Cheap Holiday Gifts for Students

Inexpensive, meaningful presents for Christmas & Hanukkah

Nov 19, 2006

Looking for inexpensive holiday gifts for your college friends? Here are some suggestions for gifts that are both affordable and sentimental.

Need some great holiday presents for your roommate and college friends that won't break your meager student budget? You don't have to take out a student loan to buy your friends great holiday gifts. Instead, look for gifts that are sentimental and meaningful, but not expensive. College is a sentimental time, and your friends will appreciate a small gift that will always remind them of you.

Here are some suggestions for holiday gifts that are affordable and sentimental. (For more suggestions, check out this article about general holiday gifts for college students.)

Photo gifts. If you have a digital camera (and even if you don't), you can take advantage of the merchandise available on photo websites and in many discount and department stores. Gather together some memorable pictures of you and your friends, and create something meaningful that they'll hold onto forever. You can often buy photo products in bulk for multiple friends and save money and time. Some ideas:

A photo calendar. You can make these easily at online photo sites. These gifts are both practical and sentimental, and will make great keepsakes.
Photo mugs. These are also quite practical, and unlike calendars will remain useful after the year is over.
Photo key chains, magnets, or mouse pads. These low cost items are still very useful and sentimental. Be sure to buy decent quality because cheap ones will fall apart quickly.
A framed photo. This is a timeless gift. There's no need to spend a fortune on a frame, but find one that is meaningful, like an official college frame from your school bookstore.
A small personalized photo album or scrapbook. Collect a dozen or so pictures and place them into mini albums or scrapbooks for your friends. If you're skilled at crafts, decorate the albums with scrapbook accessories and rubber stamps.

Entertainment gifts. When you look back on your college days, some of your most sentimental memories will involve music, movies, and other kinds of entertainment. Here are some entertainment gifts that will remind your friends of you for years to come:

A mix CD. A totally classic college present, of course.
A special DVD. Is there a movie you and your friends watch all the time for laughs or inspiration? Make it a gift.
A videotape. If you have access to a camera and some basic editing equipment, make a "movie" about life on your campus starring your friends. It doesn't have to be top quality to be priceless.
Magazine subscriptions. These don't have nostalgic value, but are inexpensive and will be appreciated.

Inexpensive clothing. Let the more wealthy people in your lives buy you the cashmere sweaters. For friends, find inexpensive clothing with meaning. Some ideas:

College, Greek, or sports team T-shirts. Another classic college present that is practical and inexpensive. Baseball caps work too.
Nostalgic vintage T-shirts. What did your friends love when they were little? Care Bears? Pogs? Saved by the Bell? Search the Internet and eBay for T-shirts with images of these iconic childhood memories.
Personalized flip flops. If you're good with crafts, buy generic flip flops and decorate them with school symbols, popular culture references, and anything else that's meaningful. You can do this with other generic clothing as well, like T-shirts.
Socks. An often overlooked gift that is most certainly useful. You can find socks with all kinds of decorations or cartoon characters. Maybe you can find a pair that reminds you of a friend.

Meaningful trinkets. Think of creative gift items that your friends can keep that will always remind them of you. Some ideas:

Christmas ornaments. These seasonally appropriate gifts can be used for a lifetime. If you have time and skills, make some. (Note: don't give Christmas ornaments to people who don't celebrate Christmas. They won't be useful.)
Beanie Babies or similar stuffed toys. Buy each of your friends a Beanie Baby that reminds you of them. Or do a Beanie exchange with your friends, and have everyone choose a Beanie that represents their personality. Then have everyone buy a bunch of that Beanie Baby and give one to each member of the exchange.
Shot glasses or bottle openers. Anything beer related. Obviously this isn't an appropriate idea for all college students, but many will appreciate these.