A broke college student’s guide to Black Friday

As the holiday season approaches, the anxiety of having to spend money on a variety of gifts grows stronger.  This unease is caused by three things: 1. You have to spend money on someone else rather than on GrubHub or a night out at Harry’s Bar (ugh) 2. You don’t know where the best deals are and 3. You don’t know what to get everyone.  

Holiday stress may be a part of your yearly tradition, but with my help, you will be sure to conquer Black Friday with ease, get the best gifts for everyone on your list, and not break the bank.  

For your parents

Parents don’t expect a lot of us when it comes to gift giving.  Making them breakfast and reminding them how much you love them is all they (supposedly) want from their kids on the holidays.  

However, to show your extra appreciation, gift cards are always a great route to take.  $20.00 to Starbucks or $X.00 to their favorite restaurant goes a long way and is a great affordable way to say “thank you for paying my college tuition.”

For your sister:  

Urban Outfitters is having an up to 50% off online or in stores sale, so this is definitely the place to grab your sibling something they’ll love. For instance,  get your sister a Fujifilm Polaroid camera at a reduced price.  

Also, Urban Outfitters will try to scam you into paying $30 for a Calvin Klein bralette, but Macy’s now carries the exact same ones in a two- pack for $9.99, or get the bra and underwear gift set.   Everyone is obsessed with this line of loungewear and now you can own it without killing your budget.  

For your brother  

While he may lose it, it will be useful while it lasts.  Get him a portable phone charger from Urban Outfitters (it’s only $25.00 and the marble pattern looks really cool).  Get him a gift card to his favorite clothing or athletic store and then stuff his stocking with Dunkin Donuts gift cards, video games (Best Buy always has good deals for the holiday season), and gear from your school’s gift shop (of which you get a student discount).

For your friends

Friends can be difficult people to gift for because each one of them has such different tastes.  The Victoria’s Secret fragrance sale never disappoints.  Every Black Friday sale over the past few years has featured 50-70% off Victoria’s Secret Fragrances and Body lotions, so grab as many holiday bundles of the mini perfumes as you can.  

Macy’s is having a huge handbag sale where you can buy designer handbags for 25-50% off: a perfect gift for your best of friends.  Finally, a little known secret is that both Nordstrom Rack and TJ Maxx carry popular makeup brands including Urban Decay, Stila, and Anastasia Beverly Hills.  While Nordstrom Rack is keeping their Black Friday sale details hush-hush, the already reduced prices on these brands that are available in stores make perfect, small, but necessary gifts for your college sisters.

For you

While the holidays are about giving, a little self indulgence never hurt anybody.  Zara always has great deals on apparel, coats, and shoes, so this is the place to find cheap but stylish “shit shoes” that are cute enough to wear on campus but affordable enough to ruin at the bars/frats.  Also pick up $10.00 bralettes from Victoria’s Secret and $19.95 Boots from Macy’s. 

Black Friday is the most hectic shopping day of the year, so you must arrive to the mall with both caution and an unwavering sense of drive.  Wear a very simple outfit without any layers:  if you need to try something on, you don’t want to spend extra time trying to put 3 layers and a fur coat back on.  Bring a cross body bag because you’re going to have so much to carry by the end of the day, the less bags the better.  

Finally, be safe trying to navigate the parking garages: both my damaged car door and myself have paid the price of the reckless parking garage driving escapades.  While it is stressful, Black Friday is a time to think of your loved ones and how you can make their holidays special, so don’t overthink, you know your family and friends better than anyone else.