YOU HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED YET? FRUGAL SHOPPERS, DON'T FRET, THERE ARE PLENTY OF LAST-MINUTE GIFTS TO HELP FILL SANTA'S SLEIGH WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK OR BEING A GRINCH.

Byline: Daily News

It's Christmas Eve and for whatever reason - work, school, the dog ate your calendar - you haven't started shopping yet. No worries. We're with you on this one.

We sent three reporters out with the following challenge: You've got $50 to buy presents for four people - parents, spouses, kids, friends, whatever - and about eight hours before Santa's arrival. All three came in on budget with some eclectic ideas that might just make this a most-memorable holiday. If you're the perennial procrastinator, this is your guide. And the good news, all of the stores are open until at least 5 p.m., some as late as 11.

Grab your shopping bags, your running shoes, a crisp $50 bill and one of these lists:

SHOPPER 1: Tuned in to the holidays

Let's start with Mom, dear sainted Mom. After a stressful holiday season baking, running around the malls and choir practice, she could use some serious relaxation. So hit Follow Your Heart in Canoga Park, where you can find some lavender bath salts, Dr. Bronner's legendary scented soap and a candle. Total: $8.76, and she's in for a soothing evening.

Then let's provide for Dad. If he's a cool cat with an ear for quality music, browse the holiday aisle at Tower Records. Vince Guaraldi's timeless classic ``A Charlie Brown Christmas'' is yours, and his, for $14.09. And after one-too-many years of having to listen to Celine Dion's holiday album, the whole household will thank you.

Next you've got the hopeful professor friend, who's studying literature and practices her acoustic guitar at all hours of the night. You'll bring tears to her eyes when you bring home a classic copy of Simon and Garfunkel's ``Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme'' from Moby Disc. Hey, you might cry some joyful tears yourself when you see the $2.15 on your receipt.

Then there's my punk-minded buddy. He spikes his hair with egg whites, calls himself ``Lizard'' and likes music that sounds like an industrial strength blender set to frappe. To add to his eclectic wardrobe, cruise to Out of the Closet. For a scant $4.50, he'll get a spiffy Hilo Hattie aloha shirt.

Patting myself on the back for such economization, I decided to splurge on one additional compadre, the one who turned me on to espresso and poetry. He rides a scooter, endlessly strokes his goatee and holds the distinction of being the only man in the San Fernando Valley to actually wear a beret. Taking a drive out to Dutton's Bookstore in North Hollywood I found a crisp new copy of Jack Kerouac's peerless ``On the Road'' for $14.05.

Admittedly, these gifts are a little simple, so to ritz 'em up a bit in presentation I hit the local Ralphs on the way home to pick up aluminum foil, three Sharpie markers, tape, a bag for Mom's goodies and a quart of eggnog. The final bill on everything was $50.01, but the checkout clerk - filled with the holiday spirit - let me slide on the penny.

I wrapped the gifts in the foil, wrote the names in pen and enjoyed a few cool glasses of `nog while doing so. Once I was done, I washed out the carton, shoved the shirt in and taped 'er up - innovative presentation and hey, eggnog tastes good.

SHOPPER 2: One-stop shopping

I've got a million parties to attend, and the boss is making me work past noon today - how ``Ebenezer Scrooge'' of him - so I haven't the time to dash away to several stores.

For me, I've got to fill a cart and get home all before Santa's appearance. Welcome to Pic 'N' Save, where every aisle is teeming with bargains, alleviating the anxieties of depleting the bank account while filling the base of a Christmas tree with a glut of gifts.

Christmas aromas are always welcomed when emanating from the kitchen. Now the bathroom can be filled with holiday cheer provided it's stocked with body lotion, bubble bath, shower gel, a bar of soap, a nail brush and bath pouf for $7.99.

A couple of these expensive Hollywood haircuts could wear on the wallet, so I invest $9.99 in Wahl's 11 piece haircutting kit.

A toast doesn't have to begin with the clanging of a wine glass. Try some jam to compliment the toast made by Welbilt's toaster oven with broiler for $19.99.

The Plush Briarberry Baby Bear is tame enough for a child to snuggle with for $4.99. Slobber not included.

Finally, 200 feet of wrapping paper would probably conceal these treasures just right for $1.99.

The total of all these goods comes to $48.77, and the four quarters and 23 cents I spent on those little candy machines at the exit for stocking stuffers.

SHOPPER 3: A hurried, jolly Christmas

Even with the clock ticking, I'm filled with Christmas cheer - and no, the stores weren't passing out free spiked eggnog. My list, checked twice, takes me first to Target.

The store is plenty crowded these days, but for those of us willing to navigate their large, red plastic cart through the aisles, there are bargains aplenty - especially for kids.

For the young boy in the family, a mini-sports pack consisting of a mini Nerf football, basketball and soccer ball was only $8.99 and should provide countless hours of fun.

For the little sister, Palm Beach Barbie and Friends are on sale for only $3.88 each. I buy her a Barbie named Lea. And because she's been more naughty than nice this year, she also gets a $7 high-tech sensor electric guitar. (Three AA batteries needed for operation are included.) The guitar is from Kool Toyz and comes with a carrying strap, eight melodies and, fortunately for her parents, volume control.

After picking up a discount $6.44 DVD of ``Private Benjamin'' for mom, the total at Target is $28.54.

Then it's just a couple of miles over to Cost Plus for more parental gifts. To go along with the DVD for Mom, she gets a cool-looking feng shui compass for $6.99. Then the perfect gift for Dad: Beers of the World. This colorful $9.99 box features 10 bottles of beer displayed in two rows with the box promising everything from ``the mellow lagers of Mexico to the flavorful pilsners of the Czech Republic. The total spending at Cost Plus is $18.42.

With a few dollars left, I stop in to the 99 Cents Only store on the way home to pick up a 40-foot roll of wrapping paper and two rolls of scotch tape for a whopping total of $2.14.

The day's total: $49.10, and I'm still humming Christmas tunes.

CAPTION(S):

5 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Oh NO! It's Christmas Eve and I haven't crossed a single person off my list. What am I to do??

Knight Ridder Newspapers

(2 -- 5 -- color) CONSIDER THESE ...

a Hawaiian shirt, lotions and soaps, beers of the world and a vintage Simon and Garfunkel album on vinyl were available for just a few dollars.