Gift Ideas on a Budget

By: Alexandra Krasilovsky'27

As the holiday season approaches, gift-giving is on many people’s minds. Particularly for those of us in college, a strict budget is very necessary. I recently had to figure out how to create or find thoughtful gifts for my sorority’s clue week when I took on a little and spent a week leaving her clues and presents. After finishing clue week, I wanted to share some of my tips with other students who may be facing the same problem.

Creative Gifts:

Photo courtesy of Alexandra Krasilovsky

I made a Pinterest board with the colors, symbols, and phrases involved in my sorority, Alpha Chi Omega. I then used Canva to put together the images I wanted in the format I thought would be most suitable for a personalized poster. Finally, I went to the campus printing shop and got a nice poster-sized print for under $2. Many people in sororities make their little canvases for clue week, but I wanted to find a way to use some photos that I liked. I would absolutely recommend this as a gift to anyone who might appreciate some new wall decor!

Photo courtesy of Mediaphotos/iStockphoto/Getty Images

I used this idea for Christmas last year as a gift for my mom. Knitting is not that hard once you get the hang of the beginner stitches, and knitting in a rectangular or square pattern is by far the easiest to understand. Making the scarf cost me about two skeins of yarn and a pair of knitting needles. This gift is perfect if you like to work with your hands or have a loved one who lives in a colder area.

Photo courtesy of readingeggs.com

I used to make my own books for my siblings on each of their birthdays, usually reviewing some things they had done in the past year, creating their imaginary futures, and fulfilling all of their impossible wishes (like owning a pet dragon). While this is by no means the prettiest or most impressive-looking gift, it’s a sweet gesture and shows that you know someone very well. It also costs pretty much nothing; some paper and markers are all you need.

Gifts with Good Sales:

Photo courtesy of Bath & Body Works

I make sure to go to Bath & Body Works on Black Friday every year. While you’ll end up spending a decent amount on the items you choose, they do a huge sale of “buy 3, get 3 free”. This is where I find lots of items for my friends, and they always appreciate a festive-smelling candle, lotion, or soap for their dorms. 

Photo courtesy of Cracker Barrell Blog

Surprisingly, Cracker Barrel has a really unique and affordable gift shop in the front of their restaurants. I’ve found lots of interesting snacks or candies, mini replicas, and strangely useful gifts there. I’d recommend shopping here for people who love trying new things or for people who might be in need of a record-shaped car air freshener. I personally found a great multitool there that I still use years later!

Photo courtesy of Alexandra Krasilovsky

This is, unfortunately, the only picture that includes the purse I found for my little, but taking advantage of thrift stores or events was a huge lifesaver for me during clue week. The thrift extravaganza thrown by FISH had so many cool accessories, clothing items, jewelry, and more. I found this gorgeous purse for only $4 and saw tons of other great options while I was there. When you’re on a budget, thrifting is absolutely a tactic you should take advantage of.

Where to Shop:

Photo courtesy of Target Corporation

The Target dollar section is a major lifesaver. I’ve found decorations, storage options, beauty supplies, and some of my favorite offbeat gifts there. While it’s a bit of false advertising (most things are in the $1-5 range), it’s definitely more affordable than most stores. I’d recommend checking out multiple locations if you have the time, as lots of their stock varies on time of year, area, and store size. This is a great place to gather ideas on what someone might want as a gift.

Photo courtesy of Five Below

I grew up doing my own Christmas shopping at Five Below. My mom would take my siblings and I to the store, give us each about $20, and ask us to choose gifts for our family members while sticking to a budget. I’ve been doing this for years, and it’s never failed me. Five Below carries clothes, snacks, art supplies, games, toys, beauty supplies, and so much more. This is also a really fun activity to do with someone, so if you’re a person who loves quality time, taking a loved one along with you for the shopping and hiding gifts from them as you search makes for a great memory. 

Photo courtesy of Dollar Tree

I think Dollar Tree is one of the best stores for “filler gifts”. Stocking stuffers, basket additions, and other knick-knacks are in abundance here. Particularly for clue week, a big feature of the tradition is making full, overflowing baskets, but that doesn’t mean each basket has to be expensive. Things like paper grass, confetti, or fabric all help add to the basket’s mass without adding much to the cost. I also found some great decorations for my little’s room and have seen some nice crafting supplies there in the past. 

At the end of the day, gift-giving should be fun. No one knows your loved ones better than you do, so a few of these tips might be more useful than others. However, I hope that with some budget-friendly advice, stress can be lifted off of the holiday season, and each of you can create thoughtful, sweet presents for the good people in your lives.