You Don't Have to Break the Bank this Holiday Season

By Broadside Staff Writer Kristen White. Photo courtesy of Flickr user Peter Hilton

Every student wants to be able to give close friends and relatives gifts for the holidays, but let’s face it: we just don’t have the money. Being in college tends to leave us with the dilemma of figuring out what the appropriate spending amount for gifts is. We all go through this problem around the holidays, so here are some cute ideas for saving money, while still surprising your friends and relatives with great gifts.

While newly released movies can get pretty pricey, classic old movies or even just last year’s box-office hits are sold at Wal-Mart for anywhere between $7 and $13. The classics are always appreciated and a good laugh could result from giving one of these old movies as a gift, such as The Wedding Singer, Zoolander or Pretty Woman. The fairly recent movies from last year like Knocked Up, Superbad, Atonement, 27 Dresses and Across the Universe are selling for $13.

If you’re looking for a huge supply of cute and cheap gifts, Target has you covered. A winter hat, scarf and glove set can be bought for $9.99. It’s something useful, but your friend will look fashionable as well.

Forever 21 also has many cute scarves for $7.80 each, which could be paired with one of their hats that range from $5.50 to $7.80. The store’s cheap prices allow you to go crazy with accessory buying. If a gift needs just a little something extra, throw in a stylish headband, hair clips, barrettes, earrings, or a necklace. Prices for all these items start at $2.80 and would go well with a single scarf for $7.80 or with a pair of holiday mittens for $6.80. For a guy to keep warm for the winter, the Forever 21 beanies are $8.90.

Girls can enjoy a $6 pair of plaid, striped, or snowflake print pajama pants paired with plush slippers for $5 from Wal-Mart. Guys can enjoy $5 red and green holiday boxers that have characters from The Grinch, Scooby Doo, and Family Guy on them. The guys’ thermal pajama pants are $9 and moccasin slippers are $5.

Clothing for guys can always be tricky, but Forever 21 has nice tees ranging in price from $3.80 to $9.90. Target has nice long sleeved shirts, thermal and button up, for around $10 each.

Frames with pictures inside them are always a nice gift for your friends to remember special occasions. At Target, there is a coaster set with room for a picture in each coaster that is only $13.29. Give your friend this set with pictures of you and the people in his or her life. Other special frames and objects that have room for pictures in them sell for reasonable prices, starting at $9.99.

A snowman, Santa or reindeer mug bought atKohl’s for $3.99 can be filled with candy canes and small chocolates purchased for only a $1 at any Dollar Store. Large chocolate bars and candy canes tied together with ribbon is a small, yet thoughtful gift that can be purchased at the Dollar Store as well.

These cheap, thoughtful gifts will save you money so you aren’t broke for the new year and still allow you to buy gifts for all your friends and family.