What a wonderful invention the gift card is. Walk through almost any grocery store checkout stand, and you can pick up a few last minute presents. Or, even easier, buy a stack of them online.

We're not the only ones under their spell. Folks in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and California are frantically looking up "gift cards" just in time to turn around and give them away. From cards for restaurants, gas, charity, and movies to more branded ones for iTunes, Wal-Mart, Starbucks, and Red Lobster—if you've waited this long, it's the gift card that may save your bacon.

Take a gander at this week's top "gift card" searches…