Manage your preferences

The Leeds Beckett website is designed to enable you to manage your own privacy preferences. By clicking on 'Cookies' below you can manage what data the site collects about your browsing. This will only maintain if you are on your own device or using a synched version of your chosen browser. If you are using a shared or public machine without synching your browser then there is no need to change the preferences.

Our site is built with accessibility in mind and we seek to adhere to the WACG AA levels of compliance for digital accessibility. To support that we have provided instructions on managing animations below.

Cookies

Necessary Cookies
Necessary cookies enable you to use all the different parts of leedsbeckett.ac.uk. Without them services that you have asked for cannot be provided. Necessary cookies can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.
Analytical Cookies
Analytical cookies help us understand how people are using our websites, so we can improve them and provide a better user experience. We also sometimes get our approved partner companies to analyse how people are using Leeds Beckett Websites and they may set their own analytical cookies in order to do this.
Marketing Cookies
Marketing cookies allow us to provide you with online adverts that are the most relevant and useful for you.
For more information please view our Privacy Policy

Animations & Interaction

The Leeds Beckett University website occasionally uses animations to page elements and animated gifs to add impact to pages. If you wish to stop them from playing for accessibility purposes or for personal preference then please see the guidance below. Please note that browsers sometimes change how they operate, so please refer to your browser help files to find their latest information.
How do I turn off animations?

Chrome

Chrome users will need to use browser extensions. Animation Policy from Google will help you set your own preferences.

Microsoft Edge

There is currently no way to disable animations within Microsoft Edge. Users of Edge (Chromium) browser can install the Chrome extensions above and use them.

Internet Explorer

To stop animations on a single page you can just press the 'Esc' key. This will stop the animation on that page. If you wish to restart the animations you need to refresh the page. To permanently disable the playing of animated GIF images, open Internet Options > Advanced tab. Under the Multimedia section, uncheck the Play animations in webpage check-box, click Apply and Exit and then restart your computer.

Firefox

Type about:config in Firefox address bar and hit Enter to open Settings. Search for the image.animation_mode flag and change its value from Normal to None. Once you restart Firefox this will disable animations.

Student Blog Squad

Affordable Christmas gift ideas for students

Hello! My name is Chloe, and I am currently studying Marketing at Leeds Beckett University. As the Christmas season approaches, it is once again time to consider purchasing gifts for our loved ones. This inevitably leads to a significant decrease in your bank balance (particularly for us university students)! The following blog will present recommendations for gifts that can be purchased for those students on a budget.

Written By

Chloe S

Published on 01 Dec 2024

Sustainable gifting

Firstly, I would highly recommend utilising different second-hand in-store and online businesses to purchase gifts this year without compromising value or quality. Online second-hand marketplaces, such as Vinted and eBay are the perfect places for affordability, convenience and sustainability. Personally, I love to buy and sell on Vinted, and I have previously even bought gifts for people from this platform! There is an abundance of new goods getting added to the app every day ready for regifting and the choices are endless. I have previously purchased a brand-new designer body care set from Vinted, which was half the original retail price! I bought my friend a new Jellycat from eBay which she was ecstatic to receive. I found Vinted to be the best value for money whilst offering fast and efficient delivery with a great customer service team.

Charity shops are another ethical way to source gifts. Leeds has a huge selection of charity shops where you are bound to find new goods. From clothing, homeware and beauty, you can find some fantastic things whilst donating to a good cause. Recently, I went to the ‘White Rose’ charity shop in Leeds where I found a perfect brand new ‘The Body Shop’ set for my friend at the low price of £2.50! I would recommend browsing the ‘bric-a-brac’ section for these types of gifts. You could also venture into the clothing section, hats, scarves and gloves would be ideal for this time of year.

Promotions

When shopping online for gifts, it can be hard to find discount codes and effective promotions. For me, I find Amazon Prime to be the most efficient and cost-effective channel to purchase last-minute gifts. However, being a student, I hate to waste money on delivery charges, especially next-day delivery. Instead, I signed up for the Amazon Prime student 6-month free trial. This has allowed me to purchase gifts for my family and friends without having to spend my budget on delivery, and the item comes the following day! This has been a lifesaver and I would highly recommend it.

I also recommend downloading Unidays, where you can sign up to receive countless exclusive promotions from over 600 brands such as JD, Boots, New Look and so many more. Many businesses offer reward cards for free, Tesco’s Clubcard and Boots Advantage card has saved me so much money over this Christmas period.

Lastly, another method I use to discover discounts would be the ‘honey’ browser extension which scans the site you visit to find the best and most recent discount codes, applying it to your cart at the end. This is a perfect tool for shopping online for Christmas gifts.

DIY gifting

There’s something special about a handmade gift — especially during Christmas. As a student, I’ve always loved making my own presents, not just to save money but because they feel more meaningful. Whether it’s baking cookies, painting a mug, or crafting a DIY ornament, putting time and effort into a gift makes it extra special. Plus, it’s a great way to get creative and show the people in your life how much they mean to you. Some of my favourite memories are of late-night crafting sessions with friends, covered in glitter and laughing over our slightly imperfect creations. In the end, it’s not about perfection — it’s about the love behind it.

Time is a gift, and it's free!

If money is tight this Christmas, remember that time is one of the most valuable gifts you can give. Some of the best presents don’t come wrapped in paper — they come in the form of quality moments spent together.

Offer to help a friend with a project, babysit for a family member, or plan a cosy movie night with snacks. Even something as simple as writing a heartfelt letter or making a playlist of songs that remind you of someone can mean the world. In the end, gifts aren’t about price tags — they’re about thoughtfulness, and sometimes, your presence is the greatest present of all.

Thank you for reading my blog! I hope it sparked some inspiration for finding thoughtful gifts for your loved ones while staying on budget. From creative gift ideas to smart shopping strategies, I hope you feel ready to give meaningful presents without overspending. Happy gifting and Merry Christmas!