Jingle Bells, jingle bells! Christmas is just days away! Before you know it, you’ll be sitting around the fire, drinking egg nog, exchanging gifts with your significant other and – wait a minute, did she just give you the autobiography of Clay Aiken as a gift? The unauthorized version?

Don’t be too upset, she’ll get hers. After all, you did buy her an all-you-can-eat buffet gift card.

Now, when it comes to Christmas presents to give to your significant other, they always say it doesn’t matter how much you spend, just how much thought you put into it. But it seems as though lately, thought is the last thing that comes to mind when men and women buy presents for one another.

There are so many great ideas for presents out there; I just hope they get used this year for the holidays.

Recreation and leisure sophomore Beth Rogers said that putting thought into a gift is what makes it special.

“It’s not at all about price. As long as he puts at least some effort into the present, I’ll be happy. It’s all I ask,” said Rogers.

If there’s one thing I ask for this holiday season, it’s that you don’t buy your boyfriend or girlfriend something that’s going to get you kicked to the curb, landing face first.

We’ve all done it. We’ve all given a present that is, quite simply, a big pile of garbage. But more often than not, it is for the significant other that people seem to struggle the most.

Word to the wise guys: Don’t get anything for your girlfriend that has to do anything with her weight, looks or any gift that can be misconstrued into you telling her she looks like crap.

Basically, stay away from cook books, low-fat cook books, exercise equipment, tickets to your favorite football team or a picture of yourself, with or without the frame.

“I think the worst present you can give your girlfriend would probably be diet pills and a box of condoms,” said sophomore business major Carl Campbell.

If you gave your girlfriend that kind of gift, consider yourself a single man.

I often wonder how men can go from “I need to show her I love her” to “Hey, I got it! I know, I’ll get her an oven cleaning kit,” but many do. This year, I’m here to help you guys make a difference.

I’m not asking you to think of all those beautiful moments you shared and put that into a gift, just listen to the little things that are said. It’s a simple fact that women don’t expect much from men at Christmas, and you can use this to your advantage.

A simple, “I just wanted to show you how much I appreciate what you do for me” gift will reap many rewards in the new year.

“Sometimes it’s hard to know what to get a girl,” said sophomore communications major John Raymone. “Keeping your ears open and asking her friends also help when you have no idea what to get.”

Ladies, don’t think you are getting away so easily. Many women are also guilty of the garbage-gift giving.

When it comes to boyfriends, get them things they would like, not what you think they should like.

Just because you think he would look great in plaid shorts and a pink shirt with a pair of brown Converse, doesn’t necessarily mean he will.

“Girls are always saying guys don’t put enough thought into a gift,” said sophomore business major Marko Mosunic. “Girls are just as guilty when it comes to not putting in the effort.”

Girls, when it comes to your boyfriends, I agree you know them better than I do, just remember they don’t want another mixed CD or a Sac State sweater.

Just like you don’t want another box set from Bath and Body Works, they don’t want lame presents.

This being my final column of the semester, I wanted to leave you with some advice when it comes to giving bad gifts.

It is true when they say Christmas is the season for giving, but another candle from White Barn, a magnet from Spencer’s, a flower you picked out of your neighbor’s yard or even syphilis are just things that shouldn’t be given as a holiday surprise.

Rosa Pastran can be reached at [email protected]