Sometimes it's difficult to buy for your college student when
they live minimally in the college dorm. That was my challenge while my oldest was away at college. Those dorm rooms are only so big. If that is your dilemma, never fear -- I have found some fun, yet practical gifts your college student will love. They are small enough to pack and take back to college -- or they can show up later at their dorm
room door.
Oh, and the disclaimer. Yes, there are links that if you click and decide to buy, I get that very small commission from Amazon. But hey, it all helps. Other links are simply for ideas and your convenience.
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| Photo by Kira auf der Heide on Unsplash |
Kitchen Helpers
On weekends it’s hard to get up early and make it to
breakfast. A mini waffle maker can make a convenient breakfast (or
lunch), and they won’t have to leave the dorm. The Dash Mini Waffle Maker from Amazon comes in
several colors, has a 4.5-star rating, and is affordable at $17.99. Walmart has
not only a mini waffle maker but a waffle stick maker and even an animal circus
waffle maker! To complete the gift, add a bowl, whisk, and some packages of
easy waffle mix. Try the Birch Benders Waffle
mix. All that has to be added is water.
If your student doesn’t have a microwave in their room, a
small popcorn maker will be fun for them and their roommates too! The
Presto PopLite Hot Air Popcorn Maker pops fast and doesn’t require oil.
With a bag of popcorn kernels, it will be less expensive than microwave
popcorn.
Most college dorms provide a mini-fridge. But if your
student lacks this item, consider an
affordable mini fridge/cooler combination that they can use in their room
or while on the go.
A mini Keurig is a
popular request for today’s college students! Available in several colors, choose
the best one that matches your student’s dorm décor. Have a box of assorted coffees sent to their college
address, and they will be ready for next semester!
Mini blenders are popular
for college students to make their own smoothies and protein shakes in their
room before heading to morning classes. An affordable choice is the Hamilton Beach Personal Blender. It gets the
job done when making simple shakes and smoothies.
Lighting
Indoor light strands are
the latest dorm room décor trend. They provide a relaxing atmosphere and aren’t
intrusive to roommates. A rechargeable book light with 3 brightness settings (plus case and cable) will be helpful on
late study nights.
Food Delivery
Sending pizza, Dash or Uber Eats gift cards anytime will be
appreciated – especially when it’s a weekend that your student has to hunker
down and study.
Cozy Lounging
With the colder weather approaching, a soft fleece throw
blanket can be welcome when the dorm is chilly. A red buffalo print sherpa fleece or a waffled texture fleece blanket in their
favorite color are great ideas, both under $20.
Loungewear is the most popular clothing at college. Pick
comfortable sweats (for guys) and leggings (for gals) that are also appropriate
to wear to class. For colder areas of the country, look for sherpa-lined sweats
and hoodies.
Subscription Boxes
One of the best gifts that show you care are the unexpected care
packages. Treat your student to a monthly or bi-monthly snack subscription box, so their cabinet is stocked every month! Choose one of the subscription boxes through Amazon or get other
ideas from the My Subscription Addiction blog, where they have rated
the best snack subscription boxes for 2021. You can pick the fancy or not-so-fancy
box – whatever best fits your student.
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This is a really good list! I'll be sharing as thave a number of friends with college kids.
ReplyDeleteAnd some of the ideas would work well for my studio too.