Posted by Randy A. Salas

Who wants to drive out in all of that snow to get a last-minute Christmas gift? The reliable Restaurant.com has dining gift certificates that you can print out immediately or send by e-mail. And they're 80 percent off. Just enter the code SANTA at checkout, and you'll get a $25 certificate for only $2 that's good on purchases of $35 or more (in most cases). The popular pick, M&S Grill, is out of stock, but there are many independently owned Twin Cities eateries to try out. I've always had no problem with Restaurant.com, but be careful about what you click on once you make your purchase, based on a colleague's recent experience.

Don't forget that many online retailers offer gift certifcates that can be printed immediately or emailed to the recipient, too. My favorite is Amazon. What's yours?