In these tough economic times, Christmas and other seasonal holidays might be interesting this year. If you asked me what I wanted a few months ago, I would have blurted out with no hesitation, “An HD TV and a BluRay player!” But the times they are a’changin’. With the economy being what it is, I’d feel selfish asking for such high ticket items, especially when there are so many in our country who have so little.

But while I plan to spend some of my time during the holidays volunteering for the less fortunate, but I still think we should be able to celebrate holiday traditions as we always have. But for once, we have a pressing reason for scaling back the materialism aside from Linus in “A Charlie Brown Christmas” telling us so.

Keeping that in mind, I’ve compiled my ideas for gifts that won’t break the bank, but are still thoughtful, fun, entertaining and even helpful. Though it might be a little early, Thanksgiving and final exams are approaching faster than you think, and the savvy shopper knows to buy early before prices go up.

I predict a rise in gift certificate sales this year. It’s a perfect present this season because it allows someone who may be in a tight money situation to enjoy some of the creature comforts they used to. A gift card for AMC Theaters would be a great idea for movie lovers, especially since AMC has raised ticket prices to $10 and has all but eliminated student tickets. (I think they still sell them on Thursday nights. Seriously? Thursday nights?) On that same note, gift cards for Blockbuster, Movie Trading Company, or Target would allow people to buy the DVDs they want without fretting about the $25 price tag.

Target will be a great place to find gifts this year. Their prices are fair and they usually try not to gauge people out of their money at Christmas. They have quality merchandise at a decent price- you can get that chenille blanket your mom’s been wanting or the Dallas Cowboys neon sign your dad thinks is cool.

Don’t forget about the infinite resource on which we students spend most of our time: the Internet. Buying online is a great way to compare prices, quality and shipping rates. Plus, you can find a wider variety of gifts for your more eccentric friends. Try BustedTees, a Web site that sells unique T-shirts printed on American Apparel material. Their shirts include quirky slogans or logos such as “Vandelay Industries” (an in-joke from “Seinfeld”), “The Second Amendment” showing a man with large, furry bear arms, “Canada: America’s Hat,” “Jesus Hates the Yankees,” “Beards: They Grow On You,” and one of my favorites, “You Have Died of Dysentery,” a great reference to the Oregon Trail game from our youth.

Even if you don’t spend a lot on a gift, the gesture will be appreciated if it’s personal. Don’t just buy the same discounted fruit basket for everyone. If you’re shopping for a sports fan, find memorabilia or gear. Buying for a coffee addict? Go with a sampler pack of different blends. Do they enjoy long baths? Find scented soaps and body washes and put them together with a loofah sponge or a pair of slippers.

So although it’s unfortunate that the times have passed when we could just glue some macaroni to a sheet of construction paper and everyone thought it was cute, don’t ignore the holiday season altogether. You can celebrate the season of giving without emptying your wallet.