There are only a few more weeks until the big man in the red suit comes to town once again this year. This also means there is little time left for students to gather up all their money to go out and purchase Christmas presents for their loved ones. With living on a college student budget, saving up for Christmas presents can be quite the challenge.
“Christmas is one of my favorite holidays and I always try to make it special when I am home,” Mary-
Kate Sapata, freshman education major, said. “Being away for so long I look forward to going home to see my family.”
With Christmas approaching, students have to make special arrangements to ensure they have the money and time to make this holiday special.
“I have had multiple jobs off campus to just get by,” Rita Alcaraz, sophomore criminolo- gy major, said. “When it comes to the holidays, I put money aside for specific things I know I need to get.”
Students pick up part-time jobs to help pay for those pricy presents. Having a job for the holiday season is always an option because not many people want to work holiday hours. “Working winter break may not be fun but when I see the money in the bank, I know it will be worth it,” Deqwan Phillips, sophomore criminology major, said. “This is the main time for me to make the money.”
Students who have part time jobs are also given employee discounts which can be an asset to their purchases. These students can also help out other students when it comes to buying specific gifts.
“I love working at Dick’s Sporting Goods because I can use my discount to buy my friends and family their gifts,” Phillips said. “The store does give great deals but my discount is killer.”
For those who do not have employee discounts, coupons can come a long way for buying gifts for the holidays and in general.
“I live off of coupons,” Amie Kneedler-Roetz, junior education major, said. “I like to use the app ‘Retail Me Not.’ It has coupons for the online store and in the store. It is my go-to when it comes to shopping.”
Besides using apps like ‘Retail Me Not’, students also use store credit cards that can help them earn points, which can discount them in the long run.
“I love my Victoria Secret angel card,” Chrystal Voroscak, alumna, said. “It helps when I use it enough to win free things and discounts. Christmas is a friendly time in this store and I always walk away with more things for a cheaper price.”
Black Friday is the day for people who are determined to find that great sale. Many students enjoy the black Friday shopping experience because they will most likely have to stand in those mile long lines and deal with the crowds.
“Black Friday can be fun if you make it fun, there are great sales and crazy people running all over the place to buy stuff,” Voroscak said. “I always have a successful Black Friday because I get my gifts and I get to watch people go absolutely insane.”
With Black Friday being the day that it is, there are many students staying in the comfort of their home, online shopping. Some students find that the online deals are better than in-store deals, even on black Friday.
“I never want to have to deal with that kind of crowd,” Roetz said. “I can get the same deal at home in my pajamas and not have to wait in any lines. I love ordering my gifts online, Target is great store to start at because they always have the best deals.”
The holiday season is all about budgeting and knowing where, when and how to spend money.
“Saving for the holidays is a tough task but it something I do every year,” Sapata said. “Coupons, discounts, you name it, I make it happen. Christmas is a special time of the year and saving that little bit of money can always make things go a little smoother when it comes to buying that perfect gift.”
