$10 or less gifts for

[SC Minnie]

college students. Anyone have suggestions?

Our church is hosting over Christmas break 6 students from other countries going to college in the US. I need some ideas for small inexpensive gifts for them. I've made them all hats and scarves so something besides that. Items need to be small enough for them to put in a suitcase to take back to their schools.

 

[kellyjeanie]

How sweet! Thumb drive? Earbud headphones? Journal? Starbucks gift card or nice thermal mug?

 

[elgerber]

It may sound silly, but my neice is from Germany, and whenever she is here, and when send stuff to her in Germany, she loves to get some candy they can't get at home.

 

[tchrrx]

It would be fun to bake a lot of cookies and have a decorating party. Then, they can take a box of their cookies with them when they leave.

Gift wise: How about putting together stockings with lotion, chapstick, candy, etc? You could include some pens/pencils and school type items too.

 

[SC Minnie]

How sweet! Thumb drive? Earbud headphones? Journal? Starbucks gift card or nice thermal mug?

Great suggestions! Thank you!

It may sound silly, but my neice is from Germany, and whenever she is here, and when send stuff to her in Germany, she loves to get some candy they can't get at home.

We have 4 from Japan (2 males/2 females), 1 female from China, and 1 female from Pakistan.

 

[SC Minnie]

It would be fun to bake a lot of cookies and have a decorating party. Then, they can take a box of their cookies with them when they leave.

Gift wise: How about putting together stockings with lotion, chapstick, candy, etc? You could include some pens/pencils and school type items too.

One of our church members is actually having them over one day for cookie baking/decorating.

Our quilting group is making them stockings and the committee (which I'm on) likes to have some items to go in the stocking plus for them to unwrap so there isn't a burden on the host family to suppy or the student doesn't feel left out.

Thank you all for the suggestions! keep them coming!

 

[wiigirl]

It may sound silly, but my neice is from Germany, and whenever she is here, and when send stuff to her in Germany, she loves to get some candy they can't get at home.

Always good!

 

[redrosesix]

How sweet! Thumb drive? Earbud headphones? Journal? Starbucks gift card or nice thermal mug?

Great ideas! Especially the thermal mug, since they can use those in their dorm rooms and on the go. I especially liked the ones that could clip to my backpack when I was in school.

You could also buy dorm room specific stuff like fleece blankets which roll up small. Anything they can use to personalize their space.

My brother still uses the mug I gave him when he was away at school -- it sits on his desk in his law office. A good mug is always a great gift

 

[Tinkerbell58]

Do you have a 5 Below store near you?

 

[MichelleinMaine]

Funky socks, silly pens (shaped like reindeer or whatever), hand lotion, picture frame

 

[SC Minnie]

Do you have a 5 Below store near you?

I don't think so. I've never seen one around here and didn't see one in Charlotte on the website at all.

 

[KaLyn]

My family does a $10 grab bag each year. This year I bought a $5 fleece blanket, a $1 coffee mug and $4 in hot chocolate mix.

 

[TCB in FLA]

Flashlights. Hand sanitizer and mini tissues. Hair stuff for the girls.

 

[3boymthr]

International Calling Cards so they can call home.

For something fun and silly - screaming flying monkey's or the like.

An inexpensive watch for the guys or pair of earrings for the girls.

A deck of playing cards.

 

[etoiles]

What about some foods that would work okay in a dorm and are more 'American'?

- Some delicious flavored peanut butter is one idea (my MIL from Holland loves the American peanut butter)
- different flavor of microwave popcorn (my MIL always brought this back for teenagers since they don't really have it there)
- unique Pringles (or other chips in a can that won't break in transit)

 

[NC State Tigger]

If there are any left at your local target, the $1 Christmas socks would be great for the girls.

 

[BABY_EINSTEIN'S_MOM]

I get my daughter's friends (teen girls) the travel size bath and body products and put them in a cute bag. I usually get the lotion, body wash, and body spray all in matching scents, and sometimes I may include furry socks!

 

[dawnball]

College survival kits - WD-40, for things that stick and shouldn't. Duct tape, for things that don't stick and should. Chocolate (and maybe an international phone card) for everything else.

If they're flying back, you might want to sub the WD-40 for a little tube of graphite or another non-aerosol lubricant.

 

[toystory1130]

Ulta has some cute $5 and $10 sets for Christmas and usually you can find a coupon.

 

[msmama]

Target had some cute makeup sets for $10 and under. There was one with a couple of lip glosses and another with a couple of nail polishes for $5. Target also sometimes has pre boxed gifts for pretty cheap. One year we got a set that turns a table into ping pong and a magic set. Silly things, but entertaining.