Her Campus Logo Her Campus Logo

The Ultimate Friend Gift Guide: Ballin’ on a Budget Edition

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

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! There’s no denying it, there’s nothing better than the holidays! Even though you might be living it up with fun holiday activities, your bank account might not be feeling too ~holly jolly~. There are so many people to get gifts for this season and college student funds might not allow us to go all out for the ones we love. Don’t worry! There are still so many great gifts to give to special people and they won’t break the bank. They’ll definitely feel loved and appreciated, too!

 

1. A Mug and Hot Chocolate or Mug Cake

Anyone you give this gift to will definitely love it. Grab a cute, inexpensive, festive mug with a picture or saying on it and a pack of hot chocolate or mug cake. Add some holiday wrapping and a heart-warming note and you have one awesome gift for a low price!

 

2. Homemade Christmas Cookies (or any baked good!)

Debatably, this is the best gift on this list. Quite possibly the most inexpensive, this gift is definitely the yummiest! Whipping up a batch of your favorite Christmas cookies is fun to do and all you need to buy is the ingredients. Give a friend a fresh batch of cookies wrapped up in a festive, fun way. 10/10 would recommend this one!

 

3. A Tumbler

Let’s be real, it’s college and who isn’t bringing coffee with them to their class after a late night? Travel tumblers, like ones from Starbucks or Yeti, are extremely useful, pretty cute, and economical. It’s a great gift to give and get!

 

4. A Scarf or Hat

With the holiday season comes cold weather and in cold weather there’s nothing more practical than a cute scarf or hat. You can find some for a low price if you shop around a little bit. A warm blanket scarf in someone’s favorite color is an awesome gift!

 

5. A Whole Lot of Someone’s Favorite Candy

This might be a bit of a weird one, but you have to think outside of the box a little when you’re on a budget. So after a little research, I found out you can specially order a certain color, flavor, or type of candy on Amazon in different amounts. It’s personal enough and a friend would definitely get a kick out of it. So, maybe three pounds of pink Starbursts and a nice note is the perfect gift for someone in your life!

 

6. Beaded Bracelet/Choker

Weirdly enough, those bracelets and chokers made of the little, colorful, plastic beads are super in right now and they’re actually super cute. Buy a pack of beads, some string, and make a bracelet or choker for a friend with their favorite colors and a cute message. Their name, their sorority, or a simple “Go Tigs” would do the trick and they’re perfect for gameday or a fun outfit! You can’t go wrong with these.

 

7. A Cute Calendar

A calendar is absolutely a lifesaver in college. And, with 2018 coming up, everyone needs a new one! Find a calendar filled with pictures of your friend’s favorite things. Whether it be kittens, good-looking actors, or their favorite city, places like Barnes and Noble have a calendar for everything. You can’t go wrong with cute puppies every month!

 

8. Spa Set

A make-your-own spa set is honestly one of the best gifts to give and to receive. Go to CVS; grab a cute bag and a mix of items such as lotion, body wash, facemasks, perfume, bath bombs, scented soap and lip balm. Super simple, super inexpensive, and super fun to use!

 

9. Stuffed Animal or Fuzzy Blanket

Holidays are made for snuggling, and being comfy. An inexpensive fuzzy blanket can never be bad. It’ll definitely be put to good use and it’s super practical too. A stuffed version of a friend’s favorite animal is a great idea also. It’s a bit more personal and, as long as it’s cute, they’ll love it!

 

10. Good Ol’ Fashioned Gift Card

Ok, let’s be real here. It might feel impersonal to give, and you might feel like you’re taking the easy way out, but there’s seriously nothing better than getting a gift card. Get someone a gift card to a place you know they go a lot. A favorite restaurant, store, or Starbucks will always do the trick! Add a cute note and you’re golden. It’s a great, easy gift.

Jess Engel is a freshman at Clemson University. Originally from New York, she is excited to experience Clemson, South Carolina, and all that college has to offer. Jess has always loved writing, but HerCampus is the first place Jess is sharing her writing with others, and is the first place where it is being published! She is very excited to be a part of the amazing HerCampus team at Clemson University!
Caitlin Barkley is currently a senior at Clemson University pursuing a degree in both Biology and Psychology. In 2016-2017, she served as the Campus Correspondent and Editor-in-Chief for Her Campus Clemson after joining her freshman year. She is also an ambassador with the Calhoun Honors College, a teacher with Clemson Dancers, and a member of Tiger Strut Dance Company. Caitlin is a colonizing member of the South Carolina Beta Chapter of Pi Beta Phi, and she serves as the current Chapter President. A few of her favorite things include coffee, her Clemson ring, and fuzzy blankets! Follow her on Instagram @c_barkley19