Holiday Shopping on a Ramen Budget: A Survival Guide

It's December y'all! The last month of the year that people spend time with their family members and eat lots of food (especially pie) and the best time of the year to give and receive lots of gifts!

But for me when I was a college student whose budget consist of only enough to buy some packs of noodles and maybe some gum, (and I mean a big maybe) it was time for me to get creative and give gifts from the heart.

Because telling your family that you're the gift that keeps on giving is running its course.

It was time to start. Operation: Gift on a dime.

Step 1: Invade the Dollar General.

I walked into the dollar store on mission. With just $20 I was able to get cute little cars for my little nephew and my niece an adorable Barbi doll. I even got a case for my mom's phone. I mean, she technically didn't expect a gift. Which made it all the better when she got one. (By the way, I am a twin sister, and she didn't get mom anything. She just forgot. It was not a competition, but it totally was, and I won. Ha-Ha.)

Step 2: DIY to the Rescue

Did I tell you that Pinterest became my best friend? With some leftover craft supplies from my sister's house, I whipped up “homemade” basket for my roommate. For my dad, it was a custom beanie hat of his favorite football team. Bada Bing Bada Boom. I am now Picasso.

Step 3: Embrace Coupons Like A Pro

I had to dive into the wild world of coupon apps, discovering amazing deals and feeling like a digital Indiana Jones. They scored 50% off socks for their sibling and even snagged free shipping on a Secret Santa gift. And I whispered to myself “Saving money feels… powerful,”.

Step 4: Gifting Experiences

When my wallet screamed “STOP,” they pivoted. For my best friend and roommates offered a homemade “Movie Night Kit”: microwave popcorn, a handwritten IOU for Netflix, and an old blanket they didn’t need. It was a hit.

By Christmas Eve, I had pulled it off my biggest mission. Every gift was wrapped, their friends and family were thrilled, and their bank account had just enough left for—surprise—a week of ramen.

Conclusion

The moral of the story? You don’t need a fat wallet to make the holidays special. A little creativity, some elbow grease, and a dash of humor can make your gifts feel priceless—even if they were under $20.