Ah, Christmas.

The snow is falling, the hot chocolate is soothing, and your butt hurts from slipping and falling on the ice so many times. As you settle into your recliner with a Christmas cookie and Netflix, you forget about the stress of finals and instead worry about the stress of Christmas. The shopping, the presents, the plans with friends you haven't seen in months, and of course, the ugly Christmas sweater parties. If you're a broke college student like me, I'm sure you'd rather not have to sell a kidney to keep the spirit in Christmas, so I'm here to help today!

Cheap Activities to do with Friends:

1. Cookie Decoration Contest

Why go to some club when you can have cookies?! Get together with a few friends and if everyone buys a few of the materials need (if you don't already have them), then you get cookies AND friendship! Sugar cookie recipes are usually super easy too, so you don't have to be a culinary genius to bake them.

Recipe: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/10402/the-best-rolled...

DISCLAIMER: depending on your friends, cookie designs *may* get a little weird. Choose your friends carefully.

2. Netflix Marathon

Netflix has over 80 Christmas movies on their listings this year, and there's no shortage of variety: Christmas With The Kranks, Love Actually, White Christmas, Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Miracle on 34th Street, and most importantly, Mickey's Once Upon A Christmas (Don't judge, the moment when he gives her the chain for her locket, and she gives him the case for his harmonica shatters my heart every time.) Settle in with a glass of eggnog and let the tears flow.

For a full listing, check out: http://www.whats-on-netflix.com/other/full-list-of...

3. Snowball Fight

Yeah, okay, so maybe I'm like 12 years old, but there's nothing I find more satisfying than building snow forts and nailing my older brother square in the face with a snowball, before sprinting to the house to hid from him. Ah, memories.

4. Snowman Contest

I think this one speaks for itself. Don't forget to name them!

5. Leftover 4th of July Fireworks

Because what can go wrong when-Nope. You know what? Bad Idea.

6. Check Out Events In Local Towns and Cities

Usually during this season many towns and cities host Christmas-y events, like festivals, ice sculpture displays, or even just have their Christmas decorations up. Either way, bundle up, drive into town, park your car, and walk around to see the sights your town has to offer.

If you live near the Adrian, MI area, be sure to check out the Comstock River walk. Beautiful.

The Season of Giving

1. Coupons

Before heading out with your Christmas list in hand, check out the local paper, or the store websites. You can usually find at least one coupon that applies to your gifts.

2. Consignment Shops

There is nothing wrong with shopping at a second hand shop. NOTHING. You can find some amazing items for about a third of the price they would have been in their original stores. If someone doesn't like the gift you gave them, because it's from a consignment shop (which is unlikely), they don't deserve a present from you anyways. I have bought my mom high priced sweaters before that have gotten a small "Thank You" and she's worn them maybe once or twice, but when she opened the sweater from the consignment shop last year she flipped out and went on and on about how she loved it. She's worn it many times and it's her favorite article of clothing. It's not about the price of the gift, but more of the personal appeal (AKA Know your audience).

3. Homemade is ALWAYS okay.

If you're blanking on what to get your friends for Christmas, appeal to their taste buds. Never in my 19 years have I witnessed someone turn down a gift of their favorite cookies or chocolate coated pretzels. If you're not sure what type of cookies they like, include a variety.

Please be aware of food allergies. It's slightly embarrassing when you give someone a gift they can't eat.

Sweater Party Hack

You get an invite for a sweater party and you're excited! So, over the river and through the woods, to the Goodwill you go. Lo and Behold! They're sold out! What now? Simple. Go online and find a picture. Whether it's of a friend with a really good sense of humor, or a celebrity/politician you don't like, print the picture out, write "Merry Christmas" on it, pin it to your sweater, and BAM! You have your ugly Christmas sweater.

So, now, go socialize, see friends, wrap your gifts and bag those cookies. Have a good holiday season!