As children, the holiday season is a time to look forward to enjoying a break from school, eating big dinners and getting presents from family and friends, while handing out makeshift cards with glitter and scribbled pictures.
As college students, glittery cards are no longer sufficient and finding gifts for family and friends requires more than a bit of glue.
With all the expenses that college students incur, finding the resources with which to buy gifts for loved ones can be a task.
"My holiday spending has declined since I came to college because I'm broke most of the time, but generally, with all the people I buy gifts for, I spend about $500," said Malik Sollas, a sophomore psychology major.
"I try not to spend a lot during the holidays, but for some reason I end up spending a lot anyway. Most of my money goes to buying things for me then my family and my friends," said Erljames Presentacion, a sophomore biology and pre-med major.
Some students, despite dwindling bank accounts, are determined to buy gifts for everyone on their lists.
"I work during the school year, and I make it a point to save enough money to buy (my family) suitable holiday gifts," said Basirat Shoberu, a sophomore pharmacy major. "I know that monetary things don't prove love but I figure they at least supplement my telling them that I love them."
University life is not the only factor expected to decrease holiday spending in the United States this season. According to Jane Weaver, senior writer at MSNBC, analysts do not expect a significant rise in consumer spending.
"On top of economic and war worries, there doesn't seem to be a hot, must-have product of the year to stir up consumer excitement, retail watchers say. High-definition TVs and plasma screens will appeal to certain affluent shoppers, but overall consumer electronics - usually top draws during the holidays - are seeing lackluster sales," stated Weaver in her Oct. 16 article.
Even though there are no predicted spurts in spending this season, Weaver concluded that there is going to be a slight increase in the amount of money Americans will spend on gifts this year.
American consumers expect to spend $649 per household this holiday season on gifts for their family and friends, a 2.6 percent rise over last year's $632, the National Retail Federation said Wednesday in its Holiday Outlook Survey. Total holiday spending is projected to increase four percent over 2001 sales of $201 billion.
Those who work at UB say they expect to spend as much as they usually spend during the holiday season.
"On average, I spend about $1,500, and that's generally for my wife and my children," said Stephen Eger, a manager in the university's dining halls.
Richard Scully, who graduated from UB last year, said he expects to spend around the same this year as he usually spends, as well.
"During this holiday season I will be spending most of the money from my job on my family. My fianc?(c) and I will be shopping for our parents as well as siblings, aunts, uncles and nieces and nephews," he said. "I plan on spending somewhere around $2000."
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
