Looking for fun holiday gift ideas that aren’t too Santa-themed or cringe-worthy?
Drop whatever green and red tinsel-tinged gift you’re holding. We’ve got you covered with these fun and inexpensive items you may decide to just keep for yourself.
Crazy calendar
The year is coming to an end, so it’s time to welcome the new year with a brand new calendar to mark exams, parties and other important dates.
However, to make this gift really special, don’t go with the usual themes such as flowers or landscapes.
Get a crazy-themed one with firemen, puppies or provocatively dressed ladies — whatever you think your friend will enjoy most. Calendars.com features all types and plenty of sales, so you don’t have to splurge on an expensive gift.
Onesie pajamas/Snuggie
With the weather getting chillier and more cuddle-friendly, what student wouldn’t want a Snuggie to wear while watching TV or doing homework? And if your friend wouldn’t like that, there’s always the option of getting him or her a cute pair of onesie pajamas. Check out Mysnuggiestore.com and Jumpinjammerz.com. Just the website names themselves get you into the holiday spirit.
Coupon-advice book
This is the epitome of the cheap, last-minute, couldn’t-think-of-anything-else gift. However, if you do it right, it could be the gift of the season.
Write the most hilarious or ridiculous words of advice you can come up with based off of inside jokes or past experiences with your friends, and then make it into a book with some nice arts and crafts touches.
As for the coupons, they could include a free trip to Adele’s, a promise to break into Byrd Stadium or just a nice walk around McKeldin Mall under the stars one night.
This gift leaves a lot up to the imagination and is easily individualized for whomever you want to give it to.
Care package for finals
With the holidays coming up right after exams, why not soften the blow of finals with a small, thoughtful care package? This could include nonperishable food you personally want to get rid of, a CD burned with all of your friends’ favorite throwbacks, a chick flick DVD and maybe a few letters of encouragement. Have fun with it.
Funny USB flash drives
This one is pretty self-explanatory. Find some hilarious-looking USB sticks at usbmonkey.com or other sites such as Amazon to get something perfect for your friend that he or she could also actually use.
Wallet stuffed with surprises
A cute wallet filled with gift cards, some pictures or tickets to his or her favorite concerts or sporting events would show how much thought you put into giving the person something he or she would appreciate.
Touchscreen gloves
Anyone with a smartphone would appreciate this gift. Save your friend the hassle of having to take off his or her gloves in the cold just to check an email. While these can be expensive, there are plenty of good deals on Amazon.
Even if none of the above sounds particularly appealing, the best gifts are often the personal ones.
And if you can’t think of anything, avoid cheesy and just go with sincerity. Even a nicely written letter can sometimes be the best and most thoughtful gift to make you appreciate the people in your life.
Best of luck in all your holiday shopping endeavors.
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