Friends

Save: You met on the first day of orientation, and you’re both really into flash mobs. Naturally you became “best friends,” and within a week you were also lab partners and aspiring pong partners. Now he texts you every weekend, when he’s not calling you that is—or reblogging your Tumblr posts. Or bringing you pumpkin lattes because you tweeted about them once. He was a pretty good lab partner though, and he did call you when you slept through your alarm and almost missed the exam. SAVE and get him a rainbow of mini strobe lights from Target. You can throw in a light-up coaster to match. Your friend’s pong days are over? Get ’im a pair of reindeer kneesocks. Still fun. Still festive.

Splurge: You’ve known your best friend since forever ago and you’ve got a major (b)romance going on, whether you’re having wine nights with “Friends” reruns or playing 10 games of basketball at Strom. Your bestie is also Superman and somehow manages to get you home in one piece and into your pajamas without fail. No simple task. SPLURGE for the latest season of the TV show you’re both nuts about and watch it during quality BFF time. Or email this Nike link and have your friend custom design his or her dream kicks.

BF/GF

Save: You met your girlfriend three weeks ago in line at Santorini’s. She was pretty into you, but you’re starting to think it might’ve been because she was starving and forgot her wallet, so you fed her. Since then, you’ve seen each other whenever she’s “free,” which seems to be only at odd times in the depths of Thomas Cooper and she still refuses to hold your hand. Maybe you’re really just “talking.” SAVE and get her a Chic-fil-A gift card. Food seems like your strong point. Maybe she’ll remember why she liked you in the first place. Trying to part ways? Get her one of those fake roses with the creepy teddy bear from the gas station.

Splurge: You’ve been dating your sweetheart for almost a year, and your anniversary falls perfectly over winter break. Get him or her something that says, “One day I’m going to marry you...and probably drop four months of my salary on your engagement ring.” SPLURGE on a road trip and concert tickets to your favorite band that has been on every mixed CD you’ve exchanged since day one.

Family

Save: Your mother BIRTHED you. She deserves the world for that, but you’re in college, and you’re poor. Plus, she loves everything you’ve ever done on this green Earth. Remember the macaroni/lima beans cards you made in kindergarten? That’ll do. SAVE and make her a kitschy collage she can hang up on the fridge. Don’t forget to go all out on the writing inside—think Hallmark level cheesiness times 10.

Splurge: Your brother is a huge baseball fan. He also just happens to be a loudmouth who happened to see you smash your parents’ digital camera (which is now conveniently lost) the last time you were home. SPLURGE and get him a ticket to his team’s season opener. Throw in a slamming tailgate spread for good measure.

When you’re scouring for holiday gifts, remember these tips on what to get the special people in your life and who to avoid spending the big bucks on. Instead of searching frantically for last-minute presents, cuddle up in your reindeer sweater, sip hot chocolate and watch Christmas movie marathons all winter break.