Need gift idea for a college freshman

[coinkc]

I am stumped as to what to give my nephew this year. he is a college freshman and lives in the dorm. I gave him a whole wallet full of gift cards for graduation so I would like to get an actual item this time instead of a card.

Any ideas? Anybody with college aged kids? What are they asking for (besides $$$)?

Thanks!

 

[lovemygoofy]

Thick towels
a nice robe and slippers and pajama pants
laundry basket with detergent, rolls of quarters and dryer sheets
Does he drive? A car wash kit with a gas card
Does he drink coffee? A nice portable coffee cup with a lid, maybe a starbucks gift card inside or even a one cup coffee pot
An electric razor and some nice manly bodywash shaving stuff

 

[erincon23]

A snack basket -- crackers, M&Ms, cookies, slimjims, granola bars.

"Health" basket -- first aid stuff, teen vitamins.

- Erin

 

[minkydog]

I dunno, I think you can't go wrong with dead presidents.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Well, I know you said no cards, but for my college freshman SIL were getting her gift certificates and cards to several local (to her school) restaurants, so that she can escape cafeteria food once an a while.

 

[mickeylove2]

Does he have an Ipod??? For most of my college classes, we are required to listen to podcasts so we have to download them to an Ipod.

A keychain thumbdrive was my absolute lifesaver last semester.

You really can't go wrong with money or gift cards, when I graduated with my AA, my 2 sisters went in on gc's for me and it was the best gift. Star Bucks, Barnes and Noble, Target, Walmart, the school book store, Itunes, Sunoco, Visa, McDonalds...you name it and I used it!

 

[missypie]

I'm giving my son fast food gift cards...the food on campus is really bad.

Gift card to local office supply store.

Flannel sheets (you'd need to find out if the dorm beds are twin regular or twin XL)

Itunes gift card

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My freshman college nephew wants Best Buy gift cards.

My dd who is also a college freshman is getting a bike for campus. It was a 50. Black Friday doorbuster.

 

[paintnolish]

If he walks to class a lot, good "weather" related stuff is so helpful. One of the most useful things for me is a good, strong umbrella that is big and won't blow inside out. It is so miserable to sit through class soaking wet. I also agree with pps about a gift/gc combo (SBucks and mug).

 

[korzmom]

just let me say you are a great aunt,none of my SIL would even think about my college freshman son..but to get to your question, my son loves his digital camera,takes it everywhere. how about an xboxlive gold membership card (if he is into that) or like others hves said local restraunts gift cards or itunes . depending on how much you want to spend that new sony reader is really cool (if he likes to read of course) $$$

 

[Christine]

My DD is a college freshman and she wants gift cards or cash. She wants to come home on her Christmas break and shop for some new clothes. She always wants a gift certificate so she can get her hair done.

They don't have much room in the dorm and she took all her stuff up there when she moved in so she doesn't want to get anything that she's got to haul back up there and find room for.

Honestly, I would give cash or gift cards or look for gift cards that are to food places around his campus. They do get very tired of the dining hall food.

 

[shortbun]

I'm getting my nephew(college freshman) a video game, a Live Card for Xbox360 and Microsoft Points for online play. I might throw a restaurant gift card or a gas card in his stocking. My neice(college sophmore) is getting canvas, acryllic paints, an ink cartridge for her printer, a gas card and depending on how good a shopper I am, perhaps some cash. I send them each care packages with snacks, pens, cosmetics of some kind and a DVD or CD throughout the year. New music is always a good idea although most kids use itunes or similar.