It well and truly is the season, which if you’re anything like me means four weeks of frantically searching the shops for gifts that are more than a vaguely vanilla scented shower gel and loofah combo in the name of showing that you actually care. If you too, are searching for what to get that friend, colleague, family member, who seems to have everything and proves inexplicably tricky to buy for, then The Student has you covered with a few ideas!
One of the most meaningful gifts you can give is often hand made; if you have a particular knack for painting, drawing, knitting, or crocheting it’s a no-brainer that this can materialise into a unique, hand-crafted gift. Even if you’re not particularly creative, there are still plenty of ways to personalise or hand-make your gifts — a hand-made card and gift-voucher to their favourite coffee shop I’ve found goes a long way. My favourite present, however, is a personalised calendar for parents or grandparents filled with family photos! It’s a great way to help them stay organised and on top of birthdays and events, and equally brightens their homes with even more photos of their favourite child — and my little sister too.
One of the best pieces of advice I’ve been given vis-a-vis gifting presents is to find something that fixes a problem, as it both solves the issue at hand and shows that you really listen and pay attention to your friends or family. For example, if they constantly mention how they’ve had trouble maintaining a healthy sleep schedule, a sunrise alarm clock, heated blanket, or eye mask could be a great gift. Or, if they’re always losing their keys or struggling to keep all their cards in one place, small gifts like keychains or wallets can be a lifesaver. I personally like to incorporate friends’ star signs, birth flowers, or favourite motifs into small presents like this, which often makes it feel more personalised and unique than ones found in everyday shops. Equally, if you notice your friend has quite literally worn the same staple hat, scarf or scrunchie every day since first year despite the edges looking like they’re about to split in two, finding them a replacement they can love just as much is a great idea. Funky accessories and little trinkets are also a great way to shop small, and support independent businesses like Edinburgh-based Blue Yarn Studio!
Another great method is often giving presents related to a shared interest. There is quite literally nothing worse than when your mum tries to give you Taylor Swift merch and as thankful as you are, it ends up falling into the ‘obnoxiously-cringe merch that never quite sees the light of day’ category. If you and your friend have a shared favourite artist, movie, show, or sport, subtle (and heavy on the subtle) merchandise is a great option, and you are expertly well-equipped at knowing what constitutes desirable and socially acceptable merchandise. Graphic T-Shirts are versatile and fun options but one of my personal favourite’s for any bookworm is the T2 x Penguin Gift Set, which comes with a beautifully decorated Mug and Set of Tea, matching your chosen book. Equally, local shops like Pig in The Sky have a great variety of unique and fun merchandise, and shopping locally can save the stress and worry of presents being delivered on time.
Ultimately, the best Christmas present is one that shows you truly know someone and have thought more about their present than just grabbing the first thing you see on the shelf, and the process of buying, making, or personalising this will often bring you more rewards too.
Photo by Clint Patterson on Unsplash.