CREDIT: MAURICIO FRANCO
With many students already facing tough financial times, it’s important to not break the bank this holiday season.

Gift giving has quickly become one of the primary staples of the holiday season.

For some, this can be an easy task, knowing exactly what to buy and for whom almost on a whim. For others though, this can be easier said than done, almost becoming a daunting task at this time of year.

Add onto that the fact that many students are often restricted on the financial side, already cutting costs and corners for their own living, and you have a tough situation to face when looking to buy gifts for friends and family.


Whether shopping for others is something that comes naturally or not, no one wants to be known for being a bad gift-giver.

Everyone knows at least one person who shows up to the gift exchange with an almost irrelevant knick-knack or someone who clearly went out to their corner store at the final hour looking for something to give.

You never want to be that person.

With that, here are a few easy dos and don’ts to make sure that you keep to a budget and don’t look like the gift giving amateur at your next white elephant, secret Santa, or Christmas party this holiday season.

Do: Self-Care

This is something that most people either should be looking at for themselves anyway or don’t know what to look for in the first place. This can include anything from bath bombs, skin-care lotions, soaps, and the like. Not only will you end up looking like a bit of an expert yourself, but you may also be helping someone out who could really use it.

Don’t: Gift Cards

First off, they’re just boring. No one wants to get a piece of plastic that forces them to buy items from just one specific store. There’s very little thought that goes into it and, while that can sometimes be a nice thing, in this case it just shows a lack of thought. Just get them money, they’ll appreciate it more.

Do: Games

No, not video games, but more in the realm of smaller board games and card games. Not only can they be fun, but getting something smaller and portable can give them something easy to play with their own friends and family. With so many different options, themes, etc., there’s also plenty of options to cater the game to the specific person you’re buying for. Plus, you may even get asked to play with them, so it’s a win-win.

Don’t: Funny Gifts

Everyone loves a little “gag” gift. Something fun and light-hearted can be an easy and inexpensive go-to for almost anyone. Although, it’s extremely easy to fall into the realm of crass or rude, possibly making you look the fool in front of not just the person you bought for, but also the rest of the room as well. Comedy can be a really fine line on every front, so sometimes it’s best to avoid it altogether, unless you really know the person’s tastes well.

Do: Essentials

Things people need to buy anyway that can make their lives a bit more convenient. Tumblers, mugs, wallets, all things people use on a regular basis, but sometimes don’t think to go out and buy themselves. Hard to go wrong, plenty of inexpensive options for each, and works for pretty much anyone you can think of.

Don’t: The Too Essentials

Never get too personal. While it’s sometimes nice to buy people things they may not think to buy for themselves, you never want to go too far down that road to the point of making things slightly uncomfortable. While you may think they’ll appreciate getting acne cream or a toilet brush, they may not like it as much when they open it up in front of a room full of people. While these are just a few good and bad options to keep in mind, every person you buy for is different and can call for very individual options. The important thing to keep in mind is that you don’t need to ever empty your wallet to have a successful Christmas gift. Often, as cliche as it sounds, it’s the thought that counts. Just make sure your gift isn’t the one that gets the awkward smirk when they open it up this holiday season.