With Christmas ads, jingle bells, and carols galore, it is well-nigh impossible not to get in the festive spirit. Things kick off in all earnest once term time is over and the actual countdown to Christmas begins – Bridgemas is a nice idea but is usually fraught with essay crises or the flu. But for many of us, the end of Michaelmas brings with it a sorely diminishing bank account and an inescapable sense of gift-buying dread. Here are some suggestions for Christmas purchases on a budget to help you through the festive period without racking up a horrendous overdraft. 

DIY Christmas gifts

My personal favourite when it comes to shopping on a budget, homemade gifts are almost guaranteed to bring a tear to the receiver’s eye – a win-win solution. Be prepared to put some time aside, though. Depending on how much effort you decide to put into your DIY gift (or how much you like this particular family member), you will inevitably have to replace money with some time. However, the end result will be very rewarding and you can make anything from brownies to soap, candles and knitwear. Pinterest, Country Living, Good Housekeeping and Buzzfeed have some tutorials to help kick start your creativity:

• Water marble mugs, using only three ingredients – water, nail varnish, and a plain ceramic mug. Tutorial available at Pinterest.
• Tin candles, tutorial available at Country Living online.
• Terrarium DIY kit, tutorial available at Wit & Whistle.

"Homemade gifts are almost guaranteed to bring a tear to the receiver’s eye"

Personalised gifts

For those of you who want to go DIY but lack some of the creative talent, personalised gifts, such as calendars, make cheap but individual gifts that are always a winner. Look at the following sites for alternative options:

• Moonpig personalised calendar for £10.00.
• Funkypigeon.com personalised mug from £9.99.
• PhotoBox personalised photo book from £6.00.
• Vistaprint canvas prints from £17.86.

Watch your shops

Be wary of where you choose to shop for gifts; a lot of the time you will pay overinflated prices for the brand name, rather than product quality. Simple switches will help you save valuable pounds. Topshop, for example, sells notoriously overpriced jewellery, so look to alternatives like Boohoo.com, Missguided, and Fashion Union. Often these stores are able to offer lower prices as they occupy online-only spaces, and are definitely worth investigating when looking for accessories or clothing gifts. Some finds worth checking out include:

• Silver stacking ring set, £6, Missguided.
• Sally Slouch Boyfriend Beanie, £3, Boohoo.com.
• Steph Satin Halter Crop Top, £12, Boohoo.com. 

 All I Want for Christmas is world peace. Oh, and space on the bus

Everything Tiger

This is especially useful for anyone who is still in Cambridge, where the store is conveniently located in the Grand Arcade. Everything in Tiger is quirky and unique, but exceptionally reasonably priced. With everything from gadgets and stationery to homeware and sweets, it is easy to find a cute gift for well under a tenner:

• LED book light, £2.
• LP frame, £5.
• Hanging lanterns, £2.
• Mindfulness colouring book, £2.

notonthehighstreet.com

This website is a bit hit and miss in terms of pricing, but once you filter the items down to your budget, you’re guaranteed to find unique and quirky presents that aren’t available elsewhere (the clue is in the name). The award-winning founders of notonthehighstreet.com developed their business with the aim to collate stylish, original products from independent creators onto one platform. The result is a haven of thoughtful and individual gifts to suit all people. On top of that, delivery is quick and reliable, taking all the hassle and stress out of Christmas shopping.

• The ideal gift for any music fanatic, or that person who can only seem to sing one song over and over, the Favourite Lyrics Poster by Over & Over (aptly named) can be personalised by song name, lyrics and colour, and only costs £10.95.
• My personal favourite (which I’m not ashamed to admit to have bought for a friend this Christmas) is a mug by Parkins Interiors that only set me back £12.
• A gift I was tempted to buy for myself is a pair of socks that can be personalised, not only by name but also by message and colour, costing just £14.
• notonthehighstreet.com have gifts for people of all ages. A refreshing change to the standard child’s present is an illustrated Alice in Wonderland print from Literary Emporium. The print will leave you £10 out of pocket