The Broke College Students' Guide to Holiday Gift Giving

University life is exciting, but expensive!  Instead of spending all of your cash or going into debt for holiday gifts, try some of these ideas to create really memorable gifts without spending a lot of money. 

1. Personal Photos.  The folks and siblings are probably missing you.  Why not have a friend take a nice photo of you outdoors on your campus?  Then you can edit the photo and print a nice copy and put it in an inexpensive frame.  For under , you can print and frame a 5x7 from Target or Wal-Mart or similar stores.

Christmas Gifts For College Students

2. Artwork.  Take some photos of the campus or local area, or use your artistic skills to paint or draw some local scenery.  If you're not creative, find an art student and buy them a pizza in exchange for a sketch of you or the area.  Or try your hand out at homemade crafts such as jewelry or knitting.

The Broke College Students' Guide to Holiday Gift Giving
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3. Literary Works.  If you are creative in writing, put some poetry on paper and either present it as a booklet or frame it to give as a gift.  Consider writing a small kids' book for young relatives, with them as the main character, and some cute artwork to accompany.

4. Sentiments.  Take an hour and write (in your own writing!) a long letter to your parents, siblings or others on your list.  Tell them about your experiences at college, what you miss about home, what you want to accomplish and your hopes for their happiness.  They will be read and saved and treasured.  And, if you become really famous one day, they'll be really valuable!

5. Adventures.  If you have a younger teen-aged sibling or relative, consider offering them a night over at your dorm or apartment.  Choose a safe weekend or weeknight, and make sure the parents are OK with the idea before you tell them!  Make up a neat certificate and present to them.

6. School Goodies.  Find out when your campus store is planning to have sales on clothing and other items and purchase them to hold as gifts.  If there are on-campus giveaways of items, save them up and use as gifts.  Just don't sign up for a credit card in order to get a gift.  Very Bad Idea!

7. Recognize Benefactors.  The letter or essay also works to your benefactors or mentors.  If you had a favorite teacher in high school, write them a letter or an essay on the 7 best things they taught you.  As a graduate, you'll be a role model for underclassmen, and the teacher will often proudly display your letter or essay.  Consider also a personal letter to those who supported you morally or financially as you graduated and went off to college.  They will understand and appreciate your gesture of thanks and remembrance.

8. Photo Album of College Life.  Take your camera out for a day in the life of you.  Capture images of your daily life - dorm/apartment experience, roomies, food, classes, recreation and more.  Print out 4x5 or other small photos and insert into inexpensive photo albums, or make a collage or scrapbook.  Younger siblings or underclassmen at your old high school would love these gifts.

9. Journal.  Keep a journal book for a month, knowing you are going to give it away.  Take down your thoughts and once filled, send it to Mom or someone else who would love to share with you and who will keep it forever.

10. Brag a Bit.  Frame a copy of a test that you really pulled off.  The folks will put it on the fridge just like when you were in elementary school.

11. Free Labor.  Knowing that you will be going home, make up some coupons that you can give to family members for grunty jobs that you may actually miss doing a bit now that you're out of the house.  Walk the dog, loads of laundry, even a "stay in night" where you don't go to see friends and just hang out.  This can also work for your dorm or apartment roomates.  They'll appreciate that you will do jobs for them as a gift of your time.

12. Dedicate a Class.  For each of your classes each semester, dedicate it to someone who would appreciate the subject.  Send them a note describing why you chose them, and then post your list of dedications where you study.  That will give you some extra strength and commitment to work hard at that subject.

13. Buy a Ringtone.  Many parents are much less clued-in to their phones than you, and  you know what they like musically. Install a ringtone they will love as your incoming tone, and they'll think of you each time it rings. 

14. Volunteer Time.  Identify a place in your college town or hometown where you can volunteer some time to help others.  Write a nice note on a card to someone special, dedicating your volunteer time to them.  They will feel good knowing that you helped others on their behalf, and it may stir them to help others as well.  Consider approaching your circle of friends to volunteer as a group instead of spending a lot of money on each other.

15. Make up Mixes. For a small amount of money, you can create some great mixes such as homemade cappucino, party mix and dried cookie mixes.  Consider going in with other students on the ingredients and splitting the results.   Search "homemade mixes gifts" and you will find lots of ideas.

16. Cookie Party.  Hold a cookie baking party and make lots of cookies, candy and popcorn balls to take home and share with others.  The cost is low and many people enjoy snacking around the holidays.

17. Fun Baskets.  Thinking of your receipient, head to a discount store and try to select and fill a container of things they will love for under or any other target cost.  Magazines, snacks, lottery cards, paperbacks, office supplies, makeup, and many other items would be appropriate stuffers.  And the bin, basket, bowl, bag or other container can be chosen with them in mind.

18. Green Things.  If you want to promote environmental awareness, consider giving a reusable cloth shopping bag filled with environmentally friendly items such as compact flourescent bulbs, gardening items, green-themed books, cloth napkins and natural soaps and cleaners.

19. Tie-Dye.  It's not a lost art.  Pick up a kit and some white cotton underclothes and have fun making tie-dye items for your friends in school colors.

20. Lose the Paper.  To lower cost and be more green, don't go for the expensive wrapping paper.  See if the art department or other areas of the college have papers they don't use.  The Sunday comics are always colorful and fun for wrapping.  Wrap the other gifts in a school T-shirt or other cloth.  Give all your gifts in reusable shopping bags, available for under at grocery stores.  Same goes for cards.  Make them up yourself and they will be fun, funky and inexpensive!

Remember, it really is the thought that counts.   No one but the most superficial person is going to fault you for coming up with creative, meaningful gifts instead of dumping money at your holiday list.  Have fun!

The Broke College Students' Guide to Holiday Gift Giving