The holidays are among us and that means gift-giving is near! Gift-giving can be stressful with so many items on the market, originals vs “dupes” and finding something that is heartfelt enough to give to your friends or loved ones. Along with gifts for others, it can be a struggle to think of needs for yourself as well. Luckily, below I have the guide to the perfect gift for your loved ones or for yourself!
A nice water bottle can go a long way for someone that has an old one, one that doesn’t keep water cold or just uses a plain plastic bottle. Buying reusable water bottles helps the environment and can encourage people to drink more water daily! As an avid Hydroflask user I would suggest the 24-32oz Hydroflask as a great gift. Not to stray away from my favorite water bottle being a Hydroflask, but I was given a 30oz Stanley and would be lying if I said I don’t love it as well. Though it is more prone to spilling than a Hydroflask does, the handle makes it easy to carry it around!
A Shutterfly custom photo book will express great memories and be able to be displayed all year long in your home or your loved one’s! I guarantee whomever you give this to will be grateful to look back on the memories you put into one place. Simply explore the Shutterfly website and see the prompt to make a custom book (you won’t regret it!).
Everyone has a favorite sports team or a special performance they would love to experience! I suggest searching for affordable tickets to a fun sporting event for any sports fanatic or musical performance for anyone that wishes they could get a shot on Broadway. Ticketmaster, StubHub, Vivid Seats and Seat Geek are the websites where I have often bought both sporting and musical tickets.
Jewelry can be a beautiful reminder of friendship, love or admiration for anyone you give it to. Whether they like gold, silver, rose gold or like to mix metals, a personalized jewelry accessory stands out as a great gift for the holiday season. Websites such as Gorjana and Pandora have stunning bracelets, necklaces and lockets to give to a loved one or a significant other.
Now onto the fun stuff for you as the reader! It can be tough to boil down the exact things you need instead of want this holiday season with so many items to choose from. Let’s highlight a few things you yourself can place on your wishlist!
Gift Cards are an underrated gift as a college student. With so many possible places and experiences, gift cards have a special place in my heart during the holidays. I usually ask for gift cards of things that I dread spending money on such as DoorDash, Uber/Uber Eats and Amazon. You won’t regret putting this on your list (think of that late night DoorDash crave and then seeing the total for the order – yikes!)
A nice winter jacket is a must have for winter in the Northeast. Puffer jackets are a common fashion trend on campus but also a nice parka could go a long way. I rotate through two puffer jackets, depending on the occasion at school, one black and one beige. Northface, Patagonia and Carhartt are just a few jackets that are great to research which style could fit your winter vibe.
Everyday sneakers are hard to come by. Do you want to keep them spotless or do you not mind if they get a bit dirty? I swear by my New Balance 574 Core sneakers. I have had a pair for almost three years but will be asking for a new color pair this Christmas due to them going from pure white to a murky brown with many wears. New Balance, Adidas, Tretorn, Reebok, OnClouds and Hokas are among the most stylish and comfortable everyday sneakers I have seen on campus and in my hometown.
Cologne or perfume to mark your signature scent is essential. Researching what scent notes you like mixed together and what brand you like are influential to the decision. Going to an in-person store to try the perfume or cologne is the best decision to see how it works for you! I recommend going to Ulta, Sephora, Macy’s or anywhere you find fragrances to try them on and make your decision!
Rushing to get the perfect Christmas gift can be quite the hassle during the holiday time. Thinking about what gift to get someone close to you is a tough decision but narrowing them down to things that are practical and have great uses for all seasons is the way to go!
