The holidays are coming up, which means once again, we’ll need to make some expenses. This can be a difficult time for students who are on a tight budget but still need to get a little something for their family and friends. If the gift receivers have said that all they want for Christmas is ‘you’ then you’re set. However, life is not a Mariah Carey song. So to prevent us from singing the blues from financial woes, here are some money-saving tips in order to still spread the holiday cheer. An easy way to save some money around the holidays is to give out homemade presents. This means it’s time for you to get crafty and channel those inner creative skills that have been tucked away from having to do school work. Homemade gifts often end up meaning more to the person you give it to because you spent the time making it just for them.
Gift idea #1: Customized hot chocolate holder
This gift was given to me last year and I loved it. All you have to do is buy some hot chocolate powder and a mason jar to hold the powder, and decorate it. Simple things like putting a bow or ribbons on the jar add enough festivity to make the person appreciative of the gift. It lasts you for a decent amount of time and after they’re done they can rinse the mason jar and use it for something else.
Gift idea #2: Customized coffee mug
A customized coffee mug is another cute homemade gift that is extremely easy. Buy a plain white mug, get a sharpie, write or draw on whatever you want and then bake it in the oven for half an hour at 350°f so the marker won’t smudge. This gift is super inexpensive and your family or friend will have a one-of-a-kind mug made by you.
Gift idea #3: The survival kit
If arts and crafts aren’t your forte, don’t worry there’s another option. Take a trip to the drugstore and pick up a few things that you know they’ll need. Items like a razor, body wash, candy bars or magazines are appreciated since we are always in need of them. Don’t stop there, though. It’s all about presentation. You can pick up a small basket or bucket and some tissue paper from the dollar store. Throw it all together and you have a survival kit that’s practical and affordable. Since you put the effort in to the presentation it, won’t look last minute – even if it is.
