Is it bad not to visit old parents for months now?

I think you should still visit them even without gifts. I'm sure they also miss you like you do even if they don't say it. I know that they'll appreciate you visiting them even without gifts.

I don't think it's a bad thing to not be able to visit -- it may feel bad and you all may really miss each other, but life sometimes makes it impossible to travel and visit. I think that you can afford to call, write, drop little notes to show you care. Do they have a computer that you can e-mail them? I know when I lived away from home I would call home every week, write letters/send cards, make presents, etc when I didn't have the ability to go home. I don't think your parents care so much about getting a gift as they care about knowing you are happy, doing something you like, and that you care about them. Just tell them!

They are your parents tell them what your situation was and you couldn't afford it. They will understand. Just give them a call