You are a student on a budget looking for some last minute gift ideas for your family (mom dad, siblings)?
Here are my favorite gift ideas for the family! Let’s get started.
Most people own soo many things, so it can get tough to find great gifts for them that won’t end up in the trash. That’s why I really tried to find gift ideas that are actually useful.
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Let’s get started!
1. Christmas Socks
I feel like socks go for everyone!
Especially Christmas-themed socks are popular and will get used for sure!
2. Reusable Straws
If your family member doesn’t have a stainless steel or bamboo straw yet, it’s time to get them some!
Definitely a good gift that will have some good use and not make more waste.
I personally have a stainless steel straw and got a bag from Etsy for it, and take it wherever I go.
If you feel like a straw isn’t a big enough gift, you can add a reusable water bottle or a cute bag to it.
3. Personalized Mugs
If you are on a budget, you could totally make this idea yourself, but just in case you’re not as crafty, this Etsy shop makes beautiful personalized mugs!! (I want one too)
You can pick a name, quote, or whatever you feel like fits best. The color of the font and the mug are also customizable, which makes this perfect for anyone who is into this style.
I could imagine this being best for moms or sisters!
Related: Gift Ideas on a Budget
4. Jewelry Case
I saw this the other day and put it onto my wishlist right away! If you’ve been reading my blog for longer now, you know I am a passionate traveler.
And I ALWAYS have the issue of my necklaces and earrings getting tangled up.
I think this is the perfect gift for girls and women!
And, there are special travel boxes like this for men too. They aren’t for jewelry, but they make great gifts.
5. Scratch Map
This may sound like one of the basic gift ideas for travelers, but since it’s so popular, scratch maps are actually pretty cool for anyone in your family who has been out of the country.
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6. Ornaments
I think ornaments are great gift ideas for parents or siblings, even grandparents!
You could also make some yourself if you have a tight budget, or get one personalized with a family picture or something!
You can check out your local stores for ornaments, or order some from Target or Amazon. I love these travel-related ornaments:
7. Piggy Bank
I believe that everyone should have savings! And I also love some cute piggy banks:)
This one is one of my favorites on Amazon!
You can add a few coins if you wanted too as well.
You can easily do this at home, but if you are here last-minute or just don’t have time, here is one from Amazon. I think it is so cute!
8. Phone Lenses
I would only get this gift if your family member does like taking pictures and uses her/his phone for it.
The phone lenses usually fit onto every phone and make pictures more creative and unique. I found some of them on Amazon. Check them out!
9. A Filtered Water Bottle
Water bottles are crucial essentials for everyone! They are usually also easily accessible in warehouses or techy stores (or just use Amazon Prime).
A filter in a water bottle is just an extra feature that I absolutely love.
That way they won’t even have to buy purified water since their water bottle can do that for them!
Of course, every bottle and filter purifies water on different levels, so make sure to let the person who you’re giving the gift to know, that research is needed to ensure complete safety with the filters.
I personally have this one from Brita:
10. Electronics Organizer
This is honestly such a good idea for dads or brothers! Chargers and other electronics can easily get tangled with other things at home or on travels, so having an organizer would be super useful!
OTHER POPULAR POSTS:
- Gift Ideas on a Budget
- What to Ask for Christmas as a Student (also gift ideas for students)
- How to save money for Christmas
11. Bath Bombs
This gift idea is another one for women and girls.
Bath bombs are available in various sizes, colors, shapes, and smells. They are just a great gift idea!
I love the ones from Lush because they really care about their products being natural and sustainable.
12. Experience Coupons
I keep mentioning this gift idea, but it’s just such a good one.
You can write anything on a cute coupon, such as:
- A cooking class
- Movie tickets
- Visit a national/state park
- Trip to a border state
- A trip to the beach/a lake
- Kayaking
- Tickets for a color run
- Tickets for Disney
- Trip to an amusement park
- A Spa day together
- and more!
Coupons are just so personal, aren’t wasteful in terms of materials, and have space in a stocking!
It doesn’t have to be expensive, you can think of anything that your parent, sibling or relative, or both of you, will enjoy.
I love this gift for dads and brothers too. It can be hard to find gifts for them since they “don’t want anything”.
RELATED POSTS:
- The Best Gift Guide for College Students
- What to ask for Christmas as a Student
- Gift Ideas on a Budget
13. Shampoo Bars
Let’s stay on the sustainable train and share some good swaps on Christmas!
A shampoo bar is a great gift because :
- fits perfectly into a stocking
- looks cute
- smells great
- it has a use
- no waste
- always needed
- creates awareness
- no leaking because it’s solid
Shampoo bars don’t have to be expensive, but I like the ones from Lush because they just smell so good and work well.
This gift is also good for EVERYONE! There are shampoo bars (or shaving cream bars) for men too.
14. Essential Oil Diffuser
Next on our last minute gift ideas list: perfect for your mom, siblings, maybe even your dad.
This one is portable so it’s easy to plug it into a laptop or an outlet.
15. “Tree” Pencils
Have you heard of those pencils that grow trees when you finish them and put them into soil?
I think those are very unique last minunte gift ideas for your family!
MORE GIFT IDEAS:
- The Best Gift Guide for College Students
- What to ask for Christmas as a Student
- Gift Ideas on a Budget
16. Laptop Stickers
I recently saw a picture of a dorm on Pinterest, where there was a laptop on the bed, full of stickers!
You can give some “manlier” stickers to your dad or brother or some cute ones for your sister or mom.
17. Laptop Lamp
Let’s stay in the electronics section a little more.
I recently bought a USB laptop lamp, and it’s such an essential I didn’t know existed.
This lamp is really perfect if one of your parents likes to stay up longer than the other.
This lamp lights up your keyboard area that you usually can’t see when it’s dark and your screen is bright.
With a lamp like this, you can see both without turning bright lights on. Personally, I love it.
MORE GIFT IDEAS?
- The Best Gift Guide for College Students
- What to ask for Christmas as a Student
- Gift Ideas for Travelers
- Gift Ideas on a Budget
18. Headphones
Another unisex gift idea that is useful if it’s needed.
They aren’t very expensive and just a good essential for everyone.
18. Chocolates or Candy
An edible gift would be chocolate or candy!
Even better if you have a farmer’s market in your area where you can get some good German or Swiss chocolate. That’s the real stuff y’all!
19. Cookbook
A cookbook is always a good idea, especially special ones such as BBQ, Burgers, vegan, quick recipes, etc!
Here is one to give to your college sibling:
20. Movie Tickets
Movie tickets are great last minute gifts for any family member!
Everyone likes a good movie, and not having to pay for it! It’s one of the best go-to gift coupons for sure.
I do hope that these 20 last minute gift ideas for your family help Christmas 2019 and beyond!
Want more? Sign up for the best Christmas series! I will be sending my email subscribers a gift idea every day until December 23!
Until soon,
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