Well hello there, this feels a lot like an awkward date given that I now have to introduce myself and tell you a little bit about me. Have no fear though, I've not shaved my legs especially or done my hair therefore not making this a date. You can relax once more. My name is Hannah and I am a blogger. I write the blog
Student Life which is pretty immense, and I'm not bias in the slightest. I am however heavily sarcastic. I have been asked by Louise to contribute a gift guide or two for Sprinkle of Glitter, let us all spread the generosity together!
Ooh la la, I feel like one of those ladies on the QVC shopping channel with all my recommended gift knowledge. If only I too had beautifully manicured hands and a questionable Christmas jumper. Sadly I am not a rockin' QVC lady, rather I am a third year student with much knowledge of university life. Such knowledge definitely provides useful for this gift guide as we're discussing ideal gifts for students, the magical necessities Christmas can provide for your average university attendee.
Of course I could include all the gifts I 'want' for Christmas (I'm looking at you Bobbi Brown 'Old Hollywood' collection) however for a lot of students, including myself, university is not a stage of life in which you are able to live in materialistic galore, rather it is a time for appreciating what has previously been taken for granted and kindly asking Father Christmas your nearest and dearest for gifts of which will provide a useful necessity in student living, perhaps slightly 'boring' but much appreciated none the less!
Are you ready to excite a student this Christmas and earn yourself an extra glass of Eggnog? Then let's go!
Student Gifts Up To £25
Toiletries Gift Set.
Something of which I used to refer to as '
boring bath stuff' but now consider a holy grail in student living. Usually getting a Sanctuary gift set off your Nana and every other relative at Christmas isn't overly enthralling, however once you're confined to student living and are unable to spend precious pennies on fancy shampoo and body products then
'boring bath stuff' becomes an essential on the gift list. I'm telling you, when you're poor and unable to afford a night out, exfoliating becomes one of the only pleasures in life. I personally like
THIS gift set from Soap and Glory. It includes a few minis of their much loved products and ensures your student friend/relative smells good during lectures.
Student Recipe Book.
Once again I come recommending a gift of which is not overly exciting, however I do consider it a student essential, especially if your student loved one lacks basic cooking skills. I own the recipe book 'Nosh For Students' of which you can buy
HERE. Nosh For Students details exactly how much the preparation of each meal will cost you as well as serving estimations and nutrition content. Owning a simple student recipe book allows you to plan ahead for mealtimes and set a food budget, essentially avoiding the
"I only have a tin of baked beans to last 5 days because I bought Dominos on Friday" diet. Preparing meals also makes for great flatmate bonding time, not to mention splits the cost if you're all eating together.
'Fun' Journal/Diary.
Since beginning university I have documented my student adventures through blogging. I think it is important to capture all your thoughts and feelings throughout university, as a person you change immensely and these years are certainly worth remembering. A diary would make a great student gift, although not your standard
"deary diary, I'm not going to keep this up", rather an alternative journal which offers something a little different, such as 'My Future Listography' which you can buy
HERE. As quoted on Amazon, My Future Listography
"encourages users to think not only about memories/places/things of the past and present, but to think about future goals and aspirations." Sentimental, don't cha think?
Scrapbook.
Similarly to a journal, a scrapbook also allows for documenting student memories and would make a lovely, thoughtful gift. Whilst having pictures saved to my phone and laptop is great, I also like to have them in print and display them. A scrapbook allows you to store photos as well as tickets, letters and cards that become incredibly sentimental during your student years living away from home. I really like
THIS scrapbook from Paperchase
(partly because I love the design, but also because it reminds me of the Burn Book in Mean Girls.) Maybe consider purchasing fancy stationary to go along side the scrapbook also, I'm thinking old school scented gel pens and patterned paper. The possibilities are endless with scrapbooking!
Student Gifts Up To £50
Printer.
Depending on how often your student loved one is topping up their printing credit at the library or travelling home to use and abuse the family printer, then having a printer at their disposal may provide very useful. I am forever printing off lecture notes and reading material so having my very own printer is handy dandy. Whilst printers can be expensive, I have seen a few online that fall below £50.
