday shopping almost equals procrastination. People who have their shopping done a month in advance clearly have no lives and should be shunned. But there are procrastinators and then there are procrastinators. If you’re reading this article, you probably fall into the latter. We make no judgments here, but we are talking five shopping days until Christmas, people. Thankfully, L.A. is filled with tons of resources for last-minute gifts, some of which won’t require you to get out of your pajamas. And all of them can happen by the big day without too many hassles or crowds. Merry Christmas!

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Admittedly, everyone hopes for something personal when they receive a gift, but the upside of charity (besides the obvious benefit) is that you don’t have to worry about size or future regifting. Best of all, donations can be done online, with the gifts e-mailed or delivered directly to the recipient. OxfamAmerica (www.ox famamericaunwrapped.com; $18-$10,000) allows you to send gifts from goats to school supplies to water irrigation systems to people in more than 26 countries. Animal lovers can adopt one or a family of furry friends in someone’s name for less than $100 through the African Wildlife Foundation ( www.awf.org). Want to keep it local? The Los Angeles Zoo ( www.lazoo.org; $35-$1,000) offers an adoption program for all its animals -- a great gift for children. For the big spender with a bigger heart, become a Field Partner at Doctors Without Borders (www.doctorswithout borders.org) by donating monthly in someone’s name. The independent international medical organization delivers emergency aid to victims of war, epidemics, natural disasters, or little or no healthcare.

Sweet Charity

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Members Only

Another gift that’s a mouse click away: memberships to museums. The Museum of Contemporary Art memberships (moca.org; starts at $75) are coveted for their accompanying members-only opening parties and discounts at their rockin’ gift shop. If your intended is artsy-craftsy or has a jones for cops, try a year’s membership to the Craft and Folk Art Museum (www.ca fam.org; starts at $45) or the Los Angeles Police Museum (laphs.com; starts at $48); both include unlimited free admission, a newsletter subscription and gift store discounts. A Legoland membership (legoland.com; $89-$138) is the ultimate gift for kids and their parents; it comes with unlimited admission to the theme park, a year’s subscription to LEGO magazine, and the pass is printable on your desktop.

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One-Stop Shops

Scattered throughout the city, these small, well-edited boutiques possess enough random items to cater to just about anybody. For novelty and kitsch, Wacko in Hollywood (soapplant.com) is the place: One-of-a-kind art, children’s books, unusual T-shirts and pop-culture-inspired bobbleheads are just a sampling of the wide assortment of stuff for any budget. (Warning: The lines on Christmas Eve are long, so get there early.) For unique home accessories, both Zipper on W. Third Street (zippergifts.com) and Yolk in Silver Lake (yolk-la.com) have design-minded treasures, plus free gift-wrapping. For your quirkiest, trendiest mates and lovers, IGE on Beverly Blvd. in WeHo ([323] 939-2788, www .igedesign.com) is a one-stop bonanza with exquisite jewelry and offbeat home art for every price point, gift-wrapping included. For movie buffs, Jadis, a prop store in Santa Monica ([310] 396-3477), sells a large variety of sci-fi gear from films including “The X-Files” and “Ghostbusters” (the film is noted on an attached tag).

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Food for Thought

Short of fruitcake, everybody loves food, and gift baskets are especially suited to co-workers or people whose taste you’re unfamiliar with. Mel & Rose (melandrose.com) offers same-day local delivery, pickup or overnight shipping for its extensive selection of wine and spirits baskets (starting at $45). Gelson’s (gelsons.com) gift basket repertoire includes spa and skin care products along with fruit, snacks and chocolate (starts at $29.99; local delivery offered). If you prefer warm, fresh food, Blue Plate in Santa Monica ([310] 260-8877) can put together a basket filled with gourmet soups, sandwiches and salads for same-day pickup or delivery (starting at $50).

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Back to Basics

Not as glamorous as giving fine jewelry or the latest high-tech gadget, but practical services have their appeal. And you can easily pick them up while you run other errands. For the strapped commuter (is there any other kind?): a gas card ($5 and up) from Chevron or BP coupled with a Jiffy Lube gift card (jiffylube.com; $5-$300). For the stressed-out parent (is there any other kind?): certificates for haircuts and spa treatments. LeSpa at the Sofitel Hotel (sofitella.com; treatments start at $115) takes orders over the phone and will have the certificate wrapped and ready for curbside pickup. Sweet.

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D-I-Why Not?

No money and absolutely no time? Redeem yourself. Find a nice notecard, exercise your best handwriting, and draft a coupon to your loved one: volunteer x number of baby-sitting hours; offer to run someone’s errands or install a friend’s flat screen TV; give the time it will take to paint a bedroom or landscape a backyard. It may seem like a cop-out at gift-giving time, but the gratitude expressed once the service is completed is priceless.

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SERVICE ORIENTED

Take advantage of these holiday elves catering to last-minute shoppers.

TRACEY ROSS

Indicate your budget and an idea of items desired, and the shop will ship their picks via messenger or overnight shipping. Unwanted goods won’t be charged as long as they’re returned within three days of receipt.

8595 Sunset Blvd., L.A., (310) 854-1996; www.traceyross.com

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SEARS

As part of its “Ready in Five” program, orders placed on its website can be picked up the same day at the nearest Sears. Choose “Pick Up in Store” at checkout. Various locations; www.sears.com

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THE PENINSULA BEVERLY HILLS

Call to request a gift certificate for the hotel, restaurant or spa and it will be ready for pickup in the hotel driveway. For an extra $100, a hotel pageboy will deliver the gift in a Rolls Royce. 9882 S. Santa Monica Blvd.,

Beverly Hills,

(310) 975-3021; www.beverlyhills.peninsula.com

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RON ROBINSON AT FRED SEGAL

A personal shopper will put together a gift basket for any budget. Next-day delivery is available, as are same day pickup and messenger services. 8118 Melrose Ave.,

L.A. (323) 651-1800; www.ronrobinsoninc.com

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NORDSTROM

Virtual gift cards, redeemable both online and in stores, can be ordered on the website and e-mailed directly to the recipient.

Various locations; www.nordstrom.com

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THE MODERN CONCIERGE

When the going gets tough, the tough hire someone else to shop. Modern Concierge will brave deranged last-minute shoppers at the mall, IKEA and department stores right up to Christmas Eve. (323) 692-0802; www.themodernconcierge.com-- EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

Rule No. 1: Don’t ignore the obvious. The chains below might be filled with the predictable, but there are buried treasures.

RITE AID

Gifts you’d expect: 8-ounce Almond Roca tin. $3.99; Calgon body spray gift set, $16.99; Chia Pet, $14.99

The unexpected: Talking Hillary Clinton doll, $9.99; portable karaoke system, $49.99; Webcam for Dummies, $19.99

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SAM’S CLUB

Gifts you’d expect: 750-milliliter Patron Anejo, $45.48; 24-pack Red Bull, $32.84; “Grey’s Anatomy: Seriously Extended Season 3” DVD, $41.72

The unexpected: Vera Wang 5-piece place set, $99.84; 3-carat Asscher-cut diamond engagement ring, $44,900

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HOME DEPOT

Gifts you’d expect: Black & Decker 18-volt cordless drill, $79; Husky 99-piece black chrome socket set, $99.97

The unexpected: Disney table lamp, $49.99; denim overalls, $29

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7-ELEVEN

Gifts you’d expect: 10-pack Lotto Scratchers, $10; bottle of Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay, $9.99

The unexpected: Boost Mobile cellphone, $59.99