Dragging your heels on gift shopping for your parents this holiday season? Use this guide as the inspiration and motivation you need to kick the shopping into high gear. After all, the holidays are quickly approaching.
Don’t miss out on these sentimental yet affordable gift ideas your parents will love.
1. Decorative Masks
One can never have too many masks during this COVID-19 season. Luckily, novelty masks offer a relatively inexpensive way to give your parents something that is both practical and thoughtful. Mask decor runs the gamut from holiday-themed to university-spirited to NFL-sponsored so there are numerous options for tailoring your mask shopping to your parents’ interests. A classic for the holiday season is Amazon’s holiday Christmas themed masks.
2. Mugs Coffee Lovers Can’t Resist
Between stressful work schedules, hyperactive children and family holiday trips, coffee is a parent’s best friend during a busy week. Get your parents a personalized coffee mug to brighten up their morning coffee routine. For added personalization, put your parent’s favorite quote, tv show emblem or sports team logo. Even a simple inscription of their initials makes for a nice personal touch. Take a look at these “Let’s Make Memories” mugs for some inspiration!
3. Candles, Candles, Candles
Being stuck inside this holiday season isn’t so bad with a candle to create a pleasant scent and inviting aesthetic for the living room. Pro tip: ask your parents what their favorite perfume or cologne scent is and try to find a matching candle. The familiar scent will make family dinners or movie nights cozier. This holiday candle is an affordable must-have.
4. Slippers
What parent doesn’t love the feeling of slipping under the covers after a long day at work and watching their favorite sports game or tv show? Make your parents’ nighttime routine all the more enjoyable with a pair of monogrammed slippers. The benefits of the slipper-gift are innumerable. Soothing to the feet, pleasing to the eye, and easy on the pocketbook – you can’t go wrong with giving your parents a nice pair of slippers. Take a look at these slippers and try to convince us this isn’t the perfect gift. If you’re feeling particularly bold, maybe get a matching pajama set. “My go-to gift for my parents are pajamas,” University of Georgia senior Rebecca Guerreso said. “They’re a comfortable and affordable must-have.” The sky is the limit when it comes to nightwear.
5. Books to Spice Up the Living Room Bookshelf
With COVID-19 giving all of us a bit of extra time to indulge in new reading material, a book is made for parents looking to escape into the pages of a great read. “My mom loves the books by Mireille Guiliano called French Women Don’t Get Fat and French Women for All Seasons about living a healthy lifestyle without dieting,” said 21-year-old Vashti Walters. New and noteworthy books include Obama’s new memoir A Promised Land or for Matthew McConaughey lovers, Greenlights, a memoir of the actor’s diary entries over the past 35 years. If your dad throws out “Alright, alright, alright,” far too many times, this might be the perfect gift for him.
Or consider getting your parents a more place-specific book. “Something you and your parents will always share is a connection to your hometown,” Wake Forest graduate Katherine Laws said. “Consider getting your parents a coffee table book with the history of your city.” For inspiration check out Concord (Images of America). North Carolina residents might like Winston-Salem: From the collection of Frank B. Jones Jr. for
6. College Swag
A classic go-to for any parent is merch from your university. Parents love to represent their favorite student’s academic excellence and sky-high tuition (perhaps the former more than the latter). “My mom always loves getting a Georgia Tech sweatshirt or shirt because it makes her feel more connected to my experience and she feels like she is supporting me by wearing my school colors,” Georgia Tech senior Jenna Nash said. “It’s also a win for me because the store is located on campus making it easy to find the perfect gift.”
If your college bookstore is a bit pricey, check out the college merchandise Amazon has to offer as a cheaper alternative. For example, University of Florida students might want to get their dad a UF grilling apron as a perfect family barbecue accessory.
7. Tickets for a Quality Outing
Sometimes the best presents aren’t as tangible as a mug or t-shirt. Try getting your parents tickets to their favorite sports event next year or promise a trip to a nice patio restaurant. With social distancing guidelines cancelling many holiday outings, you might have to get creative. “My dad would love the free samples of a Christmas market so maybe I’ll just take him to Costco,” said Wake Forest University senior Michelle Lazaran. Talk about affordable.
8. Watches for Those Never-On-Time Parents
If your parents have trouble getting places on time, a watch might be the perfect accessory this holiday season. Every professional knows that a stylish and dependable watch is a must-have wardrobe item. Although a new Rolex might be out of the question, there are plenty of affordable yet high-quality watches more conducive to the college student budget. If your parent already has a favorite go-to watch, try giving it a refreshed look by purchasing a new watch band for them!
9. Perfume or Cologne
In a similar vein, there are few items a parent would love more than a new bottle of their favorite perfume or cologne. Not only does the gift have a guaranteed success rate but also shows that you pay attention to the little details. A perfume hit among women is the Flowerbomb Eau de Parfum spray.
10. Car Decals
Car decals are a perfect personal yet inexpensive stocking stuffer for your parents this holiday season. Try picking a stylistic decal from your university, their alma mater, or even the family pet. However, if your parents don’t love the idea of sticking something on their favorite car, try a laptop or desktop sticker instead! New Jersey students might like to get their parent an outline of the home state like this one.
