Christmas is right around the corner, and one of the best parts of the holiday is the excitement and joy of seeing the reactions of someone opening a gift that you got them. There can be some difficulty in finding the perfect gift though. Kylie McKee, a Psychology major at UTM, says one of the hardest parts of getting a gift for someone is “trying to think of something they like.”
For college students, it may also be hard to be able to give Christmas gifts due to financial issues, so here are 10 gift ideas for you to get for a friend and every option is $10 or less.
1. A $10 Gift Card
Tyler Udovich, a Sports Management major at UTM, says, “You can’t go wrong with a gift card.”
An easy gift that is guaranteed to please anyone is a gift card, and there is a wide range of options to choose from. It can be a food gift card to your friend’s favorite restaurant, or a dining gift card purchased through Sodexo for anywhere on campus like Starbucks and Chick-fil-a, which is the only gift card accepted at the campus locations. Other possible options are a gift card to a favorite retail place, a favorite gaming platform, an Amazon gift card or a Visa/Vanilla gift card.
2. A Snack Box
Anything to do with food is usually a good way to make a college student happy, and a creative way to go about this is to create a box filled with the recipient’s favorite snacks. It could be like a ramen basket with a variety of ramen noodles; siracha hot sauce and chopsticks; or it could be more like a movie night basket with popcorn, candy and chips. You could just go to Dollar Tree and pick up 10 of your friend’s favorite foods and snacks. This could also be a good idea to cover gifts for multiple friends because you could buy multipacks of snacks and compile a snack box for everyone.
3. Holiday Gift Set
There are a variety of gifts sets to choose from that can be found under $10, especially at Walmart. You could go the food route and do a meat and cheese gift set or a gift set of their favorite candy. Another option is bath/body care gift sets, which usually have lotion, body wash, body scrub, bath salts, loofah and bath bombs. There are also Axe or Dove gift sets. You just have to choose which you think the person you are getting a gift for will like the most.
4. Socks
Mason Taylor, a Mass Media and Strategic Communication major at UTM, says, “Socks are definitely the go-to for a cheap gift.”
Socks are always a good staple gift because they are items that are always needed. Depending on preferences, you could get a multipack of socks, which could be basic neutral colors, or you could have more fun with it and do bright colors, patterns or fictional characters. Other options are fuzzy socks, which could be infused with aloe, or a foot lotion and sock duo.
5. Lotion and Chapstick
Chapstick and lotion are also staple gifts because a lot of people use them at least once, if not more, every day. The two items are also usually a necessity during the winter season because the cold can cause chapped lips and dry skin. Chapstick can be bought in a multipack or in several different flavors since it is usually less than two dollars. Lotion can also be found fairly cheap in most stores, and you could even get a pack or a variety of scents and types.
6. A Wax Warmer
For someone living on campus, a wax warmer is a good gift idea because it is one of the few fragrance items allowed in the dorms. Candles, incense and oil-based plug-in air fresheners are not allowed in the dorms. Kimmie King, an International Studies major at UTM, says, “It has been a lifesaver this semester.”
Walmart has a wax warmer for seven dollars, and the wax is a dollar each. If you need an idea of which wax scent to choose, then King says lavender is a good option because it decreases stress.
7. A Fuzzy Blanket
Blankets are always a good go-to gift because you can never have too many, especially in the winter. The soft quality and comfort of blankets is something that instills relaxation and calmness, which is helpful for college students who are stressed most of the time. To make the gift a bit more special, you could get one that has your friend’s favorite animal or character on it. Walmart is currently selling fuzzy blankets that depict either dogs, wolves, tigers, deer, cats or horses for less than $9.
8. Car Accessories
There are plenty of little things you could get someone that they can use for their car, such as key chains, lanyard or bracelet for keys, car freshener, steering wheel cover, rearview mirror decor, car charger, cup holders or even a dashboard buddy. For a special gift, you could get matching key chains or engraved matching necklaces that can hang from the rearview mirror.
9. A Phone Charger
A phone charger is a good gift idea because chargers tend to break easily, and it is something that is always needed. You can never have too many phone chargers because several can be kept around the house and in all the vehicles. It is usually preferred for phone chargers to be at least six feet, so you can have easy mobility. All you would need to know is if your friend’s phone takes a micro-USB, USB-C or Lightning charger. Phone chargers can be found at places, such as Walmart, Amazon and Dollar General for under $10.
10. A Homemade gift
A gift that is always appreciated and makes someone feel special is a gift from the heart that you made yourself. It can be a painting, a collage of pictures, a no-sew blanket, a delicious dessert, a tie dye shirt, matching bracelets or DIY body care. If you choose something you are good at making and devote your time to it, then the person you give the gift to will cherish it.
Though gift-giving can seem daunting at first, it is a rewarding experience for both the giver and the receiver.
Lindsey Born, a Psychology major at UTM, says, “I like people being happy over something I got them. It makes me feel important.”
