The holiday season is officially here. Decorations are going up and lists are being checked and checked again. People are looking all over for the best and brightest gifts. For college students, however, the holiday season is a time for spending money that many may not have. Is there a way to make this holiday season less hard on the student wallet?
To solve this question, for the first time this year, the Financial Aid Department sponsored an event to give some less-costly gift ideas. This event, entitled Gifts from Heart and Hand, billed as a good event to “plan your holiday gift giving now with great gift ideas for under $10.”
PSU financial aid associate director and $MART program director Crystal Finefrock explains the fair as an venue for general gift ideas. “It has nothing to do with a specific holiday. People could do it if it was somebody’s birthday, whatever, a thank you gift, anything basically, that you’re trying to show appreciation for or any type of emotion for. You don’t really have to spend a lot of money to do it, and sometimes it’s the things that cost the least or cost nothing that really mean most to people and a lot of that has kind of come out as people have shared some stories with us. So basically, the whole idea is to try to provide people with different ideas of what they can do for a holiday giving or any type of gift-giving that’s under $10 and sometimes free,” Finefrock said.
Over 400 attended the fair, which included about gift ideas. The ideas, which came from multiple sources including students, faculty and downtown stores, were collected onto a CD as well. The CD includes each idea with instructions on how to put it together, where to get the materials and other important information, as well as a picture of many of the gifts. Here are several gift ideas which may help you this holiday season.
Donations
Figure out a cause that is important to the gift-receiver and donate some of your time to it. This gift requires no money, but only the gift of time. It can show the individual how much you care about their views. Finefrock said, “For example, if I was going to give that to you as a gift and I didn’t have any money I might say, well, let’s say humane society is important to you, you like animals, I might volunteer for four hours at the Humane Society, and that’s kind of my gift to you.”
Create your own chalkboard!
All this gift requires is a little time and some basic materials. “You can go to Home Depot or Lowes, get a little piece of plywood. They cut it into little squares, you can get like like four of them. [Then] you buy a little piece of chalkboard spray,” said Finefrock. A simple spray and a hook at the top, and you have chalkboards!
Personalized birdfeeders
In a similar vein, many hardware-type stores sell rough birdhouses and feeders of plain wood. Buy some paint, and create a masterpiece for your gift-receivers winged friends to eat from. Surely many hours of birdwatching will follow.
Create a simple themed gift basket
Find your way to the dollar store or even the grocery store for some simple ingredients for a basket full of fun potential. For example, buy popcorn and candy for a movie night basket, create a travel basket for an adult or small child or buy utensils, syrup, and jimmies for an ice cream sundae basket. These simple components add up to a great and thoughtful gift.
Knitting patterns, personalized frames, simple fleece blankets and more can make this Christmas a little bit lighter on your wallet. Stop by the Financial Aid Office and pick up one of the extra CDs today!