The holiday season is something most students look forward to.Classes are over until the new year, and it’s time to celebrate the end of this year with the family and friends that you love. Though there are many great things about the holidays, there are two that stand out to me: giving and receiving gifts, and the desserts.
The holiday season is something most students look forward to.Classes are over until the new year, and it’s time to celebrate the end of this year with the family and friends that you love. Though there are many great things about the holidays, there are two that stand out to me: giving and receiving gifts, and the desserts.
FYI: Gifts don’t have to be expensive to make someone’s holiday a special one.
But on a college budget, it’s hard to give everyone you love something amazing…or is it? There are some thoughtful do-it-yourself gift ideas that are extremely cheap and easy to make—even for someone in college. Most of these involve desserts, which you can give away or keep for yourself.
Gingerbread house decorating party
As a kid, I remember that my friend would hold a gingerbread house decorating party every year. Instead of gingerbread houses (which are still a possibility, just use graham crackers as walls), you can decorate ice cream cones instead. Turn them upside down and decorate with frosting and candy pieces of your choice.
This can easily turn into a party. Invite friends over and ask everyone to bring their favorite candy to decorate. It divides the cost and is a great way to have fun with friends before going home to your family.
Hot chocolate at your party
At a tree-decorating party—or any festive holiday gathering—hot chocolate is a perfect soul-warming beverage. This year, bypass the store-bought stuff and make your own! You can double it up as a gift and a dessert for another occasion. This recipe makes a ton of mix so it can be used for many things, from stocking your own pantry to giving as a gift in a colorful canister.
Homemade hot chocolate
Mix together 12 cups of powdered milk (one 25.6-oz box), 2 cups of powdered sugar, a 2-pound can of Nestle Nesquik and 1 cup of powdered creamer.
You can use the mix in many ways. Keep some for yourself, bring it to a party or throw some in a cute baggie or a jar and add some marshmallows. Attach a gift tag that reads “Add as much mix you want to some hot water and enjoy,” and you’ve got a great gift.
If you don’t want to use a jar, put some of the mix in a plastic baggie and place inside a personalized mug. Get cheap, white mugs from the dollar store and use Sharpies to decorate them. Once you have your design, just throw the mugs into an oven at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. Make sure to take them out carefully and let the mugs cool completely.
If you do choose to use jars, you can also fill them with a sugar-based body scrub and throw in a candy cane for the females in your life.
Peppermint scrub
To fill a pint-sized jar you’ll need 2 cups of sugar, 1/3 cup light olive oil, 2 tablespoons coconut oil and 1/4 teaspoon peppermint oil (omit this if you prefer it unscented). You could even add red food dye to half the batch and layer it in the jar, alternating red and white like a candy cane.
DIY ornaments
At the dollar store (a great place in general for DIY supplies), buy a set of plain ball ornaments. You can turn these into almost anything. Draw squiggles on the ball with puff paint, then paint over it with another color for a textured look. Mod Podge or glue some decorative paper or maps around the ball to make it personalized. Or simply paint a snowman’s face or a reindeer complete with twig “antlers.”
Don’t be afraid to get creative and have fun—the more personal your gift, the better.
