Gifts for a 20 Something Male Marine (Who Is NOT Deployed) Who Has Everything!

What if you send a donation on his behalf to a disabled soldier organization/military widow/widowers or something of the sort?

Scarlett - stop reading my mind :)

As a Marine corpsman, we beleive in taking care of our own, since our brither/sisterhood is a long-term friendship. I wonder if you could contact the local VFW, and asked if there is a Elder Marine in need of familial support. Instead of giving this young man, a gift that might not be used, instead provide him with a card with advance prior to Christmas, "holiday instructions," where he uses his "military philantrophy," to visit this veteran, and present him with the present, you might have given him... As a young Marine, some do not fully understand the sacrifice that these older, infirmed, and lonely veterans experience during the holidays... It is a great way for him to give back to those before him, and might even make the rest of the family, start a new tradition... You could make up the present, with simple inexpensive gifts, based on the advise of the charge nurse. there are simple things, like socks, slippers, pajamas, puzzles, books (large-print); hats or knit caps (military regalia); pretty photo albums with scenery shots of beautiful places; toiletries; calling cards, and simple activity kits... For wasn't the legislator that gave us laws, but, the veteran. It wasn't the religious leader who gave us religious freedom, by the veteran... What a better way, to give back... Besides, he might even find a Marine who served in the same unit, several years or decades before... What a great way to learn the history of battles fought earlier, from the one of the "Big Dogs," who did it! Happy holidays! Semper fidelis!

I know you hate GC's. I do too. But in this instance the "boys" get them.
My BIL is a single retired Army soldier, he gets IHOP, Applebee's, Chili's etc
My son, a 20 something Navy soldier, gas gc's and Subway, IHOP, Olive Garden, etc
My husband, retired Marine, LOVES LOVES LOVES Lowe's GC's from his aunts.

Otherwise I get the "boys"
different hot sauces
spicey gourmet peanuts.
Hickory Farms
homemade cookies
my son---pj's and slippers
Magazine supscriptions, Hunting, Cars, Boating
Buckyballs
electric razor
cd's of their favorite music
books
GC to the MCX or NEX, (NAvy Exchange, Marine Corps Exchange)
Go to their websites and you'll gind something.
Coffee beans and a grinder
hand warmers
knives, pocket, hunting,
Season packets by McCormack, in the seasonings aisle in the grocery store, if he lives alone.
Deck of cards
Dallas Cowboys calendar
There are some really funny Marine comical books out there, look on Amazon
Also any book of military practices or wars of long ago. Sun Tsu, Napolean,
DVD's of his favorite show, mine loves M*A*S*H

Go online to find out what the equivalent to the AAFES store would be for Marines. I'm sure there is one. You'll be able to see all kinds of military stuff ranging from $5 & up.

I agree with donating to charity on his behalf. However, I did this once with a self-proclaimed 'I want to save the world and be a good Christian' person and she moped around because she didn't get *anything* for Christmas. So, sometimes a charitable donation backfires.

You hate gift cards, but would he? If you think he would like one, get him one. Does he drink beer? If so, get him lager glasses and beer. Does he drink coffee? Get him a travel mug and a fancy schmancy coffee blend. Does he like to read? Get him a magazine subscription. Oh, and there's always lottery tickets.

Whenever I have a hard-to-buy-for person, I donate to a great charity in that person's name. The charity will give you a nice certificate to present to the "donator", thanking them and telling them where "their" money went.

I bet there are lots of charities a military guy would like!

Or, I always find out what the person is in to. For example, does he like movies? If yes, get a basket, fill it with popcorn, snacks, slippers for a guy (yes, they like them!), a Blockbuster card and other goodies. He likes cars? Well, fill his basket with model cars, a gift card to a local car parts store for fix up his vehicle, etc.

Merry Christmas.

www.grunt.com is a great site to get any thing military related for any branch of service. Since your son is a Marine, he probably has a collection started of coins and maybe he could use something to display them in. You'll find many on the website and they are reasonably priced too. I got one for my hubby a few years back that is flat, has about 6 rows covered in red felt and it displays all his coins of various sizes nicely. Also, he may have everything but he'll always need gas and food so we always loved gas cards, gift cards for local restaurants (you can normally call them and order over the phone if you don't have one local) and even Visa gift cards so we could get what ever when ever. If he is really super motto or don't like any of those ideas, then a donation to the Wounded Warrior program would be great :)

Happy Shopping and Merry Christmas!
S.
wife of prior service USMC hubby

I would do gift cards, but since you don't like them, what about a magazine subscription or a goodies basket?

Nothing a nice card. After 20 I don't buy them anything unless I am having a gift exchange at my house. I do not get them anything if they have a job. I send a nice card wishing them a Merry Christmas. We are having this same issue with my son 18 yrs old. Has a job and a car. If he wants something he will buy it. You can't get him cloths. Thats a big NO! He will not wear it. We thought of a gift card and chair covers for his car or speakers. Maybe... We ask him and he says nothing he has a lot. :)

Yes, a contribution. And/or a framed picture of his loved ones.

I assume you are shipping to AZ?
All 20 yr old guys like food. You can ship some kind of food gift. Most like technology and video games. A gift card to Game Stop or buy a game his wife tells you he has been talking about. SIngle ones like grooming stuff and nice clothes. You can get a nice shirt from Kohls for under $30.

My brother is also a 30 something guy who just buys what he wants when he wants. I thought od a shoe dryer for him this year. He loves to hike, hunt, etc and wears boots all the time for his job. It is so simple. They plug it in, put the shoes on it and in just a few hours nice dry shoes. We have the "Peet" shoe dryer and it works great on everything from my husbands wet, yucky in the swanp hunting boots to the 2 year olds little sneakers that just get wet from sweat or puddles. You can find other brands I just know mine works great and stays out year round. We live in NY (not the city)!!!