Lots of bloggers put out-of-budget items on their guides. I’m sharing my favorite under fifty-dollar gifts for the holiday shopper who doesn’t want to break the bank! If you’re in the same boat as I am and completely forgot about Black Friday and Cyber Monday, here’s a post-sale, post-Christmas gift guide.
Many magazines are holding on for dear life right now. RIP to the print version of my longtime love, Teen Vogue. The publishing industry needs your support! Magazines are such a great way to get reading in for those who aren’t bookworms. Other favorites of mine include Bon Appétit, Departures, and Vanity Fair, which coincide with some of my favorite things: food, travel, and fashion!
Side note: If you haven’t seen any of BA’s YouTube videos, close this page right now. Claire Saffitz is a gift to this world, and I am spreading her Gospel.
A newspaper subscription is also a great idea, whether print or digital.
For a time, I was subscribed to The Washington Post, The New York Times, and The Boston Globe! Times and Globe come with magazines, which are quick reads with stories more casual than hard-hitting, front-page news, but still within the realm of interests of the subscribing community. Though I love Twitter, Buzzfeed, and other sites as much as the next person, I always feel better getting my news from a trusted source like a newspaper or lauded magazine. Gift cards are perfect for those hard to shop for friends or those who love practical presents! As a college student, gift cards to the local grocery store help keep up my snack addiction but don’t hurt my wallet. I’ve also asked for an Apple gift card this year as I’m finding myself in need of a new phone. Bye-bye, iPhone 7! Hello, iPhone 11 Pro (hopefully!)
One of my friends wouldn’t be caught dead without perfect nails, so a certificate for a mani-pedi at a local salon could save her around $50 and make me the best gift-giver of the year!
A cheaper alternative in the Gen Z/Millennial market that I’m also considering: polish from Los Angeles-based nail care company Olive & June! At eight (eight!) dollars a polish, this long-lasting, pigmented paint is quite the deal for the quality. Each shade is inspired by and named after an inspirational woman. My favorite shade is GH, an essential pinky neutral. Even better: All of O&J’s polishes are Vegan and Cruelty-Free! They’re the Glossier of nails.
For your earthy-crunchy, hippy-dippy, free-to-be-you and-me friends, I have so many ideas. I am passionate about sustainability, so I try to avoid single-use plastics, I actively recycle, and I try my hardest not to buy from fashion brands using unethical or environmentally unsafe practices. Wooden utensils, reusable straws (i.e. FinalStraw), bento boxes, tote bags… really any item made of single-use plastic or an otherwise non-renewable source has a sustainable alternative!
Sure, the price may sting a bit at first, but think of all the money your friend (or you, no shame! #TreatYoSelf) will be saving in the long run without having to continue to buy all the products they use and dispose of daily! Amazon is always an accessible shopping center but patronizing a local and/or small business is worth the higher price because of the personal touch and verifiable ethics in creating their wares.
Good gifting to all, and to all a good night.
