By Jordan Rubin

“‘Tis the season” once again: the season to celebrate, gather with loved ones and, more importantly, give.

But for most college students, it may seem impossible to give loved ones gifts, especially when a trip to the mall means a trip to the poor house. It’s true, this time of year can be overwhelming and expensive. It often leaves us hoping to cover everyone on our list, and as difficult as it may seem, it is completely achievable. No matter what holiday you’ll be celebrating this season, there are lots of affordable gifts to give to the ones on your list.

The key part of any gift is the detail and thought behind it, so make sure you listen to both what people around you want and need. Is mom always running out of papers to leave notes on? Consider a simple and classic stationary set like the cute and chic ones found at Papyrus stores, where entire gift sets come as cheap as $24. Maybe your friend is dying to read a new book or your sibling loves your taste in music. Consider a trip to Barnes and Noble or Best Buy, where books and CD’s are priced fairly, and go with your gut.

Attach a short, sweet note to your gifts explaining why you chose it for them. It shows the person you love the thought you put behind their gift and how much they mean to you.

With the economy in shambles, many stores and Web sites are vying for every dollar they can get from possible consumers. Keep an eye out for sale fliers and take advantage of holiday discounts, both online and in stores.

Web sites such as Overstock.com and Ebay.com sell products at much lower cost than many traditional vendors. Most Web sites offer free shipping when you spend a certain amount of money, so take advantage of the free shipping and buy your gifts in bulk. Also visit stores like T.J. Maxx or Marshall’s that offer great prices on designer clothing.

Too many people on your gift list? Avoid breaking the bank by gathering your group of friends together and suggesting a Secret Santa or Gift Exchange. To make the swap more interesting, have each person buy a fun but generic gift then pick the gifts at random to open.

The dollar store is also a great resource for crazy yet cheap gifts to make an exchange more comical. Be sure to set a $10 or $15 limit for each other as a way to make sure no one is spending more than someone else. This way you are only buying one present with a price limit that will not exclude a large number of people from your gift list.

The best kind of gift is one that comes from the heart, and what better way to show someone you care about them than to chronicle all of your time spent together into a commemorative token. Snapfish.com boasts gifts from photo albums and frames to coffee mugs, all personalized with your own photos and messages. Shoppers can choose the layout and style of all of their custom creations, which the site promises to deliver within three days of an order. The best part is that all of the gifts are less than $20.

Another way to go when it comes to giving gifts is to make your own. Develop your digital photos for less than 30 cents a print at any store that has a photo department and create a collage for your closest friends or family. There are plenty of Web sites devoted to the idea of crafts, so look around and make them something from the heart.

Still worried about saving this season? Get the most out of your money with a little extra sweetness in a few homemade treats. Nothing is more personal than something you make yourself, so get into the kitchen and whip up a few holiday classics. With a little decoration and a little extra effort, all of your friends and family will feel a lot of love this holiday season. You know what they say: the fastest way to someone’s heart is through their stomach. So go ahead and rustle up a sweet treat that could end up on all of your guests’ wish lists for years to come.

Remember, it really is always the thought and love that count, so when you are working hard to get the most out of your money, remember to take a step back and appreciate the season for what it is: a time to give what you can to the people you love and get the most out of your time together. With that thought in mind, no matter what you can afford to give, you’ll certainly have a rich holiday season!