As the weather gets colder, our pockets start to feel just a bit lighter. 

Heating and gas bills increase as we have to compensate for the cold air ambushing our windows, multiple holidays coming up fuel the need for a larger, seasonal budget, and the expectation to show up and show out to your friends and family stands at the forefront. It’s almost like a cloud of happiness mixed with dread is constantly over your mind, waiting for that pin of expectation aggravation to drop again. “Oh well this gift isn’t expensive enough compared to what I got you,” or “This isn’t even what I asked for,” or the classic, “Oh you didn’t have to get me anything! But this is okay I guess.”

Well this year, y’all better watch what you say. Your expectations just might fall short and we need to start practicing some understanding. 

Because under the current economy, everyone’s broke.

“The current economic state of the U.S. is not great right now,” Isabelle Cunningham said, a 19-year-old psychology major at SUNY Plattsburgh. “Everything is so expensive and prices have continued to rise which has made it more and more difficult for people to maintain a comfortable lifestyle. This is due to so many factors including student loans, mortgages, healthcare costs, and so on which is becoming increasingly difficult for people to pay off.”

Within the last few months, according to a Trader Economics report from October 2025, “energy costs climbed 1.5%, led by a 4.1% surge in gasoline.” Not only that, but food prices have increased 0.2% and shelter/household essential prices are increasing as well. Even though these may seem like small numbers, they make a huge difference in the budgeting and ability to afford even the simple pleasures of life. 

One of these pleasures is for people to have a meaningful and joyous Christmas among their family. For many, showing that love to relatives is through giving rather than receiving. For college students that have bigger families and younger siblings, affording life on top of the holiday season is becoming increasingly difficult. 

“Unfortunately, this is going to have to be the [Christmas] where I gotta purchase something for everybody,” Messiah Royall, a 21-year-old student at UAlbany said. “[They] could be better gifts if I had more money. Sorry – I just remembered I’m broke.”

In his family, Royall has to buy for at least seven older people and one younger child. Having to budget out his funds for the season as a college student hasn’t been the easiest task, as he explains that it’s impacted his ability to buy presents for his loved ones. However, he thinks spending time with his family is more important than an expensive gift, especially going into the future of celebrating the holidays in America. 

“I wish I had more money, ya know,” Royall said, discussing saving during the holidays and its impact on his finanical plans for after graduation. “I know I’ll buy a ‘good gift’ if I spend more money. I’m gonna get rich though so I’m not too worried about it. We gettin’ richaaaa… Having a good job, saving money and being smart with my money will help with [my future].”

Going into a shopping season with rising inflation of consumer goods, it’s a good idea for students to shop Black Friday Deals, go to quick-shop/discounted stores like Five Below and T.J.Maxx, or to make something sustainably sound from the heart. If your love language is gift-giving, just make sure you can afford it first without initially thinking of someone’s potential disappointment and buying it anyway. There are always smarter, more qualitative financial options, rather than grabbing and spending outside of your set budget at the store. 

“I love to shop second hand at thrift stores or antique shops because you are able to find used items and clothing which is better for the environment,” Cunningham said. “It is more affordable than if you went and bought gifts at, for instance, a Target or Walmart.”

Although Cunningham expresses that she does not find difficulty in buying gifts this season, due to not struggling with day to day spending needs in comparison to Royall, she is worried about the future of the economy. 

“If policies continue to be passed that favor specifically expensive healthcare and education, the overall debt in the US will just keep increasing,” Cunningham said, explaining her fears around the US economic future. “In addition, I am worried that the unemployment rates will increase if policies continue to favor AI.”

More unemployment leads to more unaffordability in our communities around us. Food, shelter and resources are continuing to rise in cost, and by the end of October of this year, when people began to shop around for the holidays, inflation was up 3% in the U.S., under the Federal Reserve. In November, grocery prices continued to sky rocket, including protein and meat. Without adequate resources to offset the costs of increasing living, including raising the federal minimum wage, families this year are left with no choice but to stretch their budgets thin. 

“At the end of the day,” Royall said, “Christmas has become a very capitalistic, spend money fast kind of thing. Have you ever watched the Grinch? Basically, it’s like that. People have become more and more materialistic. What really matters is spending time with your family.”