Tis the season to be jolly? Tis also the season to be hard up! Christmas is always a little tough on everyone’s purse strings, but when it comes to students, it hits a little harder…
At a loss of how to give amazing presents to your loved ones on a strict budget? Well, don’t worry. We are here to help you make this Christmas the most enjoyable yet, whilst also looking after your wallet!
Make Your Own Cards: Now, everyone loves a bit of home crafts at Christmas time. Making your own cards is a great way to save money and add a bit of personality to your Christmas. Most places sell card making packs for a decent price, which is a good place to start. Or, if you’re a hoarder of all things ribbon, sparkly paper and glitter then make do with what you have! If you are running out of ideas, then by all means grace the shops for inspiration or search the web. There are hundreds of quick and easy to do designs. What’s more, whilst you save plenty of money and have a great time in the process, your family and friends will love the extra effort you spent this year in making their card!
Cook Your Own Gifts: Another great way to save money this Christmas is to cook your very own specialities for friends and family. Making your own cookies, cakes and even chocolates could save you a fortune. Plus the added touch and effort is sure to go down well with whoever is receiving the gifts. To finish of the present, display in a decorative box with lots and lots of ribbon!
Secret Santa: If your in the situation where you have to buy presents for people at work, or just have a large group of friends, why not suggest taking part in Secret Santa. This could save you lots of money, as you’ll only end up buying one gift instead of several. Whoever is taking part should come up with a budget and agree to stick to it. There is nothing worse than receiving a pair of socks when you’ve just bought that person a lovely necklace!
Ahead of the Game: If you want to save even more money, why not start in January 2013? Cards, wrapping paper, decorations and even trees sell at a portion of their original price, saving you a lot of cash. It’s a little extreme, but it can be well worth it! Even keeping lovely gift boxes, ribbons and left over decoratins is a simple yet effective way plug the festive hole in your back pocket. Just think about all the extra chocolate liquors you can buy with the savings…
Written By Sage Fitzpatrick
