Riddle me this, readers: What’s human, penniless, and stressed all over?
STUDENTS. WE ARE. US.
That’s right. And the fact is, whether you celebrate Christmas or Kwanzaa, Hanukkah or Yuletide, Boxing Day or Bodhi, you like presents. In fact, you probably love presents. You probably love presents so much that you thoroughly enjoy giving presents! But since we are poor, and have very little time in the midst of exam season to spend hours at the mall, all of the items on this list cost around $20 and are available for online purchase.
1. For your boyfriend:
Checkered PJ Pants (Gap) – $24.95
Unless you’re robbing the cradle, your boyfriend is likely in his early to mid-20s. As such, it is no longer acceptable for the man in your life to sleep in boxers (or nothing at all). With winter upon us, get your boyfriend a pair of comfy, cozy, flannel pyjama pants! Consider this present your boyfriend’s entrance into manhood, one sleep at a time. Plus, there’s nothing better than cuddling in flannel in front of the TV on a cold winter’s night, so I highly recommend you get yourself some polka-dotted pyjama shorts to be equally as cute under the covers!
2. For your girlfriend:
Bow Necklace (Etsy) – $14.26
Over the years, I’ve heard many a boyfriend complain that their girlfriends are hard to shop for, and honestly, I don’t buy it. The way I see it, you have two options when it comes to buying your girlfriend a gift: 1) ask her best friend if she’s dropped any hints, or 2) get her jewelry. While I can’t claim to speak for every girl, I highly doubt any lady would be dissatisfied with this beautiful bow necklace from Apple Latte on Etsy.com. Apple Tree is full of timeless, affordable, and feminine rings, bracelets, necklaces, and earrings – and since this gift is so inexpensive, I suggest augmenting it with another item from the store. The necklace above is available in silver, gold, and rose gold, and while the rose gold is my personal favourite, I think it’s stunning in every colour.
3. For the friend who has it all:
Peppermint Bark (Indigo) – $20
I don’t care who you are, what your gender, is, or where you live. The fact is, everybody loves peppermint bark. Everybody. If your friend has it all (including a gym membership), why not try to sabotage them with a couple (hundred) extra calories? The bark pictured above is from Indigo, and it comes in a beautiful, red tin – which means no wrapping for you! It’s certainly better to make a gift like peppermint bark from scratch, but seriously, it’s finals season, and ain’t nobody got time for that. If you do got time for that, check out this recipe by food bloggers Cathie & Steve. Their bark looks INCREDIBLE and not too difficult or time consuming.
4. For your beauty-obsessed bestie:
88 Shade Palette (Coastal Scents) – $10.42 (reg. $18.95)
As a self-proclaimed beauty junkie myself, I must say that purchasing the 88 shade palette from Coastal Scents this summer was one of the best beauty-related investments I’ve made in recent memory! Beyond the fact that this palette contains almost every colour you’ll ever need (including a variety of matte, satin, and shimmer shades), every shade is highly pigmented, and the price-to-quality ratio is impossible to beat. Coastal Scents sells a variety of 88 shade palettes in a similar price range, including an ultra shimmer and warm-toned palette, so feel free to consider those options for the ladies (and lads!) in your life who favour sparkly shades and neutral tones.
5. For the sports freak in your life:
Water Bottle (Lululemon) – $18
I don’t really understand the phenomenon of “exercise,” but apparently some people enjoy sports, sweating, and breathlessness, and consider themselves “athletic.” Although I frequent the gym rather rarely, I know an awesome water bottle when I see one, and this one from Lululemon almost makes me want to work out… The key word being “almost.” The phrase on the bottle also makes me think of LMFAO’s “I’m Sexy and I Know It.” Added bonus.
6. For your most studious friend:
Lapdesk (Indigo) – $24.50
Yes, this lapdesk from Indigo slightly exceeds the $20 spending limit for this gift guide, but considering how inexpensive most of the other gifts are (you’re welcome) and the fact that your most studious friend likely doesn’t have a life (sorry), I figured the extra $4.50 was warranted. I love, love, love this lapdesk and use it almost every day, whenever I want to study in bed on or the sofa. The lapdesk is also portable, as you can see from the handy-dandy strap in the photo, but, to be honest, I have no idea why portability is relevant nor why your friend would ever want or need to take his/her lapdesk anywhere. But hey, extra features are always welcome!
