Christmas Shopping On A Budget

For a lot of us this year in the festive season we’re having to tighten our belts, which for students makes it even harder to afford gifts for loved ones – however, it is possible to get beautiful, heartwarming gifts without breaking the bank! So I’m going to go into a few suggestions on where/how you can get gifts for the people you love, without worrying about spending too much money!

Charity Shops

These are always my first port of call when it comes to shopping affordably! Charity shops always have an incredible range of stock in almost every department, ranging from clothing, jewellery, games, ornaments, appliances, and all manner of bric-a-brac you can think of. This is also where I would go to get my Christmas cards, since most charity shops get them in especially for the season and they tend to be far more affordable compared to normal retailers.

Also, in Lincoln you have an abundance of charity shops to choose from, many of which sit up and down the high street! Some that I’ve been to include St Barnabas, British Heart Foundation, Oxfam, Barnado’s, British Red Cross and Cancer Research UK, all of which are easy to find and who all do incredible work for the causes and people they support with fundraising and awareness – so, make these charity shops your first stop for gift-buying this festive season!

Second-Hand Online Shopping

Something that has really become popular in the realm of buying second-hand, is the amount of online retailers who specifically act as a platform for buying and selling second-hand items for really affordable prices. Not only could you use these applications to sell things and make yourself some more money, but you can often find great items across a range of departments ­– it’s a bit like going to a jumble sale, but online!

Some of the best apps/websites for this are Depop, Vinted, eBay, Gumtree and even Facebook Marketplace! These online spaces are especially useful if it’s difficult for you to personally go out to retailers, since all these sources include different options for delivery, so your shopping experience can be tailored to whatever is most convenient for you.

Making/Crafting Gifts

Making something special for your loved ones can not only be economical, but it makes it far easier for you to personalise their gift and make it even more meaningful for them. This idea is particularly good for the more artistic amongst you; you could do a painting/drawing of your friends’ pets, or a collage of memorable photographs for one of your parents! You have complete free, imaginative reign if you go down the crafting route, and you can keep your costs down with creative supplies by just using the sources already mentioned. Plus, there’s honestly nothing better than realising someone has gone to the time and effort to create something for you, and it never fails to put a smile on peoples’ faces!

Amazon Prime Student

If you didn’t know, one prime package that Amazon offers is called Amazon Prime Student – this membership option gives you all the regular perks of normal Amazon Prime, but for a far cheaper price. However, one of the best things about this particular membership, is that for your first time you can get a completely FREE six month trial. This means that if you’re wanting to order gifts online or watch festive films/shows, or popular films/shows in general, then you can save a lot of money. This may not be the cheapest option overall, but it is at least a method by which you can save money, and at the end of the day ever little penny you can save will help you not just practically, but it will help to ease your anxieties amidst our economic climate.

As a student, managing your finances and what you can afford can be difficult at the best of times, but with our current cost of living crisis things are much harder. What I really think is important, especially at this time of year, is to be there for one another. When it comes to the day to day just make sure your friends and fellow students know you’re there for them, because all of us sticking together will make this festive season feel as loving and warm as it always should.