If you're a complete mess like me, then you haven't started your Christmas shopping yet. As I'm writing this, there are nine days until Christmas, and while I have a basic idea of what to get everyone, I still need to go out and buy everything. Given the fact that I'm also a struggling college student, I also don't have exorbitant funds to afford gifts for the people in my life. However, if you play it smart (and search for those online shopping deals), you can get the people in your life something sweet to show that you really care!
1. Make Something Yourself
This may seem like the easy way out for some people, but I guarantee the people in your life will appreciate something homemade and heartfelt, rather than just buying them something.
2. Offer to Buy (or Make) Them Dinner
I've learned the joys of this trick last Christmas, and people appreciate a nice meal out more than you'd think. They get to pick the restaurant and they get to order whatever they want, and you can cover the bill as their 'gift.' It's great because you can choose to have your dinner date when you have more money! This has the potential to backfire when that special person in your life decides to order the most expensive item on the menu, but hey, it's only once a year, right? If you wanna save extra money, cooking them a meal that they love is also a generous way to show your appreciation and affection.
3. Buy Them a Few Small Things
This is another great trick that I've learned. Buying someone a few small gifts makes it look like you've put in effort and spent a lot of money, where in reality, you've spent maybe $20 for everything. It's also more things for them to open, which is the fun of gift giving in the first place!
4. Offer to Do Something Together
Maybe it's just me, but I would take an experience over a wrapped gift any day of the week. Not giving someone a gift but offering to see a movie with them or going to a museum together is a great way to spend time with someone you love, on a budget. (P.S. if you live in the New York City area, you can pay what you want for both the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History, and the Museum of Modern Art is free on Friday nights from 4pm to 8pm!)
5. Buy Them Something That They Need
Does your friend need more socks? Is your mom complaining about how she needs a keychain? Is your boyfriend in desperate need of some more pens for the upcoming semester? Than getting them something that they need is a great gift idea, and it also shows that you listen to everything that they say.
