Can You Recommend a Good Small Gift for Someone Starting College?

A gift card to Target, Bed, Bath & Beyond, or Linens&Things. Another idea is to get her a gift card for her school's bookstore. Then she can use it buy anything she still needs or use it to buy a treat for herself.

You could also wait until she gets there and send her some popcorn and candy from the Popcorn Company via mail. That is if she is living on campus.

Campus Gear also sells shirts, hats, and lots of other college merchandise. This may be fun and not too expensive to get her something with her college's logo or name on it.

If she is commuting, a gas card would go a long way in helping out.

Hope these help!

Target gift card, a sweatshirt with there college name on it or the Dr. Seuss "The places you will go"

Hi---If she is commuting by train how about buy her a monthly train pass?

Hello -- I have a 22-yr old and a 19-yr old -- one college graduate and one college sophomore...

Gift cards are the best -- a gasoline card is key if the person is taking his/her vehicle to school. Most college towns have Target or Wal-Mart --- so gift cards to those stores are appreciated by most college kids. Also, anything food related -- for example -- ISU (where my children went) has any type of restaurant there -- fast food, pizza, Panera, Chili's, Potbelly, etc.

Just google the university & local dining spots. :0)

Those are some great ideas you got already. I just wanted to add that when I was in college, we LOVED getting care packages randomly as well...just a little package with homemade cookies, cutesy little things like note cards or socks or something little like that, a personal little note, stuff like that. So even if you don't get something before she goes, it's fun to receive a little care package from home saying that you are thinking of her.

A basket of stationery supplies is wonderful - collapsible crate with pens, pencils, notepads, binders, envelopes, etc.

Gift certif to the school's bookstore would always come in handy and could be a part of a gift basket.

A basket of fun college foods for those late night study romps.

I would stay away from personal items since people have such different likes/dislikes, etc with types, scents, and so on.

I would start with a picture of the babysitter and your child or even a small album of the baby and your family. If you don't have that, at least a picture of the baby. I would continue sending her monthly pictures of your son and what new things he's doing throughout the school year. Another thought would be to give her practical stuff like restaurant coupons, school supplies etc. College kids appreciate anything personal and practical and anything that will save them money!

Gift certificates to StarBucks, McDonalds, Wendy's, any food place that would probably be close to campus. they tire of cafeteria food quickly and catching a coffee or meal with friends off campus is a treat. Or if she is going far from- a phone gift card to she could call home for no cost. If you really want to get her an object - my daughter loved small picture frames that were cute that she could put pix of her friends and family in and set on her desk.
K.

I would say the best thing is any type of gift card that is in her local area. Especially like chain restaurants etc. Then she can go out with friends and not have to worry about $$! GAs card may work but depending on where she is going many students aren't allowed cars on campus the first year or two. I also run a business with The Body SHop at Home and I do have some items here discounted I would be happy to put something together for you. It would be 1/2 off retail price. I have shower gels, body butters and some loofahs etc. You can also check out my website and order something there and have it shipped directly to her if you want. www.thebodyshopathome.com/web/faithjones

I am sure anything you do for her will be greatly appreciated!

C.,

My sitter left for college last week, and I got her a care package for her dorm room. I purchased a crate and filled it with odds and ends a college student needs to survive:) I included sticky notes, highlighters, lemondade, microwave popcorn, a plastic cup and matching plate, macaroni and cheese, and some other munchies.

I hope this helps! She appreciated it.

A.

I like all of the other ideas...and I would add a gift card to a local grocery store. Maybe she can avoid living off of ramen noodles and kool aid like the other college kids. tee hee

A "girl" tool set (hammer, screwdrivers, plyers, wrench) - they come in pink if you even want. But they are smaller than men's tool and very useful. My mom gives them to every girl going to college in the family and everyone loves them. you can find them online at target, lillian vernon and amazon.

Since she'll be commuting, what about a commuting gift basket - a few magazines, a few books, an itunes gift card if she has an ipod or some other sort of music, a starbucks gift card and a coffee mug, a sudoku book or some other sort of game, a day-planner so she can organizer her day, etc.

You don't say if she is going away or not. But what about getting her quarters for her laundry. Every college kid is always looking for quarters for their laundry.
If she is commuting to school, what about gift card for gas. With the price of gas- you can never go wrong!

J.
SaHM of 2 girls- ages 2 & 7

Since she's starting college, maybe a gift card from walmart or target would be good. I know I'd like something practical like that, and she can use it anytime. I hope this helps you. Have a great day!

One of the best things you could get her is gift card to a restaurant or store on or near campus. Sometimes dorm food just doesn't cut it & that little thought would be the best thing ever at that moment.

I liked the idea of quarters for laundry! You could even make it into a gift basket where you buy her a laundry basket, complete with a mesh laundry bag, laundry soap, fabric softener, dryer sheets, and a roll of quarters. (or you could just skip the laundry basket and place all the items in the mesh laundry bag)

You could also do other theme ideas:

Shower basket - get a portable plastic tote with holes poked into it (should be easy and cheap at Target) and fill it with shampoo, conditioner, bath gel, lotion, disposable razors, cheap flip flops, and a few washrags rolled up and tied with raffia or ribbon

Office supplies - get a plastic crate and fill it with school supplies such as paper, pens/pencils, stapler and staples, scissors, tape and dispenser, paper clips, push pins, etc.

A dry erase board and a pack of dry erase markers (so much fun having one of these on the door of the dorm)!

Stationery supplies - Buy an assortment of birthday cards, thank you cards, blank note cards, and fun/fancy pens in different colors.

When I went away to college my sister gave me a little coffee pot which was my savior for morning classes. Even though there was free coffee in the caffeteria it was hard to get out of bed to get there. I think you can get a little Mr. Coffee machine for $10 or $15.

Here are a few ideas:

Itty Bitty Book Light and a bookmark, along with a Borders or Barnes and Nobles gift certificate.

Fill a basket with snacks like chips, cookies, granola/cereal bars, pretzels, popcorn, etc.

Coffee mug and instant coffee. Add chocolate covered spoons for flavoring.

Hope I helped!

I second the gift card to the bookstore idea. If you haven't been in a college text book store in a long time, it's amazing how much they cost now. It really is a scam. I'd go for that.

Good luck to her!