Picture this, you’re just doing homework having a peaceful day. Then your phone rings “Baby” by Justin Bieber. You answer it quickly because you don’t want anyone to know your secret obsession with the tween pop star.

It’s your friend from physics class, and she is inviting you to her birthday party tomorrow. It is just a little family gathering that she could invite a few friends. You gladly comply and say goodbye. You get back to doing your homework when all the sudden a terrible thought creeps into your mind:

You don’t have the time or preparation to get this friend of yours a birthday gift. Well, here’s a few ideas.

Re-gifting is always an option. It doesn’t mean that you are a bad person if you give away those gifts grandma and grandpa got you that you didn’t like. Someone will get a good use out of it. Just look around your room and find things that are still unwrapped. These are usually little but nice presents. For example, a  bottle of lotion or perfume, mini make-up kits, movies you don’t like, college gear or sports gear.

Food is something humans have to have. You can buy a couple boxes of their favorite candy. Make some delicious cookies or cake. If you are bold, go to World Market to get some fun foreign foods, like the giant gummy bears or funky sodas.

Now last but not least, gift cards. GameStop is a good one to buy if your friend is a gamer, Starbucks if they are the late studier, AMC if they like to go to the movies, iTunes if they are that kid that blasts their headphones, Wal-Mart if they like seeing creepy people in the middle of the night. There are many that you can choose from, and it is easy to personalize.

So next time you hear Justin Bieber blaring his love for you, don’t miss the call because you are scared of a stressful gift escapade. You have been trained well.