Holiday Gift Guide: College Students on a Budget

Happy November!! As the weather is getting colder and the trees are getting barer, its becoming the most wonderful time of the year... WINTER, which means you (and I) have to start thinking about what we are going to get our loved ones for the holidays :)

I made a similar gift guide last year, and I thought, what better way to bring in the Holiday season than to run it back and give an updated list of Holiday gifts that any college student (on a budget) can afford!

1. Thrifted Books

   This is a fairly simple but super impactful gift. I got my friends all a thrifted book last year for Christmas; I made a list of my friends and picked books that I thought would match each of them or books that I thought each person would enjoy reading/benefit from. Then, left little notes and annotations inside the book that they would see while reading. Some annotations were little quotes or inside jokes. Some were compliments or just little doodles. My friends LOVED this gift, and I included some baked goods in (recycled) mason jars so they could have a snack while reading!

   
   

2. A Journal

   I know, I know... some people think journals are a waste of time. But let me tell you, when you receive a pretty journal (especially as a gift from a loved one) that matches your aesthetic, you feel motivated to write in it. Journals are not very expensive- if you know where to look. I would suggest going to your nearest second-hand bookshop, thrift store, or even antique shop for some unique journals. Alternatively, you could also make one! If you get some material at a (small, maybe family-run) fabric store ((check out Textile Discount Outlet!)), you can bind some paper and make your loved one a homemade journal that they will cherish.

   
   

3. Concert Tickets

   No, I don't mean the $600 Billie Eilish 300-level tickets that are on sale right now (I am thoroughly upset about the fact that they are so expensive :/ ). I mean, get some cheap $10-15 tickets to your nearest indie/shoegaze/emo rock/underground band show and enjoy the nice energy and insane vibe with your loved one. A lot of people enjoy an experience over a material thing, and you could make a day out of this experience! There are a lot of venues in the city, and I would suggest checking out your nearest record shop to see if they're putting on any shows soon. You never know; you could find your new favorite artist at a small show!

   
   

4. Playlist

   Some of the best gifts I've ever received have been heartfelt playlists. You can make your music list of songs that remind you of that person and simply send it to your loved one. You can Photoshop a nice cover and get creative with Canva or other sites! Make the playlist on Spotify or get old-school and burn it onto a CD (draw and handwrite a nice cover for the CD case). For a little extra love, handwrite a little note about why you included each track so the receiver understands :)

   
   

5. A Thrifted Jacket

   I just think: who wouldn't want a nice (maybe vintage) thrifted jacket? In this day and age, I feel like most people don't have much of a problem with thrifted/second-hand clothing and materials, and finding a nice jacket to fit the personality of your friend is a very nice and intimate thing to do. I would suggest starting now. Maybe check out the thrift bins; you would truly put your blood, sweat, and tears fighting for the perfect item. Wrap it up nicely in a cute box for extra points and to level up the gift!

6. Their Favorite CD/Vinyl

   Granted, not everyone has a CD or record player, but if you get your loved ones' favorite album from the record store, they will feel so heard. Lots of people collect CDs and vinyl, so it can be a great starter for their collection!