We all face that terrible college epidemic of wanting to buy things despite our empty pockets (and wallets, and piggy banks, and bank accounts). But now Christmas is just around the corner, and you not only lack the funds to “treat yo self”, but the funds to treat your favorite people to some holiday cheer. For every student who wants to take part in the spirit of Christmas gift-giving but doesn’t have the cash to do so, Stetson Her Campus has the perfect DIY guide.
You want to give your closest friends something meaningful, and this is where that cliché “it comes from the heart” business starts to get real. Sure, your mom told you the painted popsicle stick box you gave her in kindergarten was special because you made it with your own hands, but we can do a bit better now that we can be trusted with a glue gun—most of us, that is. Make a low-cost present, perfectly personable for your BFF, by designing a unique hair bow! You can check out Pinterest for a plethora of examples, or even Etsy if you want to upscale your project. Let your imagination take over with anything from Disney block-coloring to a Wicked the Musical themed accessory.
Mom will always appreciate a little sentimentality, so spring for a photo album. Not only will she adore the effort and can’t-get-that-in-a-store value, but you can enjoy the laughter and nostalgia that comes along with sifting through old family photos.
If your dad is a Sunday football kind of guy, there are plenty of options available to tie in his favorite team with a handmade gift that doesn’t break the budget. You can design your own coasters by using the mod podge photo transfer method to print a team logo onto plain pieces of wood or paint an ornament with team colors!
You may not be an artsy fartsy girl, but it doesn’t take any sort of artistic ability to make a memory. For your significant other, give the gift of an experience, like an evening picnic with homemade hot chocolate to keep warm. This doesn’t have to be expensive, but the time you put into it will make past dates pale in comparison. Cook some favorite foods, find an old blanket, and drive to where you can best see the stars.
Baking some seasonal treats is always a great go-to this time of year, and the perfect way to cross off the many friends on your list. Get creative with it and think outside the box, whipping up a batch of homemade cream cheese mints or trail mix with festively-colored chocolate.
Don’t be a Scrooge! Big price tags don’t have to prevent you from spreading the love this Christmas.