Give gifts without breaking the bank

When Christmas time rolls around, creativity is one of the best ways to show admiration

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Courtesy of Flickr Commons

From fuzzy socks to a foot hammock, buy gifts with ease this year, using these ideas as inspiration.

NINA WILLIS, Evergreen reporter

With the holidays approaching quickly, it can be difficult to buy gifts for loved ones with a college student’s budget.

Ideally, most people want to give something the recipient will appreciate and use or display. With mom, dad, siblings, fellow classmates and significant others to think about, this list tries to cover budget-friendly gift ideas.

Mom and dad

It’s slightly cheesy and pretty cliché, but why not surprise mom, dad or guardian with one of those “world’s best” coffee mugs? Amazon has thousands of styles, starting at about $8.

For parents with a sweet tooth and a passion for coffee, Dry Brew Coffee Chews can give mom or dad a quick pick-me-up to get through the holiday season. Made with condensed coffee, non-dairy creamer and a zero-calorie sweetener, they sell for $18 on Amazon.

A mini foot hammock serves as a silly, yet surprisingly useful, present. With adjustable straps, these little hammocks allow the user to rest their feet comfortably while they work at a desk. Several styles sell for about $12 on Amazon.

A decorated picture frame adds a personal touch without going over budget. A basic picture frame sells for about $10 at Walmart, allowing for creative expression, while giving mom and dad a place to display their favorite photo or artwork.

Brothers and sisters

Siblings can keep earbuds and other cords organized with cord holders sold by Jewelryleather on Etsy. These come in various styles, like hedgehogs, owls, cats and hearts, from $7 to $10.

Fuzzy socks come in a variety of colors and patterns, providing plenty of options to mix and match, for about $3 a pair at Walmart.

Phone wallet cases allow sibling to keep all their important IDs and cards handy while expressing individual style. Depending on the phone type and style, they sell for about $15 on Amazon.

A jar of “chill pills” will surely get a laugh. Simply take a mason jar, fill it your sibling’s favorite candy, like M&M’s or something that sort of resembles a pill, and create a label with instructions.

Fellow classmates

Because most people can agree it’s important to stay hydrated, a new water bottle might make the perfect gift for a fellow classmate. An insulated stainless-steel water bottle goes for $20 on Amazon and comes in 20 different styles.

With “Thor: Ragnarok” coming out last month, Marvel fans might appreciate a replica of Thor’s mighty hammer in keychain form, sold at Hot Topic for $8.

A more creative classmate can add decor to their dorm with a felt succulent kit—perfect for those who want a plant in their room but have zero time to actually take care of it. It sells for $16.99 at Target.

For a break in between study sessions, classmates can carpool to the nearest dollar store and surprise each other with gift basics. For an extra challenge, limit the gifts to $5 and see what friends come up with.

Significant other

To express love in a cute keepsake, make a homemade book with a deck of cards titled “52 Reasons I Love You.” Punch two holes in the side of each card and tie the booklet together with ribbon or string. On the back of each card, glue a square piece of paper with a reason on every one. A deck of cards normally costs about $5.

For a couple who loves to travel together, a scratch-off map allows them to mark their travels or possibly inspire future trips together. Using a coin to scratch off the foil, it can display previous areas traveled. Depending on the brand and size, they sell for $20 to $30 on Amazon.

A mistletoe charm necklace can display Christmas spirit while adding a touch of romance to the holidays. Currently, it sells for $13.99 on Amazon.

Carry a message everywhere with a customized copper wallet insert card. The card has a personalized message with a choice of font. This gift starts at $15 by MetalandIdea on Etsy.