Christmas is really cute and all but buying presents can be tough stuff. Looking around online the week before the big day is not the nicest position to be in, especially because sometimes, packages just don’t stick to their estimated arrival date. Luckily, we’ve put together this fantastic list of gift ideas to get you started on your gift-buying adventure with plenty of time left for delivery. More importantly, you’ll find yourself really looking forward to giving them! If you are one of those people who already had their to-buy list sussed in November, this list will make you realise what you didn’t even know you wanted!
Subscriptions
Say goodbye to bath sets and give your friend a present they can appreciate all year round. A gift that keeps on giving, the market has really clocked on to how nice a present a subscription is and the range of things to receive on regular delivery is widening, so you can add a personal touch. Subscription ideas include socks, beer, different themed cuisines, baking, chocolate, coffee, cinema membership, make up and stationery. Spotify and Netflix are good for improving a student’s quality of life, while other online content subscriptions that will take up no space in a student’s box room include online magazines. If they are a bit of a stretch for your bank account, group together with friends to pay for a month each for one friend.
Mugs
Mugs are affordable, can be really personal, and everyone needs them. I really like this collection from Lakeland- they are a good size and come with instructions for a recipe on the outside. This means recipe ideas without having to pay for (or find a place for) a recipe book, as well as a very small washing up pile at the end! To make it more personal, fill the mug with little gifts before wrapping it up- Christmas socks, their favourite sweets or a necklace are some nice starters.
If the person you are looking to buy for is a fan of Starbucks, they will appreciate the mug collection on sale at the moment. Even if they don’t, it is worth checking out for the Christmas selection because of the sturdiness of the mugs. I love a sturdy mug.
http://store.starbucks.co.uk/drinkware/cups-and-mugs,en_GB,sc.html
Home decoration
Bits of décor for your friend’s student house is a cute way to remind them of you, let them make their space their own, and give them a cuter environment while they are away from home. Candles, fairy lights and diffusers make a great addition to any room while cushions, bed throws and blankets will help to immerse your friend back into Durham in January when it unfairly but inevitably gets even colder. This throw is a cuddle in material form and will give its recipient a compliment every time they see it. What better than a gift that boosts self-confidence?
Photo frames are often simple but effective, especially if you fill them with pics from first term- uni memories stick with you for life, so it wouldn’t be a present that you get fed up of after a month. To make it more original, a personalised calendar combines thought with practicality, and so do these photo coasters. The slot for photos means if your friend thinks that they look ugly in one, it’s really easy to replace it with another. Also, protecting surfaces that you don’t own from tipsy accident-prone hands holding pre-drinks is very forward-thinking. You can thank me later.
http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/gift-home-office/photo-coasters-pack-of-4/10939359.html
Another gift idea that will sit nicely on a wall is a map of your hometown. They are so aesthetically pleasing and personal, this website has a map selection as detailed or as arty as you please on an international scale. They also come as big or small as you like, the choice is so great, I suggest you click on the link and … explore… your options. Getit?
http://www.mapsinternational.co.uk/city-prints.asp
Technology
The youths of today can’t live without technology, so why don’t they live with it… in style? Cases are a bit of personality and practicality- I don’t know if you can tell, these are my favourite things when it comes to gift-buying. This one on Etsy made me chuckle and is a great stocking-filler.
Likewise, a laptop cover will make yours stand out in a sea of white apple logos in lecture halls. There are lots of chic designs to choose from online, this one for example, is very smart. Silicone keyboard covers are also a god send and come in lots of styles- ask anyone whose water bottle has leaked in their bag, or got caught in the rain with their laptop. Our electronics are essential to day to day life, let’s treat them with care.
This projector and speaker set makes every sleepover ten times better, connecting to a smartphone to save you moving from the sofa to put on a film.
If your Instagram and snapchat vibe is on fleek, why not make it fleeker (sorry) with a lens for your phone. Your pictures will be cleaner and if you’re going travelling, snaps of the sights will look a lot smarter. You can play around to find out how to take the perfect picture without breaking the bank on a chunky camera to find out it’s not your thing. Something along these lines is a great way to get someone started on the road to success with photography: it is fun, accessible and portable.
Finally, speakers can make or break a house party or pre-drinking sesh, or if I’m totally honest, a long hot bath. You don’t know the listening quality for music you need until you replace your phone speakers with half decent Bluetooth speakers. It also gets the music loud enough that you can’t hear your housemate singing on top, which can bring relief in testing times. This set is funky and has lights too, so if you have a songstress in the house that you’d like to mute, check them out.