Every smart collegiette™ knows that shopping on a college budget is tough. Finding a way to buy groceries, textbooks, and a cute Friday night outfit is difficult.
Money is especially tight around the holidays, but having a small budget doesn’t mean that you can’t find creative and fun gifts for your friends and loved ones.
The first thing you need to do is prioritize whom you will be buying gifts for and how much money you want to spend. You don’t need to go crazy and get everyone on your hallway a Starbucks gift card. Make a list of the people who are most important to you and also what you would like to buy for them. If you know that your hallmates will be doing a Secret Santa, go ahead and set aside ten dollars for your gift. Even if the people living around you aren’t doing a holiday gift exchange, it’s still nice to purchase a little bit of candy or make some brownies for everyone. This way, you can keep the cost of your gifts down, but still let everyone know how special they are to you.
It’s often easier to buy gifts in bulk too. There are some simple and inexpensive ways to make a nice gift for your girlfriends without going overboard. Go to your local Target or Walmart and purchase some cellophane wrap, mini lotions, soaps, and small inexpensive bottles of nail polish. After you buy them, you can easily separate the goodies into small sets according to everyone’s favorite color. For example, you can put together a perky yellow nail polish, lemon scented soap and lotion together in a cute little cellophane bag. While still economical, the gift is aesthetically appealing and shows the recipient that you put a lot of thought into what you are giving her.[pagebreak]
If you’re looking for a nice gift for the special person in your life, don’t feel bad if you can’t afford a super flashy gift for him or her. Sometimes the best gift for your significant other is something that can’t be purchased. Make coupons for your boyfriend or girlfriend that say things like, “good for three free back rubs” or, “rent a movie-your choice”.
You can even decorate the coupons with fun pens and glitter. Even though you didn’t buy a gift, it will show to your loved one that you really put a lot of thought into his or her gift. This is much more meaningful than going to a department store and spending a boatload of money on something you know your partner doesn’t need.
Just remember, especially around the holidays, it’s the thought that counts. As long as you put an effort into making or buying your gifts, they’ll be a hit. Letting someone know that you care is often the best present they receive. The holidays are fun, so don’t stress about gifts. Enjoy the time you have relaxing with your loved ones and stay within your budget!