Finals week is approaching, marking the end of a long semester.
What's in store after finals week? Winter break, which means home-cooked meals, free laundry and the holidays. But while the holidays season is a fun time, it can be stressful for some students running low on cash who need to buy presents for their family and friends. Here are a few ways to make your presents meaningful, without breaking the bank.
MAKE: Sometimes, making a gift for a friend or family member can be as meaningful, if not more, than buying one. If you and your significant other have a few inside jokes, or you want to show your friends how much they mean to you, try making them a present. Buy a large picture frame (or which ever size you like) and on a piece of paper of the same size, make a collage to reflect your past few months with them. Paste photos, football tickets, movie stubs, napkins from restaurants -- any little things that you did together. This is a great gift that is sure to mean more than any gift you could buy in a store. If you're looking to make gifts for family members, head down the craft aisle at Wal-Mart or even Michaels Arts and Crafts Store. Here you can find plenty of ideas for presents that include everything from decoupaging picture frames to making your own ornaments.
COOK: If you are looking to get your friends a little something for the holidays but don't have enough money to buy your whole group of friends gifts, try baking them presents. It's easy to go out and buy cookie dough and throw it on a pan, but try making your present a little different this year. Fudge is often a little more expensive but quite indulgent. Show your friends just how indulgent and culinary you are by whipping up a little five-minute fudge. Courtesy of Rachael Ray from the Food Network, all you do is combine one (14 oz.) can of condensed milk, one bag of chocolate chips, Ã~ of a bag of butterscotch chips and one teaspoon of vanilla extract. Throw it all into a pot and wait for it to melt. Once it's done, pour it into any shape pan you'd like and place it in the fridge to cool. That's pretty much it and you can divide it up and pass it out to your friends for the holiday. It takes less than five minutes to make, less than $10 to buy and lasts longer than the holidays to enjoy.
BUY: Sometimes we just don't have enough time in the day to stop what we're doing and bake for our friends or make their presents. Don't forget that you're a Penn State student and you should share the Big Ten win with your family and friends at home. The Family Clothesline, 352 E. College Ave., has a great selection of Penn State tees that range from $6 to $12. This store is a great place to find a lot of great buys, such as Penn State ornaments at prices as low as $10. Another great gift for your friends and family is the gift certificate. A $15 gift card to Starbucks for your mom could mean up to five lattes for her enjoyment, and every time she pulls out that card, she'll remember it was you who got it for her. Also, if one of your friends is your ride home for the holiday try thanking him or her with a gift card to Sheetz or any local gas station. Even though gas prices have dropped, it's nice to have money for gas.
Keep in mind that presents don't have to be very lavish; it really is the thought that counts. So this holiday season, be wise with your money.
