Gift-giving on a college student budget

Before going home for winter break, many of us will find ourselves participating in a holiday gift exchange. Be it for a Secret Santa with coworkers or for a holiday dinner with friends, buying presents can often leave us feeling strapped for cash. To save you from this pre-holiday stress, I’ve compiled a list of five easy presents that will show your friends you care without breaking the bank.

Vanilla Coconut Body Scrub
For those friends who love to pamper, whip up a DIY body scrub. My personal favorite is a mixture of vanilla and coconut, which both smells delicious and leaves my skin feeling incredibly smooth. Simply combine half a cup of brown sugar with half a cup of coconut oil and 3/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Scoop the scrub into a mason jar and then attach a tag detailing the ingredients and directions for use.

DIY Mugs
These mugs are especially great if you don’t have the time to search for a unique present for each of your friends, but still want to personalize your gifts. They are easy to make, and the only necessary supplies are plain white mugs and ceramic paint. After picking these up, feel free to get creative and doodle something that would be meaningful to the person receiving the gift.

Quote Board
This is the perfect DIY for those of us who aren’t particularly artistic. Just pick up a few pieces of plywood from your local hardware store (8×11 is ideal), and coat them twice with chalkboard paint. After letting everything dry, write a quote in your best script handwriting. When gifting, be sure to wrap the board carefully so that the quote doesn’t rub off!

Socks
Although most of us probably groaned when we received socks as children from an overbearing aunt, slipping on a pair of cute, fuzzy socks in the morning might be the best part of having to get ready for an 8 a.m. class. The key to making this present memorable is picking out a pair with a pattern that your friend or coworker will appreciate. I suggest browsing through Amazon, where you can find designs ranging from dinosaurs to tomato print.

Manicure Kit
This gift is both incredibly easy to put together and to customize. Just grab a few mason jars and line the inside with cotton balls. Then add in nail polish in your friends’ favorite shades, and feel free to include a topcoat or glitter shade if you’d like. Also, pick up a pack of nail stickers, and divide it up so that there are a few stickers in each kit. Wrap each jar with a piece of ribbon, and your present is complete.

The holiday season doesn’t have to be stressful for you or for your wallet. With these simple gift ideas, giving really can be more fun than receiving.