UNH Today

Ah, yes. The holiday season is upon us. Whether you are over-the-top excited, stressed about finals or somewhere in between, I’ve got a sneaky way to give a gift this holiday season — without breaking the bank.

1. Search Out Used Book Swaps
   I love receiving books, especially cookbooks and coffee table books, during the holidays. It’s something you can thumb through all day after unwrapping it. Books make sincere gifts because they reflect the receiver’s interests. Plus: One size fits all, and they’re easy to wrap! Have some old books lying around? Trade them in and make someone else’s holiday season.
    
2. Empty Glass Jars? Recycle Them!
   No, I don’t mean throw them in the trash — give a glass jar (such as a mason or jelly jar) new life! After cleaning the jar and soaking the label in hot water, fill it with anything from candy canes to hot cocoa mix and marshmallows. Have a knack for writing? Fill the jar with slips of paper that have inspirational quotes written on them. Each day, the receiver reads something you wrote — it’s the gift that keeps on giving!
    
3. Handmade Holiday
   Put your hobbies to good use! Crochet? Knitting? Make a scarf that will remind the receiver of you each time he or she puts it on. Want to show off pictures of you and your loved one? Make a personalized gift: Cut pictures out and decoupage them on anything from canvas or a jewelry box to a coffee table or a slab of wood for some creative wall art. Still not inspired? Attend your RA’s socials! I don’t know how many times I have given something away that I made while attending a social. Check the MUB calendar of events, Campus Activities Board, or What’s On Wednesday for free events — you never know, you might just leave with more than you came with!

Remember… the holidays only come around once a year! Don’t spend them worrying about the perfect gift, because in the end, it’s the thought that counts.