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

Christmas is just around the corner! Finally, it’s the most wonderful time of the year!!! That also means that it is the WORST time of the year for our bank accounts! Um… yay?

If you’re anything like me, you would give your own beating heart to your close friends and family. However, it’s hard to give amazing gifts when you’re shopping on a budget. Lucky for you, I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve on how to spend less on a gift that’s good enough to give to even the closest of friends. Here’s my list of good Christmas gift ideas for under $20.

A framed picture of you two – I’m convinced that this is one of the best gifts you can possibly give. Scroll through your photos on your phone and find a cute picture of you two. Bonus points if it’s from a super memorable night! Then, head over to your local Walmart or CVS to print out a physical copy of the picture. It only costs about 10 cents. Pop that sucker in a frame and voila! You have the perfect gift for your friend and it only costs you about $5 if you buy a cheap frame!
LUSH gift set – Every year, I run over to LUSH to buy one of their gift sets as a Christmas gift. The best thing about these gift sets? They’re already wrapped in adorable wrapping paper! Not to mention, anyone and everyone would be over the moon to receive anything from LUSH. Their products are the absolute best in the game. The gift sets come with an array of scents and products for you to choose from (bath bombs, lotions, body scrubs, soaps, etc.). Almost all of the two-piece gift sets are under $20.
A cute new planner – If you always joke about how one of your friends or family members never knows what’s going on, this is the perfect gift for them. With a new year on the horizon, a planner may be just what they need to whip them into shape! Amazon and Target have a ridiculous amount of adorable (and cheap) planners just waiting to be snatched.
A popular new book – I know what you’re thinking… a book? Yes, a book. Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like a book is something I never want to buy for myself. I always feel more inclined to read a book if another person lends me one and recommends it for me in particular. If you know of a book that your friend would love, don’t hold back on giving it to them as a gift! Honestly, it might be kind of flattering. It shows that you view them as an ~intellectual.~
An eyeshadow palette – We all know that makeup is expensive. However, I never realized how cheap some eyeshadow palettes can be until I bought one as a gift. Not only will they be grateful, they will also use it all the time! If there’s one thing I know, it’s that you can never go wrong with a neutral eyeshadow palette. This one from Morphe is only $18.