'Holiday' Gift Giving Guide

Tips for finding the not-so-average gift for that someone special

by ERIN SCHAAL

The Terrapin Times Advertising Director

            The season of giving has arrived, and it has college students scrambling for great gifts that fit within a tight budget.

            Fret not, friends.  When it comes to presents, “it’s the thought that really counts.”

            Proving the truth behind that age-old adage are these carefully thought-out gift ideas.

            For Mom, skip the flowers and skip the facials. What she really wants is a singing salsa and chip bowl in the shape of a sombrero.  Retailers like Bed Bath & Beyond and Linens ’n Things have plenty in stock at a reasonable price.

Not only is the bowl perfect for entertaining guests; it also serves as a great reminder that Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner.  Feliz Navidad!

            Dad might say he wants a DVD player, but save your money and get him gift certificates to the movie theater, instead.  He’ll still get to see high-quality movies, but the advantage to this option is that he’ll be able to eat that buttery, high-calorie popcorn that he can only get at the movie theater.

            Shopping for significant others can be more difficult. That’s why it’s important to turn to infomercials for help.  All infomercial products have been tested by thousands of consumers, and you get to hear their feedback and see their results – practically a guarantee the gift will be a hit!

            Girlfriends will surely enjoy a hair removal kit from IGIA.  Commercials often offer great deals on such gadgets, but you can find even better deals online.  It’s hard to imagine, but you can give the joy of smooth hair removal for face, legs, and other areas for less than $19.99!

She’ll be happy because she’ll never see an ingrown hair again; you’ll be happy because you’ll never see an unruly eyebrow again.  And isn’t that what the season is all about?

For your boyfriend, consider his lifestyle.  He probably already enjoys trips to the gym, but he’d love them much more if he looked like John Basedow. 

Help him achieve his dreams with the “Fitness Made Simple” video, because nothing says “I love you, and I think you’re fat” like a workout video.  And the really cool part about this gift is that if you give it to him on the first day of Hanukkah, you will probably notice results by the eighth day.

Also, don’t forget a gift for your friends in their new apartment.  Gather a group of friends to donate some money to buy a shot glass chessboard from Restoration Hardware to add a mature touch to the apartment.  Fill the glasses with egg nog for Christmas, liquor for Hanukkah or champagne for New Year’s.  It’s a party on a chessboard, and it’s perfect for the typical college student, who is both an intellectual and an alcoholic.

            While you’re buying your chessboard you can buy a giant tennis ball, appropriately named the “Big Ball,” for your dog.  But be careful, this ball is not for Fufu, it’s for Fido and his adventurous friends.  You can buy Fufu a diamond-studded collar at PetSmart, instead.