Students join seasonal rush to find holiday gifts
By Wei Liao / Student Publications
The holiday shopping season has arrived and wish lists are getting long. Students have joined in the general scramble to find the perfect presents, cramming in gift shopping on top of classes and work.
Just as much of a tradition as Christmas trees and carol singing, holiday shopping has kicked off with full force.
With very little money, students all over campus are panicked and stressed to find the right gifts for their friends and family.
Like any penniless college student knows, when it comes to finding cheap gift ideas, it is important to have the right resources before beginning to shop.
According to Ting Chung, a seventh-year Electrical Engineering major, the Today Show and Good Morning America are two great resources.
"They usually have those segments on what you can buy, and Regis and Kelly are having a segment on gift ideas for under $15," Chung said.
Websites are also helpful: www.Giftionary.com, www.AccessAtlanta.com, www.gma.abcnews.com, www.creativeloafing.com, www.amazon.com and www.gifts.com are not only convenient, but also seem to be created just for the holiday season.
It is often smart to find a gift idea from the internet and then go to the mall to check the quality and appeal of the item before buying it.
If that does not help, newspaper ads offer colorful images that students can use to get more smart and up-to-date gift ideas.
Many students choose to venture out to local stores to see what is available for the holiday season.
"I think places like Bath and Body Works have great little gift ideas, and Old Navy has some neat things too," said Kathryn Moore, a first-year Mechanical Engineering major.
However, Nicole Green, a third-year Computational Media major, said that the key to finding the best gift may simply be "from the person you are getting the gift [for]."
With a gift idea in mind, it's time to shop. Some students have said that they begin their holiday shopping on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, when stores often have major clearance sales.
Some students are particular about finishing their holiday shopping by specific times.
"You'd like to get [holiday shopping] done by the weekend before dead week if you want to get [stuff] for your friends, and I'd say the first week of December for your relatives and the friends you will see during winter break," Chung said.
Other students have different ideas. "I shop up until Christmas Eve...there really isn't a deadline," said Kristen Hill, a fourth-year Industrial Design major.
Where do Tech students shop?
Guys generally prefer to shop at electronic stores first. When asked about where he will head for holiday shopping, first-year Electrical Engineering major Rajan Ananthan answered, "Circuit City, Best Buy and the mall."
Many have also turned to online shopping.
"I still go to the mall [depending] on what kind of stuff [I want to get]. If it is electronic, I will go online, [but] if it is clothing, I will still go to the mall," said Bo Chai, a third-year Electrical Engineering major.
Students have reported spending over $100 on holiday shopping. For those running low on cash this year, a cheaper and more creative alternative to shopping can be making gifts by hand.
"These days everybody buys things for people, but nobody makes things....You really make things for the people you love," Chung said.
People have indicated a preference for gifts made especially for them.
"My niece, she's about nine [and] she likes it when people make stuff for her...[things] like little key chains, drawing pictures, stuff like that," Hill said.
Some gifts that students have reported making for others include paper flowers, paintings and model cars. However, finding the time to make gifts can be a hassle.
Still, the true challenge is finding that right gift idea.
Moore suggested an edible gift. "Last year, I got my friend an edible snow globe. To make it, you take a coffee cup, put a cupcake in it and make a winter scene using marshmallows and candy and you stick it all together with toothpick and icing," Moore said.
Others have mentioned iPods, gift certificates, jewelry and humorous greeting cards as good ideas for presents.
Chung stressed the importance of considering who is receiving the gift.
"The key to getting a good gift is to just listen to somebody; there's really no way around it," Chung said.
