The winter holiday season is upon us -- and if you’re like me, you have no idea what you want. The entire year, you think of things you want; then, December comes and poof! What are earthly possessions? As I got older, I thought I found a loophole -- just ask for money! Except that never seems to work, for me personally. Apparently, gifts should be “personal” and “take effort” and I’ll be sad when I only have one envelope to open. I miss the good ol’ days when I could just point out every toy at the store, get a couple of them, and be satisfied. If you are like me and have come to terms with it all, have no fear -- I’ve brainstormed some ideas! It is by no means extensive, considering what I stated above. Here are some things that you either wouldn’t buy yourself without feeling guilty or things you are going to spend money on anyways but would rather not.
It starts with some stocking stuffer ideas:
- Toothbrushes (It might seem lame, but do you want to spend your money on this anyways? Get them for free now.)
- Hair bands and bobby pins
- Chapstick
- Nail polish
- Cheap headphones
- Gum
- Fuzzy socks
Now the big stuff. Remember, these things might not be exciting but we’re adults now, so it’s time to suck it up and be practical. You are either gonna spend the money on it anyway, so might as well get it for free, or, you would never sanely buy it for yourself, so why not get it now? Its like treat-yo-self, but someone else is doing it.
- Uber/Lyft gift cards
- Concert/play tickets
- Amusement park/zoo passes
- Sports game tickets
- Nail salon gift card
- Massage gift card
- On-campus food gift cards (Trader Joe's, Starbucks, Chipotle)
- Off-campus restaurant gift cards
Here are some classics, if you trust people enough to pick them out for you. Just remember: gift receipts are a thing.
- Makeup
- Dorm room decor
- Sports jerseys
- Books
- Pajamas
- Shoes
- Jewelry
Hopefully, this list will relieve some holiday-season stress. So when your mom starts badgering you while you are trying to study for your finals, feel free to shoot her this article. Happy studying.