The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UNH chapter.
We all know this is a stressful time of year, especially when you are a college student. You have the end of the semester flying straight at you with finals not far behind, and it’s hard to even keep up with the workload from all your classes, never mind think about Christmas gifts. You probably spent way too much money on Aroma Joe’s, Dunkin’s, and Wildkitty (don’t worry, we all did). Most students are extremely broke this time of year and burnt out. What do you get your friends from home and college for Christmas when you can barely afford a latte? I’ve been there, so here is my list of go-to Christmas gift ideas that are still super cute, thoughtful, and affordable!
- Candles! Candles are a great gift idea for a close friend! I love candles because they smell so good, they are aesthetic and soothing to look at. Candles are also great for releasing stress. Your room can smell like pretty flowers, a fruit medley, or holiday-themed, making you feel happier and more positive. Candles are fantastic tools for self-care and relaxation; they can be used while taking a bath, doing a chill night or even studying. Candles are an extremely thoughtful gift because, after a long semester, we all need to take some time for ourselves and relax. Two amazing places to find magnificent-smelling candles that fulfill your candle needs are Yankee Candle and Bath and Body Works! Yankee Candle is selling some of their small candles for $5 and Bath and Body Works is also participating in some deals with their semi-annual sale coming out soon!
- Fuzzy socks! Fuzzy socks are the best gift for Christmas. Putting on and wearing soft, cozy and warm socks is the best feeling in this world, especially at this time of year when it’s starting to get cold, and no matter how many blankets you put on, your feet are still freezing. Fuzzy socks are such a cute idea, who doesn’t love walking around with warm comfortable socks on? Plus you can find them anywhere! For example, at the mall, Walmart, and Target! Another benefit is that the price for them is about $5! Buying them is very convenient and affordable!
- Perfume and Lotion! Perfume and lotion are great ideas for Christmas gifts! Who doesn’t love smelling like rose petals or a night at dusk? I absolutely love perfume, I think I have about 12 different ones to choose from and yet I would always be happy with another one. Perfume makes you smell excellent and lotion makes your skin baby soft. Of course, you can get regular plain lotion with no scent, but personally, I live for smelling like vanilla or a floral blend. I think making yourself smell good and your skin soft can really boost your energy, mental state, and confidence. The lotion is definitely something that can be used for self-care as well. There is nothing better than lathering on some nice-smelling lotion after a fresh shave from the shower. I think any girl, especially one in college would be delighted with this gift. My personal favorite places just based on scents to find these products are Victoria’s Secret, PINK and Bath and Body Works. With some of the deals going on in those stores right now you can get them for more affordable prices, but they are on the higher end of costs within this list being around $9-$15 per item. You can also find them at places like Target, Kohl’s, and Walmart for cheaper, probably around $5-$7.
- Candy! Candy is always a good gift idea no matter what the holiday is. Who doesn’t love candy? Candy can fill you to the brim with happiness, especially around the holiday season and the dark cold nights happening so early into the day. Candy can be sweet, sour, or however, you are feeling. Plus, it is super delicious. Another benefit of getting candy for a friend is that it is so convenient since you can find candy anywhere. Some examples of where to find candy are Walmart, Target, Rite Aid on campus, Wildkitty, or even your local gas station!
- Squishmallows! Squishmallows are a girl’s best friend, forget the diamonds! This is one of the best Christmas gift ideas because Squishmallows are soft, cuddly, and great to use as a pillow, a backrest while doing homework or even just for decoration. Plus, they have so many cute objects, animals, and people! Who could say no to that face? They also all come with a name, which I think is adorable. My personal favorite is Maui the Pineapple, but that is only one example! They are great for when you are stressed or you really need to hug something tight. Personally, having a Squishmallow on my bed makes my nights better and my daytimes easier for studying. It is a great gift for a friend and there are so many options! Some places to get Squishmallows are Target, Walmart, Amazon, The Hallmark Store, or Five Below! The bigger ones cost about $20, whereas the smaller ones usually cost around $5!
- Face Masks, Body Scrubs, & Bath Salts! Any spa treatment supplies are always a great Christmas gift! These are great things for treating yourself to some relaxation and self-love. These can emphasize self-confidence and feeling good in your own skin! This is an important attribute to learn! Practicing self-care and doing spa nights gives you more motivation to start feeling more comfortable in your own skin and highlights the importance of it. Giving your friends this as a gift is very thoughtful and nice and definitely gives them more motivation to pursue healthy self-care habits! You can usually find these products at Walmart and Target for around $3-$5 each!
- Fluffy throw blanket! Soft throw blankets are one of the best things to get for the winter. It is so cold in the winter, especially in the dorms at night time. Plus, you can get fluffy blankets in so many different patterns and colors which can make your room look very cute and aesthetic, especially when you make your bed. On cold nights, fluffy blankets are nice to cuddle up to and keep you all nice and toasty. You can find affordable fluffy blankets at Walmart and Target for around $10!
- Frame with a picture of you guys! This is my best idea here because sentimental gifts are the best types of gifts. Your friends will cherish all the time, effort, and love you put into a sentimental gift that they will have forever and will probably one day show their grandchildren. Sentimental gifts like this one only have a few steps: 1) Buy a frame from Walmart for about $5-$10. 2) Print out your favorite picture of you guys for around $0.30 at CVS. 3) Put the picture in the frame and then you are all done! Sentimental gifts like this one show you care and I think that is the best part about it! Memories like those last for a lifetime.
Well, those are all my ideas for Christmas gifts. I hope that these help and take a load of stress off your back in these difficult last few weeks of the semester. We are almost there and you will get through it! Remember we will all be singing Christmas songs and decorating our trees very soon, we are in the home stretch! Love, Britaney.