With the holidays around the corner comes the stress of finding a gift for that special someone in your life (while on a student budget). For all stages of your relationship there are inexpensive options available. Interrobang has put together a list of five inexpensive items your girlfriend or boyfriend will love.

Boyfriend

1. A Belt


You would be surprised how inexpensive some good quality belts can be. There are many different styles and colours in belts, making them a useful gift. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are a great time to get deals on high quality leather belts.

2. An Ornament

For the more traditional soul, a thoughtful ornament to decorate the tree or house is great option. There is a wide variety of ornaments available to purchase. Many stores and pop-up stores offer nerdy or traditional ornaments, while Etsy and other retailers offer custom ornaments that can be geared more towards your specific relationship.

3. A Stuffed Stocking

Yet another festive and traditional gift, a stuffed stocking can be as inexpensive as you want. Cheap stockings can be found online, or in stores like Walmart and Dollarama. Stuff a stocking with both useful items (i.e., deodorant, body wash, razors, etc.) and pleasure items (i.e., chocolates, gift cards, etc.). Wrapping each individual item in tissue paper or wrapping paper adds a bit more pizazz to the look.

4. Headphones

If you have a boyfriend who is into gaming, inexpensive gaming headphones can easily be found on Amazon.ca. However, be sure to read reviews before purchasing. Remember, you want inexpensive options, not a cheaply made gift. The same rules apply to headphones for music or any other electronics found online. Best Buy, Walmart, and Costco also have deals on high-quality headphones, however they can still be considered a bit expensive depending on the brand and specific product.

5. A Watch

Cyber Monday is a goldmine for finding expensive products for a more reasonable price. Although a watch can still be a splurge, a high-quality watch is gift that he will most likely adore. Stores like Fossil are great option. They offer a variety of different styles, colours, watch faces, bands, etc. Fossil also offers free engraving on watches to make the gift that much more special.

Girlfriend

1. Hat, Mittens, and/or Scarf Set

Winter weather sucks (most of the time). A matching set of a hat, mittens and maybe even a scarf is a traditional but often needed gift. These sets can be found at any mall and stores like Costco and Walmart. The price range depends on the brand and what material the set is made out of. Wool sets tend to be the warmest and best in quality. If you have the time and want to make it a personalized as possible, there are many tutorials online on how to crochet or knit these items from scratch.

2. Personalized Tumbler

On websites like Esty you can find many items that are reasonably priced and custom-made. A useful item for the coffee or tea drinker in your life is a tumbler with their name on it. This reusable item is both a thoughtful and useful gift. If you want add a bit more to the gift, stuff the tumbler with tissue paper and add in a Starbucks or Tim Hortons gift card or other related goodies.

3. Stuffed Makeup Bag

For the beauty queen in your life, this is a great way to get a lot of small items together to make a present she will love. Inexpensive makeup bags can be found anywhere online or in stores. Avoid buying makeup products unless you are aware of the exact product and shades your significant other uses or wants. A great alternative is to buy small makeup brush sets, makeup sponges, makeup wipes, sheet face masks, hair ties, scrunches and/or a Sephora gift card. Stores like Marshalls have discounted brand products that can be a great addition to her collection. Wrap each item with tissue paper or wrapping paper and put into the makeup bag.

4. PJ Set with Socks

In a similar vein as the hats, mittens and scarfs, pajamas and socks are a useful traditional gift. During the holidays, stores like Aerie, Victoria’s Secret, and La Senza have sales on pajamas and sexy sleep-wear (depending where you’re at in your relationship). For a less expensive option, many online stores have sales just before the holidays.

5. Splurge on a Necklace

The key to getting a deal on Pandora, Michael Hill, and other jewelry is to shop in advance. Although Black Friday deals are a great way to save on jewelry, the lines and crowds are too stressful and you may not even get the item you want. The key is to wait until Cyber Monday (December 2, 2019) to get a deal on high-end jewelry.