By Colette Bennett This collaboration could make holiday shopping a little bit easier. With the holidays not so far away, many are already thinking — or worrying — about what to buy loved ones for Christmas. However, if there’s any year that presents may be a little smaller than usual, this would be the one. Crippling gas costs bit into people’s budgets over the spring and summer, forcing many commuters to seek alternate means of travel. Fear of a recession made many pull back on spending and switch to more affordable brands at the grocery. A recent Bankrate survey also found that one out of…