Gifts on a college budget 101
when you're down to end-of-semester savings
Jamie Metrick
Issue date: 12/13/06 Section: Features
- Page 1 of 1
Winter holidays are just around the corner. No matter what holiday you celebrate, chances are it involves gift-giving. But what are college students who are strapped for cash to do? Here are some helpful gift-giving ideas courtesy of WomenOf.com:
- Limit your gift-giving pool. Swap presents only with family and close friends.
- For neighbors and co-workers try making baked goods or holiday greeting cards.
- Make gift baskets, they're always popular and inexpensive.
- Try shopping on-line; it saves time looking for particular gifts and you can compare prices and shipping rates.
- Send gifts by the most inexpensive way you can find. Compare mailing rates and options to avoid expensive overnight deliveries.
- Throw a holiday pot-luck for friends and relatives.
- When in doubt, try gift cards to movies theaters, department stores, or restaurants.
For the socially conscious student who wants to give back to the community while giving presents at the same time, here are a few great charitable options:
- Pick an ornament off the annual Giving Tree and buy a gift for someone underprivileged. A tree can be found in the Hege Library, Hendrix Hall, and Founders Hall.
- Shop for gifts online at thehungerstore.com, you can buy cool fair-trade gifts and all the proceeds go to homeless-based and other charities.
- Create a delicious organic fruit basket with produce from Deep Roots Market, Greensboro's cooperative natural food grocery, or any cooperative food near you.
- Give a free "certificate" to baby-sit for a friend, shovel a snowy driveway, or a relaxing massage, instead of a material gift.
- Wrap your gift in packaging that will not go to waste. Try reusable wrapping like gift bags, decorative boxes, or newspaper (especially the color comics) instead of commercial wrapping paper.
- Limit your gift-giving pool. Swap presents only with family and close friends.
- For neighbors and co-workers try making baked goods or holiday greeting cards.
- Make gift baskets, they're always popular and inexpensive.
- Try shopping on-line; it saves time looking for particular gifts and you can compare prices and shipping rates.
- Send gifts by the most inexpensive way you can find. Compare mailing rates and options to avoid expensive overnight deliveries.
- Throw a holiday pot-luck for friends and relatives.
- When in doubt, try gift cards to movies theaters, department stores, or restaurants.
For the socially conscious student who wants to give back to the community while giving presents at the same time, here are a few great charitable options:
- Pick an ornament off the annual Giving Tree and buy a gift for someone underprivileged. A tree can be found in the Hege Library, Hendrix Hall, and Founders Hall.
- Shop for gifts online at thehungerstore.com, you can buy cool fair-trade gifts and all the proceeds go to homeless-based and other charities.
- Create a delicious organic fruit basket with produce from Deep Roots Market, Greensboro's cooperative natural food grocery, or any cooperative food near you.
- Give a free "certificate" to baby-sit for a friend, shovel a snowy driveway, or a relaxing massage, instead of a material gift.
- Wrap your gift in packaging that will not go to waste. Try reusable wrapping like gift bags, decorative boxes, or newspaper (especially the color comics) instead of commercial wrapping paper.
Be the first to comment on this story