As November begins, for many, or perhaps most, the holiday season is still a month away. But if you’re like me, a Type-A, Christmas-obsessed gift-giver, then it’s time to start thinking and planning holiday gifts for loved ones this year.
Gift-giving can be difficult and stressful, especially when so much pressure is put on presents and the value of material goods by businesses and media during the holidays. I adore gift-giving and feel that monetary value really doesn’t correlate much with satisfaction and appreciation. I think the thought, time, and effort put into a gift mean much more to the receiver, and when people prioritize those things, the price of the gifts they give tends to drop.
Especially as college students already broke and living in an inflated economy, we want to make the people in our lives feel loved and special but don’t always have the funds to buy what we might wish to. So here is my detailed collection of sentimental gift ideas with affordability, ease, and thoughtfulness in mind:
Thrifted Items
Any second-hand item will almost automatically be more thoughtful and more affordable than its new alternative. The act of thrifting a gift for another person requires enough care and understanding of who they are to sift something one-of-a-kind out of an often unorganized abundance of choices. There will be more sentiment behind any thrifted gift, and there is essentially endless possibility of what can be found and given second-hand.
Clothes
Sweaters are easy to find, especially for a friend that likes boxy oversize 90s tops and graphic t-shirts can also be a similarly thriftable item. Some of the best gifts I’ve ever received were purses thrifted by friends, and I have also found statement shoes (like pink polka dot rain boots) that I have gifted to a friend with a similar shoe size.
Accessories like sunglasses, jewelry, and hats are all fun items that almost any thrift store will have and can be thrown into any gift bundle to add more excitement and fun without spending more than a couple of extra dollars.
Pottery:
Thrifted pottery is always a go-to for me, as the Goodwill kitchen and glassware aisles never fail me. A delicate vase, or a sweet little dish that draws my eye and reminds me of the style of someone I know. Another tip of mine is that the mugs at Goodwill are almost always cuter and cozier than anything I’ve seen at Target or Walmart.
Food!
Just because something is perishable doesn’t mean it’s not valuable. Especially regarding gifts between college-age friends, edible gifts can actually serve as an extremely meaningful gesture, displaying care and effort.
Bottle of Wine or Liquor:
Gifting someone else a bottle of wine is a totally chic and timeless gesture that should not be overlooked. If there is anything at all to celebrate, wine or champagne will always be fun to receive. This gift can also be dressed up with ribbons, glued-on sequins, or homemade labels to make the bottle more personalized and special without making it more expensive.
Baking from Scratch:
Baking can also be a wonderful gift for a friend. It is perfect for when you are on a budget but still want your friend to feel loved or celebrated. Offer to make them a birthday cake or surprise them with one! Any homemade baked good shows that you took time and care into what they may enjoy or like in a way a gift card or store-bought treat never could.
Christmas Cookies:
Making Christmas cookies will make a delicious, fun activity for you and your family or roommates and then you can spread the love from your household to someone else’s in a cheerful and inexpensive way. This is also just a kind gesture that doesn’t call for any need for reciprocation from whoever the receiver is. They can merely enjoy the treat, feeling loved and thought of without feeling the guilt or stress of needing to return the favor.
A bunch of tiny things
A difficult aspect of gift-giving can be the exceptions that come when certain price-point precedents are set. There’s always that awkward moment when someone gives you a gift more expensive than you expected and then you feel insecure about your own plans or financial capacity for gift-giving.
A simple solution I have developed to this predicament is simply compiling a collection of various little gifts to make one larger gesture that the receiver can’t really, or won’t be tempted to, mentally assign a monetary value to. This also displays more effort and thoughtfulness as you selected each of the items specifically for the person, knowing they’d like all of them.
Tiny Gift Collection Blueprint:
A good blueprint for this strategy is some sort of container, like a cute basket, mug, bowl, or tote filled with just a few things. Flowers add color; throwing in their favorite candy or treat makes them feel known; a little nail polish or lip product is always nice, and everyone loves candles and cute matches. This can go so many ways, and these ideas are just a starting point:)
DIY
My absolute favorite way to celebrate my loved ones is making them a homemade gift. While I understand the fear of your gift coming off as cheap or like a kindergarten craft, there are so many useful and well-done DIY gifts that will mean so much to the recipient.
Anything involving pictures of you and your loved ones is sure to be cherished. Decorate a picture frame with buttons or sequins, or make a tiny picture keychain out of felt. Use felt and needle and thread to make Christmas ornaments (star-shaped ones are cute and easy!) A painted recipe or jewelry box or even a simple scrapbook will also always get the job done. Let your Pinterest be your guide!