Photo illustration by Jacob Konst/Arizona Daily Wildcat Corinne Gaul, a nutritional sciences sophomore, walks through Macy's at Tucson Mall, 4500 N. Oracle Road. Gaul has trouble deciding what to buy friends and family for Christmas.

Decorative lights and singing carolers signal the onset of the holiday season, but they are also a warning for students to start searching for their impossible-to-buy-for loved ones.

UA students said the process of buying gifts is a challenge in general, although some friends and family members are harder to purchase for than others.

Taylor Bednarik, a finance junior, said the most difficult shopping challenge he's ever faced was trying to pick an appropriate gift for a new girlfriend.

Bednarik said it's difficult to impress a new love interest without offending her.

"You can give the wrong impression by getting them the wrong thing, i.e., Victoria's Secret," Bednarik said. "Or if you get them Bath and Body Works they might be like, 'Oh, do I smell bad?'"

Brooke McKay, an undeclared freshman, also said shopping for a significant other is a stressful event.

"It's so hard not knowing what (your boyfriend) is going to get you, so it's hard to make it equal," McKay said.

McKay said her best advice for overcoming the challenge was simply getting some insight from inside sources.

"Ask his friends what to get him," McKay said.

Jackie Buckert, an elementary education junior, said she struggled to find an appropriate present for her sister, who is 6 feet 11 inches tall.

"Everything is so short on her," Buckert said. "I get her jewelry and accessories because I can't buy her clothes."

Tiare Toulon, a marketing senior, said her biggest shopping challenge is picking out gifts for her dad, who prefers not to get clothing as a gift.

"He just doesn't get what matches and what doesn't," Toulon said.

Toulon said years of buying highly technological gifts for her dad, only to see that they never get removed from their boxes, has prompted her to make a more creative purchase this year.

"I'm getting him a wetsuit top because he wants to start body surfing again," Toulon said.

Jackie Reaume, a communication freshman, agreed that shopping for her father is a tricky task.

"My dad returns everything I give him," Reaume said. "It's weird because I'm usually buying him a present with his own money."

Erik Bakke, an undeclared sophomore, said although his father was willing to give him gift ideas for the family, his mother refused to tell what she really wanted, short of one thing.

"For 11 years she's asked for world peace," Bakke said.