Think outside the box

Still not done your Christmas shopping? Don’t waste your money panic-buying – a subscription box can make the perfect last-minute present, and there’s something to suit everyone,

Best for… bookworms

Love My Read (lovemyread.com) will send you a monthly book of your choice – and also treats including snack bars, a Terry’s chocolate orange, moisturisers and other surprises.

There’s also a children’s option, and for every 12-month membership purchased, Love My Read will donate a book to a school of your choice.

■ Cost: £18.99 for adults and £12.99 for children per month

Best for… gardeners

Lazy Flora takes the hassle out of visiting garden centres by delivering plants to your door. You can choose a house plant (with or without a pot) or ones for your garden. Each delivery has instructions on how to care for your new arrivals. You can choose the amount and frequency of deliveries, and the plants will change with the seasons.

■ Cost: from £24 per month

Best for… sweet lovers

Who doesn’t love a sweet treat landing on the doormat? Stirrd (areyoustirrd.co.uk) will send you a letterbox-sized package of three different flavoured fudges, traditionally made in copper pans and hand-stirred. Flavours include seasonal Mince Pie fudge, whisky and marmalade fudge and more traditional flavours such as sea salt and clotted cream.

■ Cost: £35.99 for a three-month supply

Best for… teens

There’s nothing like new socks to put you in a good mood, so two pairs through your letterbox every month from Put A Sock In It (putasockinit. com) are bound to make even the moodiest teen smile.

The socks are designed by contemporary artists to add a pop of colour to your wardrobe.

Each delivery also comes with cute stickers and a colour-in postcard.

■ Cost: £8.95 per month

Best for… stationery lovers

Letter and card writers will be thrilled with this monthly subscription from Papergang by Ohh Deer (papergang.com). Boxes vary each month. Expect items such as notebooks, postcards, to-do notepads, ink stamps, calendars, postcards and washi tape, all beautifully designed. And for every four boxes sold Ohh Deer plants a tree.

■ Cost from: £14 per month

Best for… coffee lovers

Beans Coffee Club (beanscoffeeclub.com) lets you choose how regularly you want your order and gives you a quick questionnaire to find which bean is right for you. They will send your beans whole or ground, and there’s an online account for you to record likes and dislikes. You will get an email when your beans have been roasted, then a day or two later they’ll come through your door.

■ Cost: from £7.99 per fortnight

Best for... kids

Budding chefs will not only love receiving their own post, but also taking control in the kitchen. And Little Cooks (littlecooksco.co.uk) has developed healthy versions of childhood treats including rocky road, gingerbread men and carrot cake.

Each monthly kit includes weighed dry ingredients and instructions as well as a food diary, additional recipes and an activities pack.

Every box bought pays for a healthy breakfast for a vulnerable school child through its partnership with charity Magic Breakfast, magicbreakfast.com

■ Cost: from £8.33 per month

Best for… foodies

Food fanatics will love receiving this Quarter Per Quarter box from Penbedw family-run farm (penbedwlamb.com).

It’s a sustainable way to get high quality meat straight from the butcher so you know your meat is local and fresh. Choose from a BBQ box, which is great for inside or outside grilling, a Sunday roast box and autumnal warmer box. Each of these boxes is filled with a quarter of a lamb.

We liked the flexibility of the autumnal box, which included a boned and rolled 1/2 leg, diced shoulder, chops and mince.

■ Cost: the annual subscription is £180 for four boxes