As the sweet sound of Band-Aid, Slade, and The Pogues are continuously playing on the radio, it can only mean one thing. Christmas is quickly approaching and that means it’s time to get presents sorted for your nearest and dearest. However, as most high street retailers are closed, more gifts will be purchased online than ever. So, this is the year to be organised and get those orders in, to avoid running around Ballymena like myself on Christmas eve (things that will likely still happen) (I know some of you already have your Christmas shopping sorted which baffles me).
With the year it’s been, I’m particularly excited about Christmas. However, some of us are recognising how much was previously spent on presents and are prioritising spending time with family, instead of splashing out on expensive, material items.
Many people our age are still students, or work part-time, and don’t have a lot of money to spend. So, I thought, why not create a list of budget-friendly gift ideas for 2020. I personally love buying presents for my family and friends, but it doesn’t have to break the bank either.
Here, I have listed some 2020 budget friendly gift ideas:
1. Personalised Gifts
These types of gifts are great if you’re on a budget, however, they aren’t a last-minute option and do require a little bit of thought beforehand:
Get a photo framed
This sounds so silly and small, but people love to look at themselves. Whether it’s a picture of them as a child, a rare family picture, or a cute one of them with their dog, there are endless pictures you can get framed that shows you’ve put thought into it and it doesn’t cost much at all. You can pick up a frame from Etsy or TK Maxx for around £5-£10 and get a photo printed for very little. I use the Free Prints app on my phone and you get 45 free prints per month, only having to pay for delivery.
Personalised mug/ glass/ notebook
Etsy is a great website for these things, as many small businesses sell their merchandise here, and supporting them is always a great thing to do (shop local, eh). They have some beautiful personalised mugs.
In line with supporting small businesses, Zaraceramics makes her own beautiful ceramic mugs from scratch locally. She sells out really quickly though, so you’ll have to check when her drop dates are on her stories.
If they’re a wine drinker, you could get them a really nice wine glass, or a personalised whiskey glass, or a notebook if they like to write. There are loads of small, personalised gifts on Etsy and many other websites.
Make a Scrapbook/ Photo book
My sister recently did this for my mammy’s birthday and she absolutely loved it. You could do it by hand if you’re creative and have a lot of time on your hands, or get a photo book made up on Photobox in time for Christmas. This is a great idea if you’re far away from your loved ones and want to gift them something personal.
Canvas/ Family Photo/ Painting
This will be more expensive than the other two, but you could get a local artist to paint a family photo, or you could go for the cheaper option of getting a photo printed onto a canvas.
You could get a voucher for a professional photograph. This is a really nice idea for someone who wants to mark a special occasion. Seek out a local photographer or ask around for recommendations. Keri Leigh Kearney is a fantastic photographer for anyone from Co. Antrim or surrounding areas, as is Emma Kenny.
2. Practical Gifts
Think of their hobbies.
Do they like to run? Maybe a new pair of trainers, or a half zip.
Are they a reader? Go through what they like to read and visit a book shop for some new book ideas.
Are they into makeup? This is sometimes hard if you don’t know what shade they are, but go for more generic things like lipstick, skincare, an eyeshadow palette, or brushes. Many brands do great Christmas gift sets, but make sure it’s from a brand that they like.
Think of what this person likes to do and think of some practical gifts that they can actually use on a daily basis. If all else fails; socks, underwear, pyjamas, and dressing gowns are always a solid option.
Make sure you definitely know what their hobbies are before you buy them something specific.
3. Vouchers
Now, vouchers may not be the best idea this year because many places are closed, but here’s to hoping that they’ll open up again soon.
It’s up to you if you want to get someone a voucher with the potential that the business could close or they may not get using it for a while. Hopefully, that wouldn’t happen and it’s always something for them to look forward to!
Here are some gift voucher ideas:
- Vouchers for treatments such as hair, nails, massage, facial, microblading/ HD brows, eyelash extensions.
- Restaurants, hotels, adventure days- try Groupon, they give you some good deals around your area.
- Voucher for their favourite shop- e-gift cards are available for purchase online.
Normally, I’d also suggest looking for concert tickets, comedy gigs, or music events but I’m not sure how wise that would be this year considering most are cancelled for the foreseeable. They’re also not that budget-friendly x
4. Food and Drink
Food- If you’re still stuck for ideas, you could get them a bottle of their favourite alcohol, chocolates, or sweets.
Baking- If you’re good at baking, you could make them a Christmas cake or any other dessert if you hate Christmas cake (rotten).
Hamper- get yourself a basket and fill it up with different bits of food and drink. Shop around for deals and you can actually make a very substantial gift, fairly cheaply.
Cheeseboard- if they love cheese, what better time than Christmas for a big cheeseboard? Rachymcfood has recently started making cheeseboards that look unbelievable.
5. Charity Gifts
Friends of Africa have a Christmas Gift Campaign where you can select a project you want to donate to, then receive a gift certificate, Christmas card, and envelope in the post to gift to someone. Many other charities do similar campaigns, such as hamper collections and shoebox appeals.
If this person volunteers themselves or is involved with any specific charity, this might be a nice idea for them. It’s also a good idea for that person who ‘doesn’t want anything at all’, as it is a selfless gift to receive.
6. Give them £20 and call it a day
Go to your nearest ATM, lift out £20 and give it to them. Merry Christmas.
I hope this has given you some ideas and inspiration to complete (or start) your Christmas shopping. If your friends and family like my ideas, I’m gonna need you to transfer me £5 on Paypal. Dm for my details x
Merry Christmas Everyone!
Lots of love,
Eilís x
