How To Spoil Your Little On A Budget

When school starts, so does recruitment and that means new members will soon become littles! Every new big wants to give her little the best gifts but it can be expensive. So, here are a few ways on how to spoil your little on a budget!

1. Start Early

If you’re thinking about taking a little, start planning before you meet them! The best way to stay on your budget is to not last-minute spend because you procrastinated. Start making canvases and finding cute signs before recruitment even starts. Get all of the big stuff out of the way before you take a little and then you won’t have to stress last minute! Once you find out who your little is you can get her favorite snacks and candy to make everything more personalized. In the end, you’ll have the best gifts since you started before everyone and you will have the most spoiled little around!

2. DIY

There is nothing more exciting to a little than being able to decorate her dorm room with her new letters. Instead of buying expensive new signs and decorations, stay in your budget and do it yourself! Crafting is one of the best ways to save money so head to your local craft store, buy a few paints, and create your own canvases and letters! Use Pinterest or Instagram to get inspired or create something new on your own. As a unique fun gift, buy a small box, paint it yourself and now your little will have a place to store her pin once she is initiated and she will think of you whenever she puts it on!

3. Food Delivery

With all the different food delivery apps we now have on our phones, it’s super easy to have fun treats inexpensively delivered right to your littles dorm! Figure out what her favorite meal or late-night snack is and order it with an app. Put her dorm as the address and in the instructions give the driver her phone number and have them tell your little its a delivery from her big! Nothing is more fun and exciting than a surprise late-night snack delivery and most importantly, it won’t break the bank.

4. Utilize The Dollar Store

The dollar store is the best place to shop while on a budget. Although the items there aren’t always the best quality, it’s easy to spice them up! Candy is always a great gift your little will love and you can make it look cute by putting it in a jar with a cute ribbon or note wrapped around it! Also, look for baskets you can put your little’s gifts in. Personalize it by painting their name or by adding a few balloons. The dollar store is a great way to spoil your little while also staying in your budget!

5. Face Masks

Nothing is more relaxing than using a face mask and you can never have too many. This is one of the best gifts for a little because they’re cute, useful and inexpensive! Head to your local Target, Ulta or TJ Maxx and take advantage of the $1-$2 face mask deals. Add one or two to your little’s basket every day and personalize them by putting a cute note on the front telling your little how excited you are to finally reveal yourself! Best of all, you can use them together once you’re finally a family.

6. Avoid Greek Stores

Although the first place to look for gifts maybe your sorority’s website, everything is going to be extremely overpriced. Think about using websites like Etsy to save money while still ordering cute things. There are plenty of people who make custom sorority necklaces and even do big little shirts! The best way to spoil your little is to get the most bang for your buck so also head to TJ Maxx or Marshalls and get a couple cute blankets or pillows in your sorority’s colors. You can always get them embroidered or paint your letters on them with fabric paint. Now you have custom sorority gear without breaking the bank!

5 Reasons To Join A Sorority At UF

7. Recycle Your Shirts

At this point, your family is growing which means your shirt collection is growing too. Ask your big or your gbig if they have shirts they would be willing to pass on to your new little! Of course, it’s fun to shop for new shirts, but passing shirts down saves tons of money. It’s also special for your little to have T-shirts from your own sorority’s events in the past! Wrap them in tissue paper or tie a ribbon around each shirt so each one is like a different present to open. Using your family’s old shirts is one of the best ways to spoil your little while also saving lots of money!

8. Stickers

Everybody loves stickers and I’m sure your new little does too. Whether it’s to put on her water bottle or her computer, stickers are both easy and super versatile gifts. Take advantage of inexpensive sticker websites like Redbubble or Amazon and order her a bunch! You can get stickers of your sorority letters, cute sayings, or fun designs! Not only can you give your little stickers as a gift, but you can also decorate her gift boxes with them as well. Give your little a few stickers each day and she will have a whole collection!

9. Foil Balloons

Foil balloons are a simple way to add some flare to your little’s gifts. Go to any craft store and buy individual letters to spell her name or your sorority’s! Get them blown up with helium and they will last for a while so she can decorate her dorm for a long time. If you can figure out a way, sneak into her dorm room and hang them up before she gets home as a nice surprise for when she walks in the door! Balloons are a simple yet great way to go above and beyond in showing your little you love her.