Hot Holiday Gift Ideas, Cool Low Prices
Megan LaBar
The holiday season is upon us — but so is the tuition bill for next semester, so you want to give unique gifts without breaking the bank. Here’s how:
Snapfish.com offers a cool gift that won’t flatten your wallet. Customize a calendar online using your own photos. You choose the color scheme and theme and even add reminders to special days throughout the year (like your own birthday, hint, hint.) Not bad for under $25. Staples.com offers the same feature for about $15. For you slackers, both guarantee delivery before Christmas.
The online auction house eBay.com is a great tool for the RVCC bargain hunter. Electronics, perfume, clothing and jewelry can cost much less than retail. Even better: buy slightly used items in relatively good condition for about half the retail price. Sellers display a bunch of photos of their wares so you have a clear idea of what the stuff will look like. If you’re unsure about an item, eBay lets you to contact the seller with questions before you even bid on it. Another great thing is the ‘buy it now’ feature which lets you avoid the bidding wars altogether and buy the item immediately.
If you’d rather handle the actual merchandise than look at an image on a flat screen display, Circuit City and Best Buy often insert big discount coupons in the weekend mailers. These coupons are worth using, especially for big ticket items. GPS systems, laptops, MP3 players and digital cameras are almost always listed with mucho dollars off the retail price. Of course, you can take the pain out of selecting a specific present by doling out gift cards. The iTunes gift card, for example, can be had in denominations as low as $5 dollars – that’s five more songs on a music lover’s playlist!
Creating a gift basket is another way to customize a gift cheaply. Craft stores sell wicker baskets in many sizes and styles. For a oenophile, fill a basket with cheeses and crackers and a bottle of wine – many of which can be found for under $12. Bath and Body Works marks down most products 30% during its an annual holiday sale. Pack a basket with some yummy-smelling lotions and bath gels for the hedonist on your list.
As long as you’re in the craft store anyway, why not frame and matte a couple pictures of yourself so your friends and family don’t forget what you look like when classes are back in session. Change a color photo to retro-cool black and white. It’s a good option for you last minute shopper types: framing can often be done same day.
One thing you can do with all the money you’ll save: spend it on a tank of gas to visit friends and family over the holidays. That’s the best gift of all.
