There are many great aspects about the holidays, fuzz blankets, hot chocolate, gingerbread cookies, and of course, holiday music. Be it Mariah Carey or Michael Buble, hearing those soothing sounds are bound to warm the heart of any scrooge. Along with these however, comes the most dreaded part of the holidays, especially when you’re a college kid on a budget. Holiday shopping. This is the time of giving, so how could you let a year go by without letting those loved ones in your life know just how much of a wreck you’d be without them. While the season may go a lot of smoother if you’ve been living your life as a hermit with no friends, that may not be the case for everyone.
So behold, advice from your friendly neighborhood Odyssey writer on shopping as the person who always complains about being that broke college student.
For Your friends
Your friends are the ones it all worth it, the ones who will be there to pick you up time and time again after you’ve been knocked down by classes, money problems, or the vodka you had to forget about the first two. So naturally they deserve gifts, because you care, and you have to spend money to let them know you care, right? Wrong. True friends don’t want you spending money you don’t have on them. Try cheaper, homemade gifts for them; I know it’s cliche but those are the most special anyway. Even if you don’t get them any gifts, just a small little note about how much you appreciate them and their friendship would go a long way. Trust me.
For Your Family
Everyone wants to do all they can for their family. After all they raised you and put up with you during those awful Teenage angst years, but it’s my thought you shouldn’t give your family anything for the holidays. I feel your judgmental snares and disappointing looks, even through this computer screen, but hear me out. Holiday shopping always seems to occur during finals week (like some cruel joke the universe just had to play on us) so not only are you shopping with the little money you have, you’re also worried about finals. Take the time you would spend shopping and spend it studying for your classes. The best gift you can give your family right now would be a great GPA.
For Your Significant Other
This is definitely the biggest chunk of money spent during the holiday season. We all know relationships can be expensive, and some of us may feel obligated to get our significant others something nice, but if that’s not in the budget then no need to force it. Take him/ her on a nice picnic date (they cost virtually no money) and treat them to a walk around the neighborhood to look at the Christmas lights. As for gifts, homemade gifts like bracelets or necklaces always knock it out the park. The cheesiness may be real but they would appreciate the sentimental value behind the gift. If you find that you’re doing all you can and they’re still mad because they’re expecting an extravagant gift you can’t afford, then it’s so sad to say it might be time to cut them loose. It’s okay, that’s what you have your friends, family, and that vodka for.
All in all these are only a few of many ideas for holiday shopping on whatever budget you set out for yourself. But even after all of these savings don’t be surprised when you look in your wallet and see that..
After all, you are broke college student.