THIS Inkjet printer does lots of fancy things and is pretty inexpensive
(for a printer) Of course the cost of ink will have to be factored in also, but a printer is definitely a useful investment for student study!
Good Quality Bedding.
When I began accumulating all the necessities for university I bought everything as cheap as possible. Only in hindsight this was not an overly wise idea and I ended up repurchasing items of better quality. One of these repurchases was bedding. Good quality, thick and comfortable bedding is an essential, more specifically the duvet and pillows. Student house mattresses aren't always comfortable so having exceptional bedding does allow for better sleep. John Lewis has a great range of good quality bedding
HERE. If you're feeling really generous I would consider popping a mattress protector under that Christmas tree also. A really squishy one.
Laptop Bag.
I take my laptop to every lecture
(the ones I actually attend anyway) and as a result it has suffered a battering or two after having been shoved in my tote bag with keys and other vicious items. Therefore I recommend investing in a bag or sleeve for your student loved one and their computer companion, especially if they're joined at the hip.
THIS Cath Kidston laptop sleeve is a particular favourite of mine, and something of which would protect my laptop whilst still allowing me to carry it in my usual bag.
Concert Ticket.
Experiencing Beyo
nce perform earlier this year at the O2 is something of which I shall always treasure. However had I not of received a ticket as an early birthday present then I would never have been able to go. The majority of students enjoy listening to music and I'm sure would love to go to a concert or two during their time at university, but the tickets are expensive and definitely not something student loans can stretch too regularly, therefore they make great gifts. You can check out
Ticketmaster if you'd like to see which performers have upcoming dates. A concert ticket would certainly soften the blow of getting pillows for Christmas at least!
Student Gifts Up To £100
Camera.
This one is rather self explanatory. We've all seen the hideously inappropriate photos students have been tagged in on Facebook, and these beauties usually require the use of a camera. If you would like to see hideous photos of your student loved ones, then consider buying them a digital camera. Obviously cameras do vary in price immensely, but there are a fair few under the £100 price tag and are of decent quality.
THIS FUJIFILM looks fairly promising and it's nice and compact so can be fitted easily into a handbag. Let the tagging commence!
Hybrid Bike.
The need of a bike does depend slightly on the type of university campus that your loved one attends. Many university students cycle to campus as public transport and owning a car can be expensive. I considered buying a bike this year, then I remembered I have a fat bum, thus making bike seats hideously uncomfortable. However if fat bums aren't going to be an issue, then a bike makes for a very useful student gift! I have struggled to find one under £100, but I'm sure independent shops will sell them, or you could even browse Ebay.
THIS bike from Halfords is £119.99, so should they have an offer pending then it is likely to fall below £100 and I can feel less guilty about cheating. Problem solved.
'Fashionable' Backpack.
I've suffered a fair few hip aches during my degree due to carrying around excessive weight in my book bag, and by 'book bag', I mean handbag which is not appropriate for university use. Whilst the thought of rockin' a backpack doesn't exactly appeal to me, it would provide far more useful and I wouldn't walk round lopsided.
THIS backpack from Asos would be perfect for carrying around my university books and it looks pretty too! Probably a lot more durable than my tote bag too!
Suitcase.
Okay, can we all just take a second to appreciate how bloomin' beautiful
THIS suitcase is? I travel back to Wales quite frequently during the university term and recently I broke the handle on my suitcase, meaning I am now in need of another before I trek home once more. All students require baggage to get from point A to point B so why not buy them some beautiful baggage that will last them? They'll need a swanky bag to bring all their Christmas presents back to university in anyway, two birds with one stone? I think so.
I hope I've offered some useful student gift ideas for you. Students can be difficult to buy for and whilst endless makeup palettes are great, they're not a necessity and certainly aren't a student essential. I am yet to meet a student who attends every lecture with a full face of make up, they do however always have need for the above. Do let me know if any of the above float your boat! If you'd like to sneak a peak at my student blog then you can click
HERE. I'm quite friendly, as well as slightly inappropriate and Bridget Jones like. You'll learn to love me I promise.
xx
Toodlepip!
xx
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