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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Iowa chapter.

It’s that time of year again when you will be constantly checking your bank account to seeing how much money you can spend on gifts for your friends this holiday season. It can be hard to find a good gift that is affordable and that your friends will actually like. Luckily for you, I’ve compiled a list of gifts and linked to the corresponding websites so that you are sure to buy gifts this year that will be universally liked by all of your friends. 

1. Socks

Everyone wears socks, but not everybody wears cute socks. Getting your friend a cute pair of quirky socks is the perfect gift because they are insanely affordable, and your friend will always think of you while sporting their favorite new pair of socks that were hand picked by you.

2. Mugs

Whether your friend is an avid coffee drinker or not, a cute mug is always a guaranteed solid choice for any friend. Picking out a mug that fits your friend’s personality the best and giving it to them can add to the excitement of the gift. Plus, there’s no shortage of designs of mugs, so you’re bound to find one that fits your friend best. 

3. Candles

Give the gift of the perfect holiday scent this season with your favorite seasonal candle! Depending on the size you chose to buy, candles can be relatively inexpensive. Plus, they last a long time, so your friend will be using their gift for months to come, and anytime they light it they’ll think of you (how cute!).

4. CD’s

Who doesn’t love jamming out to a good CD every once in a while? Giving your friend a CD for the holidays can mean a lot if you choose the right one to give. Pick out your favorite CD at the moment (Adele’s “25,” anyone?) or a CD that you two listen to all the time and give it to them wrapped in pretty packaging. They can thank you later for expanding their music library. 

5. Earrings and Necklaces

It’s hard to go wrong with a cute pair of earrings or a simple gold necklace from Forever 21. The jewelry at F21 is crazy cheap, and their style is always on trend. Regardless if your friend is big into fashion, a simple necklace can be worn by anybody, and cute studded earrings never go out of style. 

6. Stickers

If you haven’t heard of redbubble.com, then you need to stop reading this immediately and go visit their site. It has a library full of amazing stickers that your friend can use to spice up their laptop, iPad or anything they like. All of the stickers are inexpensive, and you can choose the ones that best suit their personality and give it to them! 

7. Write them a Letter

If you are on a tight budget this holiday season, writing your friend a personalized letter is always a cute gift to give them. Making the note really meaningful and telling them how lucky you are to have them in your life is sure to bring a smile to their face. It’s the kind of gift that money can’t buy. 

8. Bath Bombs

Give your friend the gift of relaxation by heading to Lush and picking out your favorite bath bomb and give it to them as their gift! Make sure to wrap the bath bomb up and tie a cute bow around it to make it extra special. 

9. Blanket

TJ Maxx and Kohl’s always have an abundance of cute and cozy blankets around the holiday season. You could even buy a movie and a bag of popcorn and give that to them as a bundled gift and say that it’s for your next girls night in! 

10. Posters

If you’re like me and your room is littered with posters, then this is the gift to give. Posters are an essential in any apartment or dorm room because we’re not allowed to paint the walls. Adding posters is the easiest way to personalize your room and make it your own. Check out Society6.com for really cool and unique posters and wall art that your friend is sure to love. 

Madeline is a sophomore at the University of Iowa majoring in Journalism and Mass Communication and pursuing a certificate in Critical Cultural Competence. When she's not spending countless hours studying you can find her at the local thrift store, texting her friends about her bad luck or at home dancing in the mirror to old Panic! at The Disco songs.
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