Hannah Atkinson
According to Andy Williams, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, and according to the Environment Agency, it’s the most wasteful. At Christmas time, the amount of waste produced is 30% higher than during the rest of the year. It can also be a difficult time for bank accounts, as the pressure to show love through material goods shoves people further and further into the red. So, here’s a Christmas list from Hannah Atkinson that doesn’t hurt the planet or your bank account, with gifts that let you celebrate the joy of the holidays with less of the stress:
Free Food
A great way to avoid buying more ‘stuff’ at Christmas – keeping waste, clutter, and expenditure down – is to give the gift of something you can eat!
Christmas cookies are an easy but delicious option – whether you want simple or complex, traditional or fun, there are options for every type of baker and gift receiver! The more adventurous may try their hand at homemade jams and preservatives – use an empty (but clean!) jar and seal properly, and they’ll last for quite a while.
For those whose university experience has included enough fire alarms to make them swear off ovens for life, however – don’t despair. A mini food hamper can be a great alternative and an opportunity to treat your loved ones to their favourite treats. A bundle of chocolates and snacks for friends with a sweet tooth, or a packet of biscuits and their favourite tea bags for the hot drink lovers (coffee pods could also be used to appease the caffeine addicts in your life)!
Whether you’ve made food from scratch or made a trip to the shops, the items can be packaged in a container of your choosing – tins or Tupperware containers, paper bags or cardboard boxes. Hampers and baskets can also be found in charity shops, Facebook marketplace, or online second-hand stores like Vinted if you want your packaging to be that little bit more extravagant!
Second-hand
Second-hand items can be a great way to give a more traditional present with less of the traditional waste. Nottingham is spoilt for choice with charity shops, with stores all over the city centre (and quite a few in Beeston) where bargains can be found – lots of them also offer student discounts, so remember your student ID! Online shops such as Music Magpie (which has a 10% student discount) also offer lightly used items for a decently discounted price. Books, DVDs (yes, they’re still a thing), CDs, vinyl, video games (whether it’s Xbox, PlayStation or Nintendo), boardgames, jigsaws – there are plenty of options to suit whoever it is you’re shopping for.
Arts and Crafts
Whether you’re the next Picasso or the proud artist of stick figures, handmade crafts can be a great way to create unique and budget-friendly gifts for the holiday season. By making gifts yourself, you’re also reducing waste – not buying into the allure of the mass-produced nicknacks so often produced by shops around the holidays.
Those with artistic hobbies can utilise their skills to dazzle their loved ones, but there are plenty of beginner-friendly ways to D.I.Y. your own gifts. Knitted scarves are a classic holiday gift and an easy first project when learning to knit (either from video tutorials or from UoN’s very own KnitSoc). Paintings or sketches don’t need to be flawless to be cherished, and all you need is paint or pens, paper and some inspiration.
Creating a photo collage of your favourite memories can also be a simple but heartfelt way to share your love with loved ones. There are lots of websites that let you order photos online, and Boots lets you print photos in-store for as little as £0.60!
Or you could try your hand at pottery painting – Pot ‘n’ Kettle in Beeston is a pottery studio that lets you decorate your own ceramics. You can book a session and get both a fun day out with friends painting pottery and a unique and personal gift to give a loved one!
Experiences > Things
At the end of the day though, one of the best presents you can give is your presence. As tacky and sentimental as it may sound, spending time with loved ones is infinitely more valuable to them than £10’s worth of clutter that was gifted out of obligation and a last-minute scramble to tick people off your present-buying list! During such a hectic time of year, quality time is worth more than any material good you could offer – whether it’s the promise of a pizza-filled movie night or a cosy coffee date.
Coffee shops in Nottingham aren’t hard to come by, and whether you want the individuality of an independent café (200 Degrees Coffee, Outpost Coffee, The Pudding Pantry – perfect for those looking for a delicious sweet treat with their brew – and The Speciality all come recommended) or the comfort of a familiar chain store, there is something to satisfy both coffee snobs and Starbucks fanatics. Alternatively, check your chosen takeaway establishment for offers and load a streaming service of your choice!
Whatever gifts you give this Christmas – whether they’re small and personal or big and grand – it’s important to remember that your worth is not measured in the presents you buy. The point of the holidays is to celebrate with the people you care about and enjoy time together. So, take care of your loved ones, take care of yourself, and have a very merry Christmas!
Hannah Atkinson
Featured image courtesy of Natalia Arkusha via Unsplash. Image license found here. No changes were made to this image.
In article image 1 courtesy of Valentina Dominguez via Unsplash. Image license found here. No changes were made to this image.
In article image 2 courtesy of Jon Tyson via Unsplash. Image license found here. No changes were made to this image.
For more content including uni news, reviews, entertainment, lifestyle, features and so much more, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to get involved.
If you just can’t get enough of Lifestyle, like our Facebook as a reader or contributor.
