Christmas on a Budget: Picking the Perfect Gifts Without Picking Your Pockets

By Lauren Shook
A&E Editor

It’s that time of year again! Christmas is going to sneak up on you before you know it, so check out some gift suggestions for those special people in your life.

Your Mom

What else tells your mom how much you appreciate her like a basket filled with products she can use to rest and relax? Although this might sound like a difficult and expensive gift to create, I swear it’s not.

Choose a cute bag or box and fill it with little treats to help her relax.

Target is the perfect place to pick up some cheap face masks and bubble baths.

You can also stop by Kohl’s and Walmart for more fun products at an affordable price such as nail polish, loofahs, slippers, scented candles, nail files, hair masks, eye covers and more!

Your Dad

I don’t know about you, but my dad is all about his football team. The key to buying anyone a good gift is to know what they like.

Knowing someone’s hobbies and interests can make the whole gift-buying process so much easier.

Check out the nearest sporting goods store for team paraphernalia that your dad is sure to love. Anything from a jersey to a cup to a mug is sure to make him smile.

If his team isn’t local, don’t worry! You can find a website for any sports team with merchandise for purchase.

Make sure to check out the clearance section, and keep an eye out for coupon codes for those on a budget.

If he’s not into sports, that’s cool too! There’s nothing wrong with giving a simple gift card to a store that they love. It’s basically a free pass for him to splurge on whatever he wants.

Your Significant Other

This can get a bit tricky. Rule of thumb is to try to get something meaningful to the person. Show them you care and that you listen by getting something from their favorite movie, show, band, etc.

Fill up a goodie bag with some of their favorite things (snacks, CDs, DVDs) and wrap each one individually to prolong their excitement. FYE tends to run some pretty killer sales on used CDs and DVDs this time of year, so stop in and see if anything catches your eye.

It doesn’t matter how much or little you spend on them. If you pay attention, you’re sure to be able to pick up on some of their favorite products.

You can also go the handmade route. Check out Pinterest for some cute craft ideas if that’s more your style.

Your Best Friend

It’s time to break out the big guns. Draw off of your inside jokes and mutual interests. For cute and personal gifts, start checking out some online shops.

Etsy is a great place to check out hand-made gifts for fans of anything from TV shows to movies to books.

Put together a box of their favorite things. Grab some cozy socks, a sweet scented candle and some of their favorite sweets.

If they’re especially into touching gifts, head over to the local Walmart and print out your favorite pictures of the two of you. Grab some crafting supplies on your way out the door and compose your masterpiece.

As a last resort, you can never go wrong with chocolate!

You don’t have to go broke to create a meaningful gift for someone!

Email Lauren at:
lshook2@live.esu.edu