As a college student its hard to save money, especially around the holidays. Most of us have a part-time job while being a full-time student and some don't even have jobs. If this is the case, its impossible to go all out on Christmas shopping, but you can still shop on a budget.

Obviously the first thing to do is look for sales. Sales are your best friend when it comes to shopping because you want to get something nice not something cheap. You can get something nice but inexpensive so it doesn't hurt your wallet. So look out for sales. There's plenty during the holidays.

Also, remember to shop early. Black Friday and cyber Monday sales are great ways to shop early and get great deals. A lot of people don't like to get involved in that but it's your best bet to save money. However, that has already passed this year but it's a great tip for next year. So now it's just best to focus on the holiday specials.

Don't think too outside of the box. If you do this you'll wind up wanting to get someone something too expensive that you probably can't really afford. Just think of something simple and thoughtful. No matter what the gift idea is, if the person you're shopping for isn't materialistic and grateful, they'll love your gift no matter what. This brings me to my next point; hand-made gifts. Painting something, knitting, making a memory box, or anything you can think of can be a great creative way to save money and give a meaningful gift.

Remember, you don't need to get gifts for every single person in your life. Just get them for immediate family and and lovers or really friends. Everyone else will be happy just to hear "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" from you by a phone call or text because it's the though that counts. That's really what brings in the holiday sprit. So if you're on a college budget, don't stress because there's always a way.