The New York Times Holiday Gift Guide 2022: A College Student’s Directory

Culture

Dec 16

Holiday Gift Guides: Why We Can’t Resist a List

Humans are perpetually overwhelmed. This is especially true during the holidays; What our loved ones see as a perfectly wrapped package begins with a desperate chase for the perfect blend of sentimentality and practicality in a single product. There are so many options for gift-giving accessible, whether you take a stroll around the mall or endlessly scroll through ads on your phone. While having all these choices is nice, it can often feel that there are just too many things out there to pick from. Is this the perfect item for this person? Can they tell how much thought went into it? Will they actually use it? How long will it last them?

With all this pressure, it is only natural for us to feel the need to condense our thoughts into a simple, easy-to-understand form that brings a bit more peace to holiday shopping. This is why we LOVE lists, which NPR says is a completely natural human instinct for many reasons– they bring order to chaos, help us remember things, make for a quick read, keep us from procrastinating, and relieve stress. The New York Time’s marketing experts are very aware of our desire to read and shop from lists around this time, and they take full advantage of it, working in collaboration with brands who are just dying to have their products featured.

College Students are List Lovers Too, But Can We Afford to Shop Using Them?

Shopping as a college student adds a whole new set of restrictions to holiday shopping, as many of us are… downer alert… saving change for our next meal with student loan debt looming over us like the Ghost of Christmas Future. This doesn’t negate the fact that we would still very much like to treat our loved ones with thoughtful, high-quality gifts this season. With all these lists floating around the internet, there must be some college student-friendly ideas! In this article, I will take a look at this year’s most popular gift guide and navigate it from the perspective of a cost-conscious college student so you don’t have to.

The New York Times 2022 Holiday Gift Guide: What’s Worth the Splurge?

The New York Times is a good place for college student list lovers to find gifts this holiday season, or at least get some ideas. Initially, if filtered by interest category (i.e. clothing and accessories, entertainment, self-care, etc.), it seems the NYT guide is fit only for a fabulously wealthy, deep-in–their-career audience. The first sweater recommendation, for example, is priced at nearly $250. However, with an additional way to filter your search by price level, the NYT does have some options for us college kids!

Let’s chat about the first two ranges and, honestly, we’ll just ignore the other two. If we’re being real, many of the products in the “affordable ranges” are things that could be purchased for half the price at your local T.J. Maxx or Target. Like, a $60 mocktail kit, for example. No thanks. We’ll talk about that later. There are, however, some gems that I feel may actually be worth the money for the right person on your list. Let’s break them down from least to most expensive.

Apple AirTags

Price: $29

Why it’s Worth it: So many of us are trapped in the Apple universe and just can’t seem to escape. Whether your loved one is a tech junky, is prone to losing things, or has any type of precious cargo, they could really benefit from having one of these. Plus, you get to look like the richest person in your family by buying an Apple present.

AeroPress Portable Coffee Brewing Machine

Price: $39.95 (but, I’ve seen it on sale for $35!)

Why it’s Worth it: For any coffee lovers on your list, especially those who are adventurous travelers, this thing could be a game-changer. With a bazillion different patents protecting its design, there are hardly any similar products on the market. I might just have to get this for my dad– maybe you can too!

Birthstone Bracelets

Price: Starting at $45

Why it’s Worth it: Let’s face it– so many of the fabulous women (and men!) in our lives love jewelry. They would especially appreciate a piece of jewelry that is thought-infused like this one. The fact that these bracelets are specially crafted by a creative Etsy user makes them even better. The only thing you have to worry about is choosing the correct birthstone!

Healthy Roots Dolls

Price: $79.99

Why it’s Worth it: These unique dolls beautifully represent young Black girls with natural hair textures that are completely washable and styleable! With a range of additional clothing pieces and accessories to complement them, these dolls are absolutely worth the splurge for any kid on your list.

For a lower price point of approximately $50, the NYT also recommends Miniland Education Dolls which feature a diverse range of babydolls for an even younger crowd.

UE Wonderboom 3 Small Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

Price: $85.99

Why it’s Worth it: This self-described “ultra-portable,” waterproof, floatable speaker with 360-degree sound makes it perfect for your life-of-the-party loved one. Maybe your frat friend or brother? Additionally, with a minimum of 31% recycled plastic included in its design, this investment can make your little sustainable heart happy.

They Had the Right Idea…

So many of the products listed in this guide are wonderful for spurring ideas in our brains, but may not be the best fit for our college-friendly budgets. So, let’s look at some of these products by category and find cheaper alternatives.

Skincare

What the NYT recommends: COSRX Snail Mucen Serum for $26, Hana Hana Beauty Amber Vanilla Shea Body Butter for $30, NuFACE Facial Toning Device for $254

Alternatives: Instead of starting your grandma off with snail mucus or a super-expensive sculpting machine, think about some simpler options. When it comes to skincare, I believe gift sets are your way to go. And, thankfully, the holiday season encourages so many brands to offer collections of their best products for discounted rates. Cosmetic classic Kiehls has a Head-To-Toe Skin Hydration Holiday Gift Set that includes four ultra-repairing moisturizers for only $30. This would be perfect for your loved ones with more mature or hard-working skin concerns. If you’re a fan of skincare guru and YouTuber, Hyram, then you’ve probably heard of The Inkey List and their simple, effective product list. Right now, you can purchase a four-step collection of their Winter Skin Essentials for only $25. I would recommend getting your hands on this deal ASAP.

Cooking

What the NYT recommends: Third Drawer Down Opening Hours Tea Towel for $36, Bernal Cutlery Vintage Knives for $400, Rough Linen Pinafore Apron for $97

Alternatives: There are so many places to find unique and useful tools for your loved ones who spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Even Shein has some incredible finds like this 9-piece Sushi Making Tool Set for $6. I promise no one in your family needs a $400 viking knife. Reviews say that, despite its extra-cute appearance, this $27 Chuyiren Colorful Kitchen Knife Set is sharp and effective. I know I’d be thrilled to display it on my counter. Lastly, check out this Simply Essential 34-Piece Kitchen Starter Set. For only $48, your loved one will have a fully stacked, ready-to-cook-in kitchen.

Home

What the NYT recommends: Lumens Mini Desk Lamp for $165, Huckberry Neroli & Musk Candle for $38, Revival Ombre Wool Rug for $299

Alternatives: Browsing this category with the college budget perspective was honestly humorous. At this point in life, spending nearly $200 on a lamp is a joke. Instead of trying to go big, I recommend finding small things that your loved one can display in their home; something that will make them think of you and smile. These Sanstone Thinker Statues and Ceramic Vases have a very chic, Kardashian-esque vibe– maybe the perfect fit for a bestie’s crib. Society6 has some fun pieces like this Groovy 60’s and 70’s Retro Pattern Wall Clock and Wild Tiger Rug on sale for $41.30. Lastly, it may not be everyone’s vibe, but this Ceramic Vase with Fuschia Lips is a personal favorite.

Happy Shopping!

I sincerely hope that every list lover out there enjoys the exciting, sometimes grueling, process of finding the perfect gift for everyone on their list this holiday season. Marketing experts, keep up the list-making. I’ll continue to judge them with all my might.