Whether the economy will have an actual effect on how much money NIU students spend on the holidays this year, it’s having a psychological effect on at least one student and her inner circle.

Samantha Menefee said she and her friends have an “understanding” this year that they won’t be exchanging Christmas presents; the “understanding” is a result of the country being in a recession.

“This year, I’m just buying for my direct family,” the sophomore elementary education major said. “I think people are now focusing on what people need instead of what people want.”

Holiday-shopping forecasters have been back and forth in their predictions of how much consumers will spend this season. While the retail sector got a boost on Black Friday, as sales rose 2.2 percent from last year, Saturday sales were down 0.8 percent from 2007, according to ShopperTrak.

And while the National Retail Federation is forecasting a 5 percent increase in sales this shopping season, BDO Seidman is predicting a 2.7 percent decrease. How much NIU students spend on gifts is anyone’s guess, but senior anthropology major Chris Close said the struggling economy has actually been good for his wallet.

Many retailers have been slashing prices in an attempt to lure shoppers into their stores. Consider Close lured.

“Things seem a little bit cheaper,” he said. “It’s also a little easier because this year I have a job.”

Assistant marketing professor John Hansen implied that Menefee and Close are not alone among NIU students.

“Consumers are being more price conscious in their shopping. They’re looking for price deals or, in some cases, demanding better deals from retailers,” he said.

Assistant marketing professor Bob Riggle said that consumers don’t spend as much during troubled economic times, and many retailers have been cutting their marketing budgets.

“It remains to be seen whether or not this holiday season will be bad,” he said. “I don’t buy into the pundits saying there’s going to be a great depression.”

Melissa Dzielski, a freshman textiles, apparel and merchandising major, said she has learned, from her first semester in college, that she needs to budget her money better, but luckily she’ll be going back to work during winter break.

“I’m going to try to buy them something small,” she said, referring to her parents and four sisters. “I feel bad getting them nothing, but it’s rough.”

Editors Note: David Thomas, a campus reporter, contributed to this article.