Thanksgiving marked the beginning of the consumer season, as many businesses prepared for sales throughout November and December. Although COVID-19 halted many holiday traditions, people still shopped in anticipation of the holiday season. Many consumers looked forward to the spectacular deals offered on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, preparing for the gift-giving season.
Despite the wide array of items to choose from, it can still be quite difficult and stressful to purchase presents, especially since the majority of high school students do not have the opportunity to find jobs due to the pandemic. Here, I have compiled a variety of ideas for presents that will impress friends and family, and best of all, will keep your wallet intact.
Stressing because you missed the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales? Don’t fret, as there is still Super Saturday, on Dec. 19. However, this sale may not be your best option as it is very close to Christmas, so online purchases may not ship in time.
Another tip is to watch out for general sales. Many retailers such as Bath & Body Works and Victoria’s Secret have semi-annual sales, which can save shoppers up to 75% off. Other health and beauty retailers such as ULTA Beauty and Sephora offer holiday beauty and skincare sets that include items $10 and under for both men and women. Additionally, Target has extended its price match guarantee until Dec. 24, meaning that Target will match select competitors’ prices so customers can always get the best deal at Target.
Small businesses also have many items that make great gifts. Try shopping locally or from small shops. MHS has its fair share of student-owned businesses, which carry a variety of items.
For instance, KBK Company (@thekbkcompany on Instagram) focuses on vegan and cruelty-free skin care products such as body butters for under $15. Trixer’s Eyelashes (@trixers.lashes) and Jbae Beauty (@jbaeproducts) sell items such as fake eyelashes, homemade lip glosses, and lip scrubs. If beauty products aren’t your thing, check out Hanalei Jewels (@hanaleijewels), which offers a variety of jewelry, including earrings, necklaces, bracelets and anklets, all for under $10.
A few suggestions for foodie lovers include Culynnary (@culynnary on Instagram) which focuses on baked goods including Banh Bo, butter mochi, and braided pork sung buns. Another small business, Sweet.snk (@sweet.snk on Instagram) offers baked goods including a variety of flavored cream puffs, mochi muffins, merengues and sugar cookies. Both businesses sell a majority of their items for under $10.
Another business, Masks By Momma (@masksbymomma on Instagram) is a Bay Area service that sells reusable patterned cloth masks. Masks By Momma carries a large array of cloth patterns that cater to a wide audience, as they have sports-themed patterns, different flower patterns, and plain colors as well.
Still, nothing beats a thoughtful gift. The thought and meaning behind a present, is much more important than the cost. Personalized items based on your loved ones’ interests, your inside jokes, or a stirring memory will strike a chord deep in their hearts, rather than expensive and meaningless tokens. Pinterest is a great place to start looking for inspiration.
Luckily, making your own personalized gifts can actually be much cheaper than going out to buy them. Although candles are a holiday favorite, they can be quite expensive, and making your own candles is cheaper.
A meaningful alternative is to make candles at home, by buying candle wicks (100 wicks for $5), essential oils ($5) as well as regular unscented candles from Dollar Tree along with a glass or ceramic container. These DIY candles can be melted down and customized to your loved one’s taste, and decorative items such as dried flowers and tea leaves could be added for aesthetics. This project would yield 4 candles for under $20, which is a steal compared to the price of store-bought candles.
Another creative idea is to make Shrinky Dink keychains, which are essentially customizable keychains for which people draw designs that are then shrunk in the oven. Amazon sells shrink plastic sheets for $13 per 20 sheets, a great deal considering each sheet can make up to 10 small keychains. These shrink plastic sheets could be used for fun abstract keychains, small personalized keepsakes, or even Spotify code keychains, which have been quite trendy.
Customizable mugs are another cost-effective and useful idea. Plain mugs are $2 at Target, and Sharpies are typically $2-3 and can be found at most department stores. When designing these cups, your imagination is the limit. Fun ideas include minimalistic landscape designs, initials of your loved one, or images that represent an inner joke or have a deeper meaning.
Along with a customized mug, hot chocolate bombs are a perfect cure for those who have a sweet tooth. When dropped into a steaming cup of milk, the chocolate orb dissolves to reveal the hot chocolate and mini marshmallows. Of course, other toppings such as sprinkles, toffee and crushed peppermint candies can be added as well. Along with being an easy project, it is also budget-friendly as one can make dozens of hot chocolate bombs for under $10.
Handwritten letters, additional N95 masks or surgical masks as the pandemic drags on, or small goodie baskets composed of socks and a variety of snacks are also other options that would definitely be practical and appreciated.
A few popular ways to celebrate the holiday season with the people you live with include Secret Santa or a White Elephant gift exchange. Another fun idea is to celebrate with the Yankee Swap, where presents can be stolen, sparking up friendly competition spirit. These gift exchanges are budget-friendly and a good way to spice up the holidays with those around you.
