Along comes December and it hits you: What are you going to give your
friends and family for Christmas?
In this gift-giving season, we are much like a group of homeless people
digging through the dumpsters. You've forked all your money over to Papa
Johns. You hid your credit card from yourself a long time ago. Is this
all too familiar?
I have some tips for you, fellow student! There are all kinds of
money-saving tricks that can help you have your Papa John's and eat it
too.
Rice Krispy Treats (add red or green food-coloring or whatever you
have that
is red and green. Be creative.
Cookies can be cheap. Plain sugar cookies can be decorated with
those
extra M&Ms you don't need anyway! Get your friends fat!
Give up a bag or two of snack mix, fill little empty jars with it,
tie red
ribbons around them and, VOILA! instant Christmas gifts!
Use your imagination. Instead of just handing your pal a tired looking
cookie, wrap it in aluminum foil like a Hershey's kiss, have a little
strip
of white paper sticking out of the top (like the kisses have) that says,
"Merry Christmas:--insert name--" Be creative and festive! You can dress
anything up! Taking time to do it yourself shows that you care!
Homemade holiday cards: If you can draw, good for you. Use your
talent.
If you can't draw a stick person, then print out some cool
images on your computer (or a lab computer), fold them into a card and
write
your message with a red or green pen. You can print out Christmas
pictures
for your cards, or you could print out anything and write a
holiday message
inside. If your friend loves The Bosstones, print that out and
add your
two cents to it!
Draw or paste pictures on paper-plates It's different, and can
be pretty cool if you try. Staple them together-- but first, fill in the
middle
with candy, or whatever.
Look into thrift stores. You may be thinking, "How cheap, used
stuff?!!" If
you look around, however, there are things that could work for you.
If you can find a nifty picture frame, you can
fill it with anything-- even a pretty picture out of a magazine. You'd
be surprised how well this works.
Personalized gift certificates-Either draw or again, print out a
certificate that says something, anything. Example: This certificate is
good for one free load of laundry. Services provided by: (insert your
name.) Or write whatever you want to write in there. Making a
big deal out of next to nothing can be kind of fun. I'd like to have
my laundry done, wouldn't you?
Homemade tapes: Make some mixed tapes for your friends or family! If
you
know what music they like, then go for it! They'll love it. Decorate
the
sleeve inside too. If you are gutsy enough, be a PSUEDO-DJ! Tell some
jokes, gear the whole thing toward whatever the recipient would like.
Have
fun with it.
Remember, that red bows mean instant Christmas gifts! (Within reason, of
course.) Don't claim to have taken my advice if you wrap pizza crusts in
red bows. Maybe for your doggie, but not your sweetie.
I hope you can use some of these tips to help your Christmas budget
along. Remember that even a student can afford a fun Christmas season!
Happy holidays!
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