Christmas shouldn’t be a stressful time of year but trying to buy gifts for everyone you care about while on a student budget is enough to give anyone a headache. Here are some tips to make Christmas a little bit easier.
- Plan ahead
Before you go shopping work out who you are buying for, how much you want to spend in total and how much you want to spend on each person. This will help you to avoid spending more money than you should. It’s also a good idea to write out the sort of things you want to buy so that you have an aim when you go shopping.
- Think small
If you don’t have much money to spend on someone, especially with lots of other people to buy for, then buy lots of little things rather than just buying one big thing. This will bulk up your gift and make it look like you spent more on them than you actually did.
- Buy from the heart
Even if you don’t spend a lot of money something sentimental that means something to you both, such as an inside joke, will be much more appreciated than an expensive gift with no meaning. The chances are that they understand that you don’t have much money to spend and appreciate the thought that you put into the gift instead. If you don’t know anything sentimental to buy, then buy something funny to make them laugh instead.
- Secret Santa
Buying for a big group of people can be incredibly expensive no matter how cheap you make the gifts. Instead suggest that you all take part in Secret Santa so that you can buy for one person rather than multiple people. The chances are that everyone else will be in the same situation as you are and can’t afford to buy everyone something.
- Make something
If you are a creative person then try making gifts rather than buying them. It will show that you have put a lot of thought into what to give them and it will seem really personal too.
- Avoid expensive shops
If you buy from more expensive shops, then you will end up getting less for your money. If you see something there that will make a good gift, then try shopping around to find a cheaper alternative elsewhere rather than buying from the first place that you find. Also shops such as Tiger are great for finding cool little items at a good price.
- Discount codes
As a student, you can get some great discounts. Before buying something check online to find out if there are any discount codes available. This could save you a little bit of money that you could use to buy something else.
- Make a hamper
You could make a hamper full of lots of little things that they could use throughout the year. Not only will it look cool for Christmas but whenever they use something from it throughout the year, they’ll think of you. A hamper can be personalised really easily and can range from foods and chocolate to pamper gifts like face masks.
- Go with the basics
If you are buying for your university friends then you could just buy them basic items. Let’s face it, you can’t really go wrong with a bottle of alcohol from Lidl and some chocolate. Even if it doesn’t have sentimental value, they are likely to enjoy it just as much. Well until the hangover kicks in the next morning anyway!
