Because of the current economic recession, many students are finding it harder to buy holiday presents for their loved ones. So they are making their lists and checking them twice to include only the absolutely necessary. Sonnier Vander Ploeg, biology junior, is only buying gifts for her family. “My roommate bought me a present, and I was like, ‘Crap, now I have to get her one, too,'” Vander Ploeg said. Vander Ploeg said she is exchanging gifts with a friend on Groundhog Day instead because they don’t have the money this December.”I’m not buying friends gifts,” said Amelia Burns, history freshman. “Just family.”Burns said while she hasn’t changed her shopping habits, she has cut her list down.Matt Wilkinson, sociology instructor, said people are making “target purchases.””People are reducing their lists to the necessities,” Wilkinson said. “They are buying one or two things on their list, then going home.”Shoppers who do have the money to spend are purchasing gifts specifically for their families.”I’m only buying for family and closer friends,” said Jeff Conniff, biochemistry sophomore. “Everyone else is getting an IOU.”Claudia Maldonado, business sophomore, is experiencing the same crunch.”Pretty much everyone is being left out, to be honest,” Maldonado said. “I’m definitely cutting back on the gifts because I’m poor and jobless.”The Conference Board, an international independent organization dedicated to analyzing and projecting the economy, predicts this holiday’s revenue will be weak. The group reported individuals in Louisiana will spend about $330 on gifts, $88 lower than the national average. That figure makes the state one of the lowest average-spending states. But some students aren’t cutting back. “I’ve decreased spending because of the economy,” said Leonard Williams, microbiology freshman. “But I’m not skimping on gift giving for the holidays.”Wilkinson said shoppers are buying “more functional things” as opposed to luxuries.”All the big electronic stores are having trouble because [consumers] already have TVs and other electronics that work just fine,” Wilkinson said. “We don’t need the big stuff anymore.”Workers at Play N Stop, a local video game store, are unconcerned about consumers spending habits. “We’re not expecting less spending,” said John Winkler, general manager. “We got six Wiis in, and they were all gone by the next day.”Winkler said video games and consoles are still quite popular and generally new. Winkler doesn’t expect the economy to affect revenue.”We always offer discounts to students,” Winkler said. “Other than that, our sales don’t have anything to do with the holiday season.”Rakima Dolliole, business junior, is buying her younger siblings video games. “Everyone is on my list. I’m good with managing my money, so I can make it stretch,” Dolliole said.- – – -Contact Ashley Norsworthy at [email protected]