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We are almost there! Instead of focusing on my last exams before break, what’s really been going through my head is the holiday deals and potential gifts I will be buying for my family and friends this holiday season. Gift giving has always held a special place in my heart. I feel that gifts are so personal and a great way of showing appreciation to your loved ones. The holidays are about spreading joy and doing things with the people you love, but it’s also about shopping. As a college girl on a budget, there are deals and ways to maximize your shopping. Here are my personal favorite gift ideas that are definitely on my list this year.
Sorority Merchandise
Sorority merchandise is great because it is very versatile. By no means do you need to drop hundreds of dollars on merchandise. You can get all different products such as hoodies, stickers, bags, and sweatpants. You can customize this to merchandise too. As someone who is a founding member of Tri Delta’s chapter at the University of Connecticut, I know this is a great gift to give and receive. You can also ask friends in your chapter for any old pieces that they would be willing to give away. Looking on any resale apps such as Depop and Poshmark are also great ways to look for sorority merchandise.
Some of my favorite websites to shop for sorority merchandise are University Tees and The Hang Loose Hut.
Heated Blanket/Weighted Blanket
This is my biggest hear me out but trust: it’s perfect on cold days. I have both a heated blanket and weighted blanket and it is for sure a game changer when it comes to Connecticut winters. As someone who is chronically cold 24/7, this is a must-have from the months of November to February. I’ve also noticed that heated/weighted blankets act as a great stress reliever. My body is able to relax quicker and fall asleep faster. You can get these blankets in any size ranging from twin to king size.
Hot Hair Brush
The key to getting those Victoria Secret blowouts is using a heated round brush. These thermal brushes come built in with a thermal barrel that heats up and allows for the most voluminous blowouts. They come in different colors and the barrels come in different sizes, but they essentially all do the same thing. It allows you to create volume, curls, flips, waves or a smooth blowout. This would be a great gift for a college girl because a heated brush simplifies the hair drying process and allows you to do your hair quickly when you’re on the go. These brushes typically come in small sizes too that are perfect to store away or keep in a small dorm area. Whether your hair is fine, medium, or thicker, the right barrel size and heat setting can work to give you a fabulous blowout. I use my thermal brush by putting my hair into three sections. Then I will start from the bottom layer and “brush” my hair in an outwards direction. I move to the next layer and repeat those steps until my hair is dry.
Sweat sets
Sweat sets are great and so easy to style that they make the most perfect gift to give to your loved ones. They are so easy to throw on for your 9 a.m. lecture. Paired with a slick-back pony and gold hoops, you will look quite stylish for the day. You can also mix and match the sets for more of a variety. Sweat sets are very versatile and you can wear them anywhere around campus such as to class, grabbing food, running errands, or as gym cover-ups. You also don’t have to break the bank for a sweat set. Some of my favorite sets I’ve seen online are from Hollister and Aeropostale.
All in all, besides gift giving, the holidays are a time of rest and relaxation where you surround yourself with the people that you love. These are my four favorite gifts that are on my own wish list or are good gift ideas for someone else. They are all versatile and perfect for mix and matching. These can even be ideas for a secret Santa or incorporated into a gift basket. These gifts are practical and meaningful and can be used all year round. Happy shopping!