The tree’s up, the lights have been switched on, all while my wallet gently weeps…
But sometimes, even Father Christmas has to operate on a budget.
Here are five student-friendly gifts under £10 to keep you from declaring bankruptcy this festive season outside of a game of Monopoly.
Reusable coffee cup
For the caffeine fiends in your life, a reusable coffee cup is a must-have gift. Flocks of jealous students will throw a tired glance in their direction as they walk into the lecture theatre, energised and coffee in hand.
This is a perfect gift because not only is it practical but it’s good for the environment and can save money! A lot of cafes, including some on campus, offer discounts for customers who bring their own reusable cups - it’s a convenient, thoughtful and money-saving gift for any coffee-lover.
These can be easily found for under £10 - I found this one in Tesco for £8, but many coffee shops sell their own - if you’re unsure what to gift someone, maybe you could go to their favourite coffee shop and buy them a reusable cup!
Posters
Perhaps the “poster boy” of student decorations, posters can be a great way to give some personality and style to a room.
Posters make great gifts because you can tailor them to a person’s taste. Whether you’re buying for a movie buff, a music lover, or someone who could do with a motivational quote on their wall, you’ll be able to find something that suits them and shows you’ve thought about their interests.
And they’re affordable and easy to get! I’m a big fan of HMV’s poster selection - they sell large music, film and pop culture posters for £7.99 each - but you don’t have to look far to find posters of all different themes, shapes and sizes so there’s something for everyone!
LED lights
Whilst we’re on decorations, if you want to really light up someone’s day, why not get them some fairy lights?
LED fairy lights can instantly add some warm, cosy vibrance to any room. You can string them around your bed frame, your walls, a shelf - they’re versatile, easy and fit anywhere, making them a perfect safe yet stylish gift.
And - importantly - they don’t break the bank at all! You can find fairy lights for under £10 easily - I found this box of 200 multicoloured lights in Tesco for £9.95.
Wax melts or candles
This list has been fun so far, but it smells a bit bland, doesn’t it?
Wax melts and candles are both fun, low-cost gifts that can make a room feel comfortable and, surprisingly, smell nice. Pair them with some LED lights and you’ll have one seriously cosy room. You could choose something that suits the person you’re gifting it to - wax melts come in all different sorts of scents, the perfect opportunity to give a thoughtful and creative gift!
They’re easily found under £10, and there’s plenty of places in Newcastle that sell them. I visited Scented Melts, a lovely little shop in Grainger Market which sells wax melts in a choice of more scents than I knew existed - they have a range of options well below £10 and even offer gift bags and wrapping!
Please remember that candles and wax melts are not permitted in University accommodation. If you choose to use them elsewhere, please do so responsibly.
Books
Gifting someone a book is gifting them hours of entertainment and relaxation - and for how inexpensive they are, their “bang for buck” value puts everything else under the tree to shame. The air fryer’s practically in tears.
Books are another gift that can be tailored to a person’s taste and interests - if they’re into books; maybe they’re into a specific genre, or maybe you could get a biography of somebody they like - either way, it’s a gift that’s thoughtful, meaningful and personal.
They’re very inexpensive and easy to find – there are plenty of bookshops around Newcastle, but I’d also recommend charity shops. And if you’re unsure, perhaps you could give them a bookshop gift card so they can choose something they know they’d enjoy.
Final thoughts
If you’re anything like me, the festive season can come with a lot of pressure. The prospect of choosing and splashing out on gifts whilst juggling a load of uni work and trying to keep your bank account off of life support can be daunting.
But finding these budget-friendly ideas has showed me that with a bit of thought (and perhaps a wander round Grainger Market) it’s easy to find gifts that are meaningful and personal without breaking the bank! Don’t stress about the price tag - have fun with it! When your friends are sipping from their coffee cup or get sucked into their new book, you’ll know you’ve aced gift-giving season and your wallet will breathe a sigh of relief.
By Bill, a second year Computer Science student and Student Content Creator