Most student budgets are hard enough to stick to at the best of times, and near impossible come Christmas. From endless socials to completely unnecessary Christmas party outfits, our bank balances seem to be ever decreasing. Buying presents is yet another unavoidable Christmas money-guzzler; however there’s no need to go completely crazy. In fact, with just £20 you can buy some pretty magical things for that special someone…
Gifts for Her
The Paisley Scarf: Seasonally reduced to £17.50, this beautiful scarf from Accessorize has every sign of a quality gift. Perfect for winter layering, this item transfers easily into Spring with is lightweight, floaty fabric.
The Fluffy Rabbit Slippers: For those of you that love novelty socks, these are a total step up. For £14 at Topshop, they’re reasonably priced too (better yet with a cheeky 10% student discount…)
The Sparkly Bag: If you love this season’s sparkle trend as much as I do, you’ll fall head over heels for this glittery bag. At £18, it might not be River Island’s best bargain, but it’s a sure fire winner for any girl that loves to party!
The Christmas Jumper: What a classic. It’s kind of a love-hate thing with Christmas jumpers, so it’s worth thinking twice before you buy this one, although for £14.99 at New Look it’s not the worst mistake to make either way!
The Novelty Watch: Anyone searching for a quirky gift will surely not miss this £18 steal from ASOS! The perfect combination of practical, funny and stylish this is a gift I might just buy for myself…
The Make-up Set: Missguided’s got it all; from nail polish kits to an eye shadow palette of dreams. For £16, you can splash out on eye-shadow, highlighter, fake tan and false lashes for someone who’s planning a big New Year’s Eve night out!
The Lace Top: Christmas is party season, and a going-out top is a safe gift choice that’ll surely be worn instantly. This lined bustier from H&M is an absolute staple, and at £17.99, still fits the Christmas budget.
The Floral Coffee Cup: Vintage florals and warm coffee are two things most people find hard to hate. This Cath Kidston cup (£12) combines both and is yet another practical and pretty gift.
The Pom-Pom hat: Personally I can’t get enough of this baby blue colour, however fear not if it’s not your favourite thing – Topshop stocks this cute hat in green, navy and many more colours to suit almost anyone. And at £14, it’s completely affordable too.
The Party Dress: This glittery black dress is hard to go wrong with, and at £14.99, its price is hard to beat to. Another option for partying friends, H&M really is the store to visit for a going-out gift.
Gifts for Him
The Scented Set: If you want to play it safe, a classy eau de parfum is pretty staple gift that won’t cost an arm and leg. This Topman set features both body wash and eau de parfum, so at £18 it’s pretty good value. Just be ready with a good response to the inevitable question ‘Are you saying I smell?’
The Christmas Jumper: Finding a man’s Christmas jumper under £20 is a surprisingly difficult task, however H&M does provide a range starting at £12.99. So, if a novelty present is what you’re after, this is a bargain bit of fun worth considering.
The Checked Scarf: A winter classic, this scarf from Topman is pretty reasonable at £12, better yet with a student discount!
The Christmas Socks: This £14 set from ASOS provides 5 pairs of boot socks, all subtly festive. For those wanting a safe gift option, this is a pretty good call.
The Digital Photo Frame: If a framed photo seems a bit of an old idea, try a digital photo frame instead! Now the answer to ‘which photo do I choose?’ is ‘All of them’! This 3.5inch screen is just £10 from Amazon, although if you’ve got more cash to spend there’s bigger options too.
The Paisley Tie: Head over to ASOS for a range of stylish ties that start from just £8. There’s always the option of a Christmas tie too, if paisley just isn’t your thing…
The Canvas Bag: Just scraping under £20, this New Look bag for £19.99 is easy to use and pretty difficult not to like.
Cable for Two: Here’s a gift for the both of you! This neat little cable lets you charge or connect two phones at once, so if you’re always arguing over who gets the last socket, this is the perfect solution. This version from Menkind costs £13.99, and their site is well worth a browse for other gift ideas.
The Novelty Mug: With the latest Star Wars film just released, this gift is perfect for true fans. Yes, it’s a bit nerdy, but then any mug that changes colour with heat is going to be. I love it anyway. It sells on Amazon at a price tag’s weirdly specific (£13.23?), but I think that adds to the charm.
The *Friends* Calendar: Ok, it doesn’t have to be Friends. That’s just my personal choice. But a calendar, of some description, is pretty much a Christmas essential. If you’re feeling really thoughtful, you can even create photo calendars at Snapfish.com for a personalised touch.
Lydia Varney
Cover Image: http://www.hannahmaggs.co.uk