We’ve reached that time of year again. The time where your brain is consumed by thoughts of essays and deadlines, leaving you wondering how can it possibly be the end of term already? Then the realisation hits. The end of term means it’s almost Christmas, which means you definitely should be further along with present buying than you are. So from years of frantic shopping trips and panicked experiences, here’s a handy gift guide for those last-minute presents for friends!
Budget Friendly Friend/Secret Santa Gifts:
Books
Not the most dynamic first suggestion, but a tried and tested classic that never goes wrong. The key thing to remember when buying books for a fellow student is it can often feel as though university takes the fun out of reading, so it’s important not to pick something too heavy going. A light-hearted, low-commitment book is the best way to go. If you’re not sure about which book to pick, have a look at different editions of their favourite book. Many publishers have now started producing beautiful versions of popular books at a wide variety of price points, so see if you can spruce up their bookshelf a little!
Home Decor
As we all know, student rooms can be a little on the drab side, which doesn’t make it feel much like a home away from home, so small gifts that can help make the space feel that bit more personal will always be appreciated. Posters are a perfect way to brighten a room and also give you the opportunity to show how well you know your friend by picking something that really reflects their interests or taste. While you may assume it’s on the pricier side, many places have a great range of inexpensive homeware pieces, including cushions, bedding, and even rugs – all things that will make a friend’s return to university after Christmas that bit more inviting. Houseplants (and decorative plant pots!) are also good contenders – just make sure someone can look after it over the holidays!
Hot Drinks
Coffee has been the saviour of many a student up late finishing an essay or up early the next day ready for a seminar and is a hugely underrated gift. While it might a daily staple, most people often stick to supermarket basics or cheaper brands, so consider treating friends to something they wouldn’t normally splash out on in their usual weekly shop. For the non-coffee drinkers, tea and hot chocolate are fantastic options, with a huge range of flavours to choose from (anything salted caramel flavoured is an automatic win). But if you want to give them the freedom of choice on the go, pick up a gift card to their favourite coffee shop to power them through trips to the library next term. You could even pop the card inside a new mug for added flair!
A Laptop/Phone Case
There’s always the person who’s a little too confident that they’re so careful with their technology that they’ll never need a case, but having been haunted by the story of the person who slipped in the snow, breaking their laptop and losing their dissertation in the process, I’d say it’s definitely a gift to think about. (It seems timely to add a bonus idea of a memory stick here…) With a huge range of colours, patterns, and sizes, cases are a safe and useful bet for anyone and even if they already have one, no one’s going to complain about some variety.
For Housemates:
Board games and card games are always a hit. They’re perfect for house/flat nights in or inviting other friends over for the evening. You can use them time and time again, making them a more sustainable choice rather than a token gift that might be thrown away or forgotten comparatively quickly. While there are great options, particularly for cards games, that suit lower budgets, this idea actually works much better, not as a surprise but as a whole house decision. Rather than buying individual presents for each other, club together the money you would have spent on a more expensive game as a gift to the house as a whole. While it takes away the element of surprise, you’ll thank yourselves for the rest of the year.
Don’t Buy Anything!
In keeping with the true meaning of Christmas, gifts, particularly as a student on a budget, are never necessary. Instead of struggling to think of gift ideas and aimlessly running around the shops on the last day of term before everyone heads home, plan a flat night in or house Christmas instead. You could order a takeaway or cook a Christmas dinner together if you’re feeling particularly ambitious. At the end of a busy first term, this really helps to take the pressure off of a time that shouldn’t be stressful at all. It allows you, as a house, to enjoy good food, good company and some festive cheer – Christmas films are compulsory, mulled wine is strongly recommended.