I love this time of year for many reasons. One of the biggest is shopping for Christmas gifts. I love spending hours scrolling through Etsy and Amazon in search of that perfect present. However, once I got to college I realized how much more difficult it would be to buy the gifts I wanted to give. Student loans and other costs have put quite the damper on my budget. I know I am not the only one in this predicament, so I decided to put together a short list to help ease the stress of Christmas shopping on a college budget.
1. Only buy for the most essential people on your list.
It may be tempting to spend money on everyone you know, but do not feel the need to buy for everyone you have in the past. After all, the season is not really about the gifts.
2. Shop those sales!
Remember, sales do not end after Cyber Monday. Many retailers have sales going all month long.
3. It is okay to spend less than you have in the past.
Your financial situation is probably completely different than it was before college, and the people in your life will understand that.
4. Handmade gifts are the best gifts.
The thought put into homemade gifts means way more than how much money you could have dropped on something from the store. Paint something. Write a song. If you are not artistically inclined, make a mix CD or playlist that reminds you of that person, or print some pictures and make a photo album. There are countless DIY gift ideas at the tip of your fingers with a quick Google search.
5. Do not stress.
This is the most wonderful time of year. Do not let gift-giving pressure get the best of you. Take a deep breath and enjoy your time with family and friends. That is what it is all about.