It's officially the holiday season, and that means you've probably begun to feel the pressures associated with finding the perfect gifts for your family and friends. If you're a college student like myself, you are feeling the added stress of finding the perfect gifts for the people you love on the budget you have. Here are a few ways to shop for the holidays without breaking the bank.
Make coupons your best friend.
Almost every store has coupons available to save money in store or online with your purchases, and I strongly encourage that you search for them. Something my mom has always said is to never walk into a store without a coupon in hand, it is definitely great advice (thanks Mom). You can find coupons in direct mail, newspapers and even on several websites (my favorite is coupons.blogspot.com). Downloading apps like Groupon are also great ways to save during the holidays. If you already know exactly what you are looking for, always look for coupons first, you never know how much you'll save!
DIY.
Okay time to bring out your creative side. Remember in elementary school when you would make crafts to bring home to your families at the holidays? Well, here's your chance to get in touch with your third grade self. DIY projects are a great way to give gifts on a budget. You can find great DIY holiday gift ideas that people other than your parents and grandparents would appreciate. Pinterest.com has several holiday gift ideas from DIY Peppermint Soap Bars to Mason Jar Cocktail Sets to Candles. This is an easy and fun way to give a great gift that's totally affordable.
Get personal.
A great idea for a gift on a really tight budget is to give something personal and from the heart. One way to do this is to print out a favorite photo or two of yourself and the person your gifting to, put it in a frame and call it a day. I know that this type of gift is one of my Dad's favorites (guaranteed to make him cry every time). Other personal gifts can be something as simple as a heartfelt card written by yourself paired with the person's favorite candy. This is an inexpensive way to show someone that you appreciate having them in your life.
Group gifts.
So you want to get someone a really nice gift but every idea you have is way out of your budget. To solve this problem, you can partner with a friend or family member and split the cost. My best friend and I do this all the time for our friends birthdays.
Host a grab bag or Secret Santa.
Have a large group of close friends? Is it hard to decide exactly who your "supposed" to be getting a gift for? A great solution to this is to agree not to exchange gifts and to participate in a grab bag or secret Santa gift exchange instead. This way, you won't have to feel the pressure of getting all of your friends an individual gift. Also, having a grab bag or secret Santa is a guarantee for a fun night and it's a great way to celebrate the holidays with your squad.
