Tis’ the season to be shopping, fa la la la la, la la la la. Yes, the Christmas holiday shoppers madness. A time where people are frantic and racing about cities trying to find one or three perfect gifts like crazy people.

As college students, often our madness doesn’t come from fighting road rage, joining the Furby craze, trying to get the last Cabbage Patch doll, fighting over the newest and hottest toy, staying up all night, or waiting out in the freezing parking lot of your local Target, which, I saw personally on the day after Thanksgiving.

Our madness comes from the lack of funds to do all of these things. It’s as if we have to start a college fund to have money for other expenses while in college, not just for our tuition.

So, how does one shop on a tight budget? Shop bargains, shop the clearance and shop fast!

But where to begin?

Make a simple list of who you have to buy for, and I stress ‘have to’ buy for. Like mom, dad, siblings, grandparents, close aunts, uncles and cousins. Even try to see if maybe someone else in the family might want to go halves with you on your grandparents, aunts, uncles or cousins and see if your siblings will go halves on your parents’ gifts.

Try to think of creative and cheap ways to give the gift of giving. For the women in the family: Make a bath basket out of travel size lotions, perfumes, bubble bath, bath salts, bath beads, back scrubbers and one of those masks to help those tired eyes relax. Get a cheap basket and a fancy bow and, voila, a great gift. This also could work if you have men in the family who like that sort of thing. It can be a great personal gift they will see you put effort and thought into.

Family members can be so picky about what they want, or only want one thing and there is no way you’re going to stand in line in a dark parking lot with all the other mad shoppers. When in doubt, buy gift cards. People who don’t think it’s impersonal will find it sensible and cost effective.

This way you’re not having to spend much time shopping and they can get exactly what they want. Add a holiday touch by putting it in a funny Christmas card or even a small stocking with their initial on the top and a small candy cane in it. If your siblings are younger, get them a gift certificate and tell them you are going to take them shopping.

In matters of friends, try only giving cards or one small thing and set a price limit. My friends and I give each other a card and give one gift that is something we made personally. It may sound cheesy but it certainly puts some change back in both of your pockets. Maybe try just going out to dinner and hanging out. If they are true friends, it won’t matter to them if they don’t get that new Fendi or the newest video game they really wanted.

For the men in the family, if you decide not to go the gift card route, try getting them the movie they always talk about but never remember to get. For example, my stepdad loved the movie, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. He always talked about it but never bought it. He looked like a little kid on Christmas morning when he opened it up. Or, if your pops is a reader, try getting him a book about his favorite hobby, the newest John Grisham or some type of book on a favorite sport. There is a new book out about the Sox’s victory this year that would make a Sox fan tear up if he or she opened it up on Christmas morning.

Christmas is the time of giving, this we know, but it’s also the time people end up in a financial mess they have to dig themselves out of for the next six months just to do it all over the next year. So, this year, be kind to your wallet and everyone else’s wallets; ask for something small. Have a family member donate money to a club or charity, organization you support or are involved in or do the same for them.

So, when in doubt, get gift cards at stores you know someone might like, $5 or $10 can make a big difference on something they may have had their eye on. Even if giving gift cards is stretching the pockets too far, try just sending a seasonal card.

Some people simply like the fact you thought about them. And if you’re crafty and have time from the last day of finals until your day to spend Christmas with your family, try making your own Christmas cards.

My free of charge Christmas advice is shop smart, shop cheap and shop fast!

Columns reflect the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of the Northern Star staff.