Sleigh bells are ringing, but meanwhile your wallet is close to empty. Sure, you'd like to give your true love five golden rings, four calling birds, and so on, but is it really worth the post-holiday debt? Wouldn't you rather see red lettering on a Christmas card instead of your bank statement? I thought so.
Thus, in the true spirit of Christmas, here are some gift ideas to deck the halls without devastating your finances:

1. They say a picture's worth a thousand words, so give your boyfriend, girlfriend, roommate, lab partner, or pet gerbil a stylish frame and a picture that says it all. Picture frames can be purchased just about anywhere and come in a wide variety of colors and styles, ranging from feminine pastels or fake furs to ultra-modern leather or plastics.
   
   
2. Budding writers or artists will enjoy a blank journal or sketch pad, but anyone can use a new notebook for doodling during a history lecture or jotting down "To Do" lists. Find a blank book with a pretty picture, funky quote, or embroidered cover, or if you're feeling creative, buy a plain notebook and decorate it with pictures and quotes of your own.
   
   
3. Remember all those times you "forgot" to wash the dishes? Or when you faked sick so you could skip your sister's violin recital? Make it up to your relatives or friends by giving them a coupon book promising to help your Mom with the dishes or tutor your friend in physics. Show off your calligraphy skills or use a computer to design coupons that are sure to be appreciated!
   
   
4. There's something very appealing about the glossy, colorful cards in the 52 Deck Series: 52 Relaxing Rituals, 52 Ways to Make a Difference, 52 Ways to Find Your True Love… if only I could collect them all! This pack of 52 illustrated suggestions for fun are the same dimensions as a regular deck of cards, so they fit nicely in a purse or as a stocking stuffer. Look for them in bookstores or at www.chroniclebooks.com.
   
   
5. Search the bargain books section of your local bookstore for some unusual and inexpensive finds. Many booksellers offer discounted re-releases of classic novels, like Jane Eyre and A Tale of Two Cities, as well as glossy coffee table books, travel books, and cookbooks. I even found a brand new copy of Bridget Jone's Diary for $5.99!
   
   
6. If your favorite professor, best friend, or roommate can't live without a daily caffeine fix, buy him or her a coffee mug and fill it with goodies like coffee, tea, hard candy, or chocolate. Or create a one-of-a-kind coffee container by inserting pictures and sayings in a clear plastic travel mug.
   
   
7. Help your overbooked friend or scatter brained sibling stay organized with some smart desk accessories. Glue a magnet to the back of a sticky pad (look for funky shapes and colors) for a quick fix. Or buy some pens and highlighters that double as bookmarks: they're flat and easily hook onto the pages of a textbook or novel to hold your place. Note-taking has never been so easy!
   
   
8. Everyone has to eat, right? Most college students will appreciate a Starbucks gift card, a Pizza Hut certificate, or a free ice cream from Baskin Robbin's. Many fast food joints offer gift certificates in small increments, so it's a quick and easy way to treat your friends to a late night pizza or latte.
   
   
9. Shopping for holiday gifts, making plans for winter break, and churning out final projects and papers can make the weeks leading up to Christmas an especially stressful time. Help friends unwind with a stress ball, aromatherapy oils, or soothing scented candles. Your lab partner or study buddy will thank you!
   
   
10. And if none of these suggestions strike your fancy, there is another option. Rather than spending lots of money on a gift for that someone special, tell the person how much her or she means to you. Write a heartfelt greeting to your Aunt Mildred or your physics professor. Give your significant other a nice, long back rub and list the reasons why you care about him or her. Or leave a candy cane and card on your roommate's pillow. After all, it's the thought that counts!

Susan Johnston is a communication student at Boston University in Massachusetts. When not working the in the admissions office at BU or studying for classes, she enjoys writing, scrapbooking, singing, and acting. Copyright 2003 iamnext.com. May not be used without permission.

Related reading:

• The Christmas gift challenge
• Finding the perfect gift for someone who has everything
• Unusual gift ideas to rediscover the joy of giving
• How to survive your Christmas shopping with your sanity intact
• What's the point of Christmas anyway? Revisit the original Christmas story