Are you a student, are you suffering from a serious case of being a ‘Grinch’?

If you’re green and hairy I can’t help you. But if you’re struggling to get in to the festive spirit, I can give you a few tips on how to make student life a bit more Christmassy.

With deadlines, exams, and the day to day student life getting in the way it doesn’t leave much time for you to realise how close the big day is. You quickly get behind on preparing and it makes the whole experience more stressful than it needs to be. And well, you just feel like a Grinch. So here are a few little things you can do to help.

Get a Christmas tree
Nothing says Christmas like a good old spruce. Get your flatmates together and go find a little tree. Stick a few baubles or handmade decorations on it and you’re bound to feel the Christmas vibes. If you don’t want to buy one you could find a big twig and decorate it with some fairy lights…improvisation is key as a student.

Decorate your room/flat
If you’re living away from home, especially in student halls, you will know sometimes it just doesn’t feel homely. After all Christmas is all about being with family and friends and if you don’t feel at home then you probably won’t feel that Christmassy. Get everyone together, even if you’re not that close with your flatmates (what better time to bond), invite people around and decorate together. Make paper chains, stick up some tinsel and if you’ve got the patience and know how to do it, good old paper snowflakes are always a winner.

Christmas dinner
As a lover of food Christmas dinner is easily the highlight of Christmas day.  But who says you have to wait until Christmas day? Have a flat Christmas dinner to raise the spirits. Do a big shop together, get everything in and get someone you trust to cook. Split the price between everyone and you’ll be surprised how cheap it can be! Alternatively if you’re all terrible cooks, go for a meal out – paying a bit more might be worthwhile to avoid food poisoning.

Secret Santa
If you’re worrying about how you’re going to afford gifts for everyone you live with, stop. Secret Santa is the way to do it. Put everyone’s names in hat and whoever you pull out you buy for. Set a spending limit that you can all afford and get creative. But don’t tell anyone who you have, it ruins the fun!

Christmas movies & music
Every year you watch your favourite Christmas movies, and play those classic tunes. Well don’t stop now. Have Christmas movie nights, watch all the favourites. Blast out some Mariah Carey and sing along to all those cheesy classics we all hate to love. If this doesn’t get you feeling festive then I’m not sure what will.

Merry Christmas!

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