Let’s be honest: broke college student culture is a real thing. Lots of us don’t have as much money as we’d like to spend on our loved ones. They deserve the world and more but, unfortunately, money doesn’t grow on trees. If you’ve been racking your brain for ways to make the numbers work and still be able to give them something they’ll love, here’s a list of wallet-friendly gifts.
1. A picture frame
A picture frame is thoughtful way to express your love for someone. Print out your favorite picture of you and your SO, pick out a frame that suits them, and voilà! Bonus points if you write a short but sweet note about the moment the picture was taken and stick it to the back for them to read and cherish.
2. A book
There’s no better gift than the gift of words, and there’s so many to choose from! It could be anything, from a poetry book that describes your love for them better than you can, to a captivating story that you wish to share with them. If you’re feeling cheesy, you could highlight your favorite parts, underline passages that remind you of them, and hide love notes among the pages for them to find as they read.
3. Candy
A classic, yet tasty, option. It’s always a great feeling when someone you care about remembers little details about you, like your favorite type of candy! If your partner lacks a sweet tooth, get them that snack that you know they’re obsessed with and often crave.
4. A mug
There’s plenty of adorable mugs out there for coffee, tea, or hot chocolate lovers. One can never have too many mugs! No matter what they drink from it, it’ll be a nice addition to their kitchen aesthetic, and they’ll be reminded of you every time they use it.
5. A pair of socks
I have never met someone who didn’t appreciate a pair (or several) of warm, fuzzy socks. There’s lots of designs for every existing personality: solid colors, patterns, pictures, phrases, characters, everything! As a cute gesture, you can even get matching socks for both of you.
If you still can’t afford these, get creative! You can never go wrong with homemade gifts. Write them a love letter by hand, make them a beaded or braided bracelet, prepare their favorite home cooked meal, or put together a playlist full of special songs dedicated to them. What matters most is that you make an effort to remind your partner how loved and special they are. Good luck!