Sleigh bells ring, 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? Just as I thought.

So, in the true spirit of Christmas, Hanukkah, or whatever you may celebrate, here are some foolproof gift ideas to deck the halls without devastating your finances:

1. PICTURE FRAMES. They say a picture's worth a thousand words, so give your boyfriend, girlfriend, roommate, or lab partner 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. NOTE PAD/JOURNAL. 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. COUPON BOOK. Remember all those times you "forgot" to wash the wishes? 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 with housework or tutor your brother in physics. Show off your calligraphy skills or use a computer to design coupons that are sure to be a hit!
4. 52 DECK SERIES. 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 you could collect them all! This pack of 52 illustrated cards is the same dimensions as a deck of playing cards, so they fit nicely in a purse or as a stocking stuffer. Look for them in bookstores or at www.chroniclebooks.com.
5. BARGAIN BOOKS. 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 on travel, cooking, and more. I even found a brand new copy of Bridget Jones' Diary for $5.99!
6. COFFEE MUG. If your favorite professor, best friend, or roommate can't live without a daily caffeine fix, buy a coffee mug and fill it with goodies like coffee, tea, candy, or chocolate. Or create a one-of-a-kind coffee container by inserting pictures and sayings in a clear plastic travel mug.
7. DESK STUFF. 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. GIFT CERTIFICATES. Everyone has to eat, right? Most college students will appreciate a Starbucks gift card, a Pizza Hut certificate, or a free ice cream from Ben & Jerry's. Many fast food joints offer gift certificates in small increments, so they're a quick and easy way to treat your friends to a late night pizza or latte.
9. STRESS RELIEF. Shopping for holiday gifts, making plans for winter break, and churning out final papers make the weeks leading up to the holidays 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. JUST SAY IT. 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, simply 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!

Copyright © 2004. YOUNG MONEY®

The plight of the college student continues. Half.com by eBay commissioned a study, which finds students struggle financially during the school year with 55 percent saying they are either broke or just breaking even.

More than 70 percent of students believe their job takes away from their study time. Shopping wisely, finding savings and making money through non-traditional channels is a growing trend demonstrated by nearly 40 percent of students who sell textbooks online.

"With only 36 percent of students describing their financial status as secure, students are always looking for ways to save and earn money on the necessities," said Mike Aufricht, vice president and general manager of Half.com. "Many students sell their previous semester's textbooks to help pay for their upcoming semester's books which helps lower the total expenditure delegated towards textbooks. Half.com provides students an opportunity to both save and make money on textbooks."

The Survey.com study was conducted in December 2004 with 500 college students between the ages of 19 and 25 as participants. Additional results of the survey include:

• More than 50 percent have sold textbooks on Half.com
• More than 50 percent have shopped on Half.com for their textbooks
• More than 70 percent feel they did not receive a fair sell-back price from traditional outlets for their textbooks
• 53 percent have helped a friend or classmate sell their textbooks online
• Nearly 90 percent are interested in selling textbooks online for extra money
• Nearly 65 percent of students use the Internet to compare textbook prices
• 45 percent are spending between $300 and $1,000 a semester on their textbooks

© 2004, InCharge® Education Foundation, Inc. All rights reserved.