In many cultures, you shop for family, friends and what now. But what if your paycheck is small? Or, what if you just can't figure out what to get? You know what your friends like but what if they don't like what you gave them? Below are some tips that I have learned as a college student about shopping for the holidays.
Shopping for a group of friends? GIFT EXCHANGE!
This year, I saved a lot of money shopping for my friends. And I helped organize a gift exchange with some of my sorority sisters. Always suggest a gift exchange with a large group of friends. That way it is easy on all of you in terms of budgeting. But always, put a price limit. Those stores like Marshalls or TJ Maxx, GO TO THEM. You can find a lot of quirky or personal cute gifts for friends that are low on price. Or, stock up on stocking stuffers. Ulta always has 5 gifts for $10 that you can creatively put together.
This year, it was my first time organizing a gift exchange. I was able to do this at my sorority. Initially I wanted to do a Secret Santa with the whole house but you know, shit happens. So I decided to do a White Elephant. I opened it to all the girls at my sorority and 12 girls participated, which was perfect! We set up the price limit to $15 maximum. I got a Too Faced kit from Marshalls for $15 (with some change) and it was a gift that was going from one hand to another.
Get creative; host a Secret Santa or a White Elephant. The holiday's are about having fun with loved ones. Make it memorable.
How should you shop?
I learned this and I think this helped me a lot this year. For 9 months, I saved $15 out of a paycheck and I put it on a gift card from a store. From what I remember I bought gift cards from Cotton On, Morphe, Sephora, and Ulta. This helped me a lot when it came to shopping, because I didn't have this pressure to spend money on gifts entirely. This helped me a lot to I guess "save money" during that moment I was shopping for gifts.
How about those gifts for your best friends or family?
This was a TOUGH ONE! I have a really close friend who I consider family. And then I have my parents. And I learned my lesson to never spend so much money at once on a gift for my mom. Last year I bought my mom a gift from Dolce and Gabbana's fragrance collection, and this year I spent over $100 on shoes for her. And I get it, it's my mom. But also, she's extra. So, I learned that if I want to gift my mom something, to save money up throughout the year since she likes to ask for expensive things. My dad is simple, he wanted a lunch box from UCLA, and it was only $30.
My best friend who is family to me, is an instructor. And he wanted a book that was over a budget because a professor I had co-wrote the book. Although my best friend was insisting that he wanted to pay the book, I was facing a battle of my own. The professor at my school wanted to also gift my best friend the book but I wanted to give it to him too. In the end, I ended up splitting the gift with the professor and we both gave the book to my best friend, much to my best friend's dismay.
Bottom Line: SAVE MONEY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR!
Saving money throughout the year will cost you less around December. It will cost you less because you won't have to spend an entire paycheck all at once. Always go to the stores that have more deals in December or year-round so you can spend less and save more. For yourself, get your gift LAST. Be petty and spend on you. I say get your gift last because it may be something that you may want from one day to another and instead of regretting about buying a gift that you don't want anymore. In fact, you can spend on yourself without worrying about going over a budget. You may know what you want, and have the money for it.
