It’s the time of year when you might be thinking about starting to buy gifts for your loved ones for the holidays. We know that, as Lancaster students, your loans only go so far and you may not have loads of spare cash to spend on gifts, decorations and celebrating. Well don’t worry, here at Escape Campus we’ve put some ideas together on how to have a fantastic budget-friendly Christmas!
The most important thing to remember about Christmas and the holidays is that they are not about how many flashy gifts you buy or how many parties you attend; they are about spending time with those you love.
Student Discounts
One of the best bonuses of being a student is getting those sweet student discounts! Make the most of it while you can, and keep in mind when buying gifts that you may be entitled to a discount. Some stores even offer up to 20% off products. Many shops in Lancaster town centre offer student discounts, so make sure when you’re in there, you ask to see if it’s available. 20% might not sound like a lot, but it adds up fast!
Christmas Events
We know that lots of students enjoy going out at Christmas, often with their housemates before they return home for the winter break. But going out and having fun with your friends doesn’t have to break the bank! If you want to go out for food, many of the restaurants in Lancaster offer festive menus for the Christmas season, as well as student offers! Click here to find out more about eating out in Lancaster on a budget.
One of the perks of living off-campus in Lancaster centre student accommodation is that, if you are venturing out for a Christmas event in town, you can save a few pennies by walking into town.
Split the Cost
Splitting the cost on gifts, food and events can help keep the festive spending down. You may be planning on having a ‘Christmas day’ in Lancaster in your student accommodation, so why not split the costs between your housemates for decorations and food? A homemade Christmas dinner doesn’t have to be expensive, click here for all the information you need on cooking your Christmas dinner as a household and on a budget. Also, if you want to decorate your student accommodation with a Christmas tree, you can get some inexpensive decorations in charity shops and supermarkets.
Get Creative
Why not try making your own gifts and decorations? Receiving a gift that someone has spent time making is lovely, and you don’t have to spend lots of money and lots of time doing it either! Why not bake some sweet treats, such as fudge, and package them up, decorate candles, or make hot chocolate jars for friends and family?
You can also create your own decorations out of cardboard, salt dough and felt which certainly won’t break the bank! Plus, you can do your crafts from the comfort of your student home, with a Christmas movie on, which sounds like the perfect winter evening. Everything you’d need to make your own decorations and gifts can be bought in town, so you don’t even need to travel far from your student home. For some more inspiration on what you can make, click here.
Whatever you decide to do this festive season, we hope you have a wonderful time!