‘Tis the season of giving and spreading cheer! The age old tradition of wrapping presents and putting them under the tree is as lucrative as ever. According to the American Research Group, Inc., the average spending plan of adults in the United States in 2010 was a robust $658, and $646 for 2011.

As the proverbial “broke college students,” I can say with a fair level of confidence that the majority of you won’t be spending $646 on Christmas or Hanukkah or Boxing Day presents this year.

But, presents for family do not have to break the bank. If you haven’t yet purchased any gifts, check out some suggestions for last-minute shopping that can be light on your wallet.

For Dad:

What Penn State dad doesn’t love some new threads so he can show off where his son or daughter goes to school? Yes, despite the scandal surrounding the university, parents are sure to still have an extreme pride in their son or daughter and their accomplishments at this school.  Be sure to check out Lion’s Pride and The Family Clothesline and search for sales for the best quality Penn State gear for pops. If that fails, McLanahan’s is sure to have some nicely-priced items- especially PSU branded golf, car, and home accessories.

For Mom:

My suggestions here are a bit biased toward my own mother, but I’m fairly certain the majority of moms would appreciate these gifts as well. From what I’ve seen in my 21 years, most moms love to cook. More so, they take pride in the product they put on the table. Make sure to get her some great kitchen tools to add some flash to the kitchen. Wine glasses, bottle openers, and wine racks are great gifts to help mom adorn the kitchen for visitors to see and for her own convenience. Also, be sure to check out stores like Crate & Barrel. C&B has a gigantic selection of gadgets and accessories at a great price online.

For the Bro:

Obviously a lax tank, Sperry’s and a GNC gift card.

Oh, you mean your actual bro? I’ve found that brothers are the hardest to shop for, as their tastes are pretty vast. If he’s a sports fan, be sure to check out holiday sales on the NFL site (if he likes football) or other various sporting goods sites. They always run huge sales at this time of year. If he’s a tech/video game/whatever else kind of guy, Amazon is your savior.

For the Sis:

Again, it’s all dependent upon her personal tastes. My suggestion? Ask her friends. She talks to them more than she does you or your family, and they’ll likely know her real interests- especially if she’s a college student, too.

For the Family:

If all else fails and you want to get a gift for the whole family, or even just in the name of individual members, you can do what I’m doing this Christmas and making charitable donations in the name of each family member to the charity of their choosing. Some of the foundations and organizations that I’ll be gifting donations to this Christmas are Love146, World Vision, and AIDS United.

We would love to get more suggestions from our readers, so post ’em below.