As Thanksgiving comes to a close and Christmas approaches, the excitement in the air builds with anticipation of this joy-filled season. But as a college student, you may be experiencing the stress of wanting to buy gifts for loved ones but fearing the detrimental effects on your bank account. Here is your guide to all things Christmas and gift-giving without breaking the bank.Â
Think your gifts through
A huge key to success while shopping for Christmas gifts is to take time and think about what your loved ones will appreciate the most. When shopping, you want to pick a gift that will be thoughtful, exciting, and something the recipient will use. If you’re struggling to come up with ideas, make a note and write down all the favorite things you can think of for each person you are purchasing gifts for. By doing this, you can narrow down things that they will appreciate and use, and this will show them that you pay attention to the things that matter most to them.
Check thrift stores
One great way to find unique gifts for Christmas is to go thrifting. It may sound unusual or odd, but this is truly a great way to find gifts for loved ones that they will use for years to come. Stores like Plato’s Closet, Buffalo Exchange, Savers, and Goodwill are great options for finding trendy items. The items you discover while thrifting are one-of-a-kind and may take a labor of love to find, but the results pay off when you find perfect gifts for family and friends. If you’re not fully committed to the thrifting adventure, try discount stores like Marshalls, Home Goods, T-J-Maxx, and Ross, where you’ll find everything from clothing to accessories to beauty products and even home decor.Â
Use a theme
Another way to save money and find thoughtful gifts is to pick a theme and run with it. Maybe you choose a theme like self-care and purchase items like nail polish, a face mask, a bath bomb, skin care products, etc. Maybe the recipient of your gift loves books, so find a series they will like and buy them one or multiple books. Themes like these are so fun to shop for and help to take the stress off gift-giving, and they make for incredibly thoughtful gifts. When picking a fun, interactive thing, try to focus on multiple small items that make a great themed gift and don’t break the bank. You can also look for beauty gift sets, which are popular at Ulta, Sephora, and Target, and feature many popular, highly rated products like The Ordinary and Sol de Janeiro in mini sizes that cost between $15-$30.Â
Be thoughtful
Finally, it is important to remember that thoughtfulness will beat heavy spending on a gift every time. Some of the best gifts given and received are specific to the person, and something you would have to pay attention to know they would love. It is impossible to put a monetary value on thoughtfulness, so focus on simple ways to bless your loved ones, rather than attempting to wow them with expensive gifts. For this Christmas, lean into the joy of giving, even if it does not seem like much. Sometimes the smallest and simplest gifts leave the largest impact, which is why it’s important to remember that the heart behind a gift is much more important than the money spent on it.Â