A Holiday Crisis: A Guide

Worried about what to buy for the upcoming holiday season? Overwhelmed? Well, you’ve come to the right place. 

While filled with delight and happiness, the holiday season can be stressful for the average person. The pressure that last-minute shoppers go through is unmatched! Based on your Edison peers, here are some recommendations:

“When in doubt, I give money or a gift card because they can use that for anything like it doesn’t matter what the person likes,” said John Obayomi. 

You can always go right with money; as Obayomi noted, it allows the person to have complete customization and buy whatever suits their needs. Some gift card ideas include a Dunkin’ Donuts or Starbucks gift card, Sephora gift card, Amazon gift card, etc. If you want to give your loved one cash, you can make a Santa Hat or a Dreidel card to keep in the spirit of the holidays. Handmade gifts can always be an easy and cost-effective way to show love.    

“Some quick and easy handmade gift ideas are…oh, Beaded, I get Beaded, I didn’t make them, but someone else made them, Ebelyn and Mahirah, they’re nice, I got those for my friends,” said Shane Gomes. 

“Beaded” is a small business founded by our Edison students, Ebelyn Suquilema and Mahirah Rahman. Suquilema was making a handmade bracelet for her boyfriend and asked Rahman if she wanted to make accessories along with her. Their substitute teacher was impressed with their work and suggested it could be a business idea. This sparked the small business “Beaded.” Within a day, this business took off, receiving $60 worth of orders.

“Our products are affordable and are a cute present to give to someone you care for. A handmade item represents the love and effort you would put in for the person you care for,” said Ebelyn Suquilema.

“All of our items are priced below $10 and we often offer discounts. Oh and also, our items are also customizable so that, you can make them just right for the person you’ll be gifting it to,” said Mahirah Rahman.

Photo Credit: Mahirah Rahman

Strapped for time but need an expensive gift? Look no further; point-and-shoot cameras are the way to go. You can create lasting memories with a click of a button. Many cameras can be found in local department stores such as Target or Walmart, or even online on Amazon. Some Edison students are hoping for cameras this holiday season.

“A gift I am hoping for is maybe camera equipment because I want to get into filming stuff for movies, for short films,” said Shane Gomes

“I need a new camera, like a real camera or a camera lens,” said John Obayomi. 

Some beginner-friendly camera is the Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 Polaroid camera. This camera has a flash feature and can print out physical pictures with a vintage-film-like feel. The Sony DSC-W800 is also a great option. This camera is pocket-sized, with a flash feature and clutter-free controls, which makes it great for beginners.

Most importantly, the spirit of the holidays surrounds love, family, and the joy of togetherness, be sure to show appreciation to your friends and family. Even after reading this guide, if it still has not helped, gratitude is the best gift a person can receive.

Sabiqur Liza

Hi! My name is Sabiqur Liza, I am a Junior, and I write mainly in the General News section. I am interested in a broad selection of things such as exploring new places, trying new foods, taking the scenic route, and learning. I am someone who loves to delve into all sorts of stuff which is perfect for the General News section. I will bring a variety of news to you all and I hope you enjoy it!!