It’s the last weekend before Christmas, which has me thinking — I’m thinking that it’s almost time to round up a bunch of thoughtful gifts to give.

The best part is I don’t even have to put on pants.

I can recline here in my easy chair, tap a few keys, scroll through a few screens, and in four to six thoughtful minutes, all my shopping is done. And I didn’t have to elbow my way through crowds or wrestle any little old ladies for the last blue sweater.

Yes, back in uncivilized times, every Dec. 24 — or Dec. 23, if you were the conscientious sort — guys everywhere had to pull on pants, brush snow off the car, swerve through traffic, find an open parking space within 200 yards of the mall and hike your inside without going kaboom on slush and ice.

After that, things got frustrating. Once inside the store, you had to figure out what in the world would be considered a thoughtful, personal gift of the few things left on the shelves, all while dealing with the flying elbows and belligerent grannies.

It was awful.

Then some genius — I’m sure it was a guy, one who hated having to think — invented gift cards to take away all the stress of being thoughtful and personal. Close your eyes, fumble a handful of cards off the display rack and, after a wait in line of not much more than 45 minutes, you could weave your way home. Shopping done. No wrapping necessary.

Christmas morning, deal out the gift cards and let them put the thought into their personal gifts.

Just as the gift card inventor was about to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, plus a gift card to McDonald’s, a genius even less enthused about leaving a perfectly good easy chair invented online shopping.

Now guys don’t even have to put on pants to select thoughtful, personal gifts, which can be done in six minutes or less if you’re not terribly particular. Gift wrapping included.

Click a couple more buttons and your gift-wrapped thoughtfulness is delivered right to the recipient’s front door. The only time we need to leave the comfort of our La-Z-Boys is to fetch another bag of chips from the pantry. Or maybe we can have those delivered, too.

Of course, guys, if you expect hugs or kisses come Christmas morning rather than a shoulder colder than the snow outside — which is where you’ll be sitting soon — you’re going to have put actual thought into gifts. That means you’ll probably have to leave the house.

I recommend shopping local small businesses. Not far to drive, not as chaotic as malls and the merchandise more unique. Best of all for your health and well-being, small business people can clue you in on what’s “thoughtful.”

“Sir, I’m not saying that the color of that mop handle doesn’t match your kitchen. What I’m saying is that if you give her a mop, she’ll probably break it over your head.”

Years ago, my late wife and I came up with a perfect thoughtful gift plan. (She probably was the one who thought about it after the mop incident.)

She thought about what she wanted, bought it, wrapped it, signed my name on the “from” line, and put it under the tree. I did the same. She didn’t get a year’s supply of dish soap, I didn’t end up with a bunch of socks, and no one got hurt.

Shop thoughtfully — starting in about three days or so.

Ask for more thoughtful advice from Cole at burton.w.cole@gmail.com or on the Burton W. Cole website.