Christmas on a Student Budget

It’s now approaching the festive season and Christmas is coming to town! However, the rising cost of living might put you off fully enjoying the holiday. In this blog, I’ll take you through my tips for spending carefully and having a great Christmas on a budget as a university student.

 

1.    DIY gifts and decorations 

It can be much more affordable for you to create presents and decorations. You can buy DIY materials from the Works, Poundland, and the Card Factory in the Huddersfield town centre, to create a variety of adorable gifts for your loved ones, such as Christmas cards, cute little Christmas figures such as elves, Santa Claus, snowmen, Christmas trees and lots more. You can bake cakes, gingerbread, and any kind of other sweet treats for your family and friends. 

People are usually very pleased to receive a gift that you have put time and effort into making. If you don’t have time to make DIY gifts, you can buy presents and decorations from local markets, TK Maxx, and second- hand shops as they can be more affordable, and you can sometimes pick up a bargain. Dr Claire McCamley and Dr Omar Khaled Abdelrahman have recently written an interesting piece for The Conversation entitled Gifts of Christmas past: buy second hand to give your loved ones the gift of nostalgia and imagination which can give you some ideas for great Christmas presents. 

The Christmas holiday season would not be the same without festive decorations. You can make your home decorations from materials that you bought to make DIY gifts such as building your own Christmas wreath for your door, a gingerbread house, baubles, and anything else you want to make! You can save a lot of money this way. Decorating your house and setting up for Christmas is an enjoyable activity you can do with family and friends, so ensure you enjoy it to the full!

2.    Christmas dinner on a budget and what to do with leftovers

Normally, it’s tempting to spend a lot on Christmas dinner for family gatherings. It’s ideal to have a shopping list, as this way you can plan your meal, ensuring there’s something for everyone, without having too many leftovers. If there are leftovers, they can be stored in the fridge to use in different meals for the next days to avoid food waste and save up cooking time. You can also freeze the food and enjoy the batches in the months that follow Christmas. 

Most supermarkets will have special offers such as discounts, seasonal foods, Christmas novelties and decorations, so many people find themselves overspending on unnecessary items. Window shopping can also contribute to your over-expenditure, so try to avoid this, and always ask yourself if you really need a particular item, which will help you stay on budget.  You should also give yourself a ‘cool off' period, where you wait a day or two before buying something you see, to make sure you don’t spend unnecessarily.  If you want to save money of gifts, you could even offer to take charge of cooking for the family this Christmas or help whoever is doing the cooking!

Also, remember to check the supermarkets opening times, as different stores have different working hours during the festive seasons. I hope you enjoy shopping, cooking and helping with Christmas dinner.

3.    Seasonal jobs to earn money

It’s the time of the year that many jobs in town need staff to help them deliver the best service to customers. You can search and apply for temporary jobs to earn money. Many shops, restaurants and pubs take on additional staff at Christmas time. You can find more information about available positions on the university Jobshop, job sites like Indeed, or your school and department’s social media platforms as they are always looking for student ambassadors. You can also see different job opportunities through your university email and even Brightspace updates, so keep your eyes peeled. You could even hand in your CVs to different businesses in town. So, if you are looking for a seasonal job to help you earn money for the holiday, get searching!

4.    Try not to put too much pressure on yourself!

I am sure that you all have different plans for Christmas like catching up with studying, spending time with family and friends, relaxing, or going travelling. It can be worrying when you spend a massive amount of time thinking about Christmas preparations and bringing joy to your loved ones. However, what’s most important is your well-being and mental health. It’s essential that you feel happy and take time to relax over the festive period. Christmas is a special occasion for you to enjoy time with family and friends, look back on what you’ve all achieved this past year and prepare for the new upcoming year. So, try not to put pressure on yourself this Christmas and remember it’s the thought that counts.

I hope you all have a great, cosy and joyful Christmas holiday!