7. For your chillest friend:
Winter Tree Bubble Teapot (David’s Tea) – $19.50
Your chillest friend is the person who hosts parties on weeknights, finds the time to watch every newly released movie before you, and appears entirely unaffected by the perils of papers, exams, and assignments associated with undergraduate life. There is nothing more calming, in my opinion, than tea, and this teapot from David’s Tea is the perfect size, colour, and pattern for your most relaxed amigo. I mean, doesn’t just looking at it make you feel serene and stress-free? Yeah, well, that’s how your chillest friend feels all the time. You may as well perpetuate their state of mind with a teapot.
8. Your anti-capitalist cohort who disregards Christmas as a flawed social construct:
Chilean Rainstick (Ten Thousand Villages) – $24.00
Sure, your anti-authoritarian BFF may be somewhat Grinch-like, but deep down inside, everyone appreciates a thoughtful gift – especially when said gift is a fair-trade product which helps support artisans in the developing world. Take your hipster friend out for some fair-trade coffee at a local cafe, and present them with your gift: a hand-crafted Chilean rain stick, perfect for jam sessions with friends, shaking out a little stress relief, and displaying in the living room as home decor. Check out the retailer, Ten Thousand Villages, for hundreds of beautiful, fair-trade gift ideas! My brother owned a rain stick as a child, and I have fond memories of sneaking into his room and claiming it for my own – only to be discovered as the culprit minutes later as loud and obviously rain-like sounds materialized from my room.
9. For the friend who’s a liiiittle too into brand names:
Paper gem coasters (Kate Spade) – $20
Here’s the thing about your friends who are into high fashion: they have expensive taste. As much as you’d like to meet their standards with your gift, shopping for designer goods with only $20 in your pocket is next to impossible. Can you imagine walking into Michael Kors and explaining to the sales assistant that you’re interested in purchasing a gift, but can only spare a twenty? Actually, can someone please give that a shot on film? ANYWAY, these Kate Spade coasters, aside from meeting the {QSS} gift guide’s $20 limit, fit within Kate Spade’s jewel-toned ascetic and promise to brighten up even the bleakest of student apartments.
10. For your madre:
Bird Jewelry Dish (Pottery Barn) – $24.83
I love this bedside jewelry bowl for so many reasons, not only because it is classic and timeless, but because I feel as though it perfectly symbolizes the relationship between mother and child. Trust me: I am fully aware of how cheesy that sounds, but this bird’s nest jewelry dish from Pottery Barn captures the sense of comfort, security, and protection that can only be found in a mother’s love. For those of us attending college away from home, our moms can place their earrings and trinkets in the bowl at the end of each day, and know that even though her children are not home, she will never be an empty nester.
11. Your padre:
America Again (Indigo) – $21.11 (reg. $39.99)
If you father is anything like mine, he is decidedly less sentimental than your mother. And that’s okay, because you know that the way to your father’s heart lies through laughter. My dad and I have spent many memorable hours watching The Colbert Report together – but each and every time we do, we end up having to rewind the show multiple times because we couldn’t hear Colbert’s jokes over our own laughter. Colbert’s America Again: Re-Becoming the Greatness We Never Weren’t - in addition to having the longest title ever - promises to be an outrageously funny read, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it! Now, if your father falls on the opposite side of the political spectrum, you could always get him Glenn Beck’s recent take on liberal Cowards. To be honest, I’m not entirely sure which book my dad would find more amusing…
12. For your brothers and sisters:
Family Guy, Seasons 1 & 2 (HMV) – $19.99
There is no better way for siblings to bond than by laughing at the dysfunction of others, and if you’re on the hunt for some good ol’ familial infighting, Family Guy tops the list. Allow your gift of Seasons 1 & 2 to form the foundation of an in-house Family Guy collection. You’ll thank me for it on a rainy day.
Oh, and in the midst of all this on-line holiday hullaballoo, don’t forget to pick a little something special up for yourself! The onus for choosing that gift, though, lies squarely on your shoulders.
Happy Holidays from {Que Sarah Sarah}!
