Don’t give college freshmen cash, get these GIFTS instead!
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My top 5 gifts for college freshmen
When I was heading off to college, my family made the mistake of giving me cash.
I was 18.
Are you really going to trust an 18-year-old with cash and expect that it will be spent on things they need?
Well, my parents shouldn’t have trusted me because it was blown on junk I didn’t need.
If I must be honest, I am pretty certain that I spent it on video games. There I said it.
But before I divulge too much more information, I am going to get right into business.
Why should you get a college freshman a gift?
College students may not be working. They are usually fresh out of high school.
The only things they have are items that were provided to them by their parents, usually.
Maybe they accumulated some things that they bought with their summer job money, but they probably don’t have a big bank account.
When they go to college, they will probably take out student loans and go into debt.
Help them avoid that.
When I look back at my college years, I took out student loans. And I used some of those loans to live.
I thought that I would start earning a decent salary after graduation and pay it off quickly.
That didn’t happen.
It took years to pay it off.
And with 6% interest, that cable bill I paid for using my student loans appreciated. And not in a good way. I lost money.
Pretty crazy right.
It is awful to think about college students buying groceries, or a hamburger at a fast-food joint, that will eventually cost them more than what they paid for it because of the interest accrued.
It happens, and it happens fast.
And because I didn’t have some of my essential needs taken care of, I would end up using credit cards to make up the difference.
I say all of this to you because college freshmen need practical gifts where they don’t use their student loans or credit cards to survive.
Instead, buy things they need and can use on a regular basis to prevent that special college freshman in your life from going into debt in the first place.
What things should you consider before giving college students gifts?
Before you get a college freshman a gift, think about their needs.
Are they living on campus?
If they are living on campus, they will have a lot of their needs taken care of in regards to shelter and wifi.
And if they are living on campus, they may not own a vehicle to get around.
If they live off campus, they may commute to college every day, or take online classes.
So, before you buy anything, consider where they are going to live because gifts will vary baed on their needs.
Something you should also think about is the type of student they are.
Would you consider them a book nerd? Or do they need all the motivation to get something accomplished?
Your gifts might target their academic interest or help them be more successful in college depending on their personality.
Lastly, think about their financial stability.
Do they have family that’s paying for their college, or did they get scholarships?
Or are they having to pay their way through college and barely scraping by?
All of these things and more will impact the gifts you choose to buy.
Don’t worry though, because I am going to give you suggestions that will be a hit no matter they type of college student they are.
What gifts are best for a college freshman?
I would go with practical gifts.
College freshman may tell you to get them cash, but resist. Unless you are going to specifically pay a bill for them, without giving them the cash, avoid handing over the dollar bills.
Why?
Well, they are young, most likely.
And they don’t have a lot of self-control.
And maturity.
So, avoid giving them cash.
I would say that gift cards can be helpful too, but they could also just be wasted.
And don’t expect a gift card to always buy something either.
I have received gift cards and flipped them. There are websites that you can sell unused gift cards to for a percentage of the original amount, sometimes up to 90% of the gift card value.
So, if they wanted to, they could just go online, sell the gift card, and get cash anyway.
Don’t put it past them.
Okay, so you might think, well I will just get them a gas station gift card.
That’s fine, but what if they go into the convenience store and stock up on goodies instead?
Therefore you either need to pay a bill directly yourself or give a practical gift to avoid them blowing it.
I have my top 5 favorite gifts for freshmen college students. And I included things for people in all budgets. Whether you need an affordable gift or want to spend a few hundred bucks, you’ll have plenty to pick from.
1.) My top gift for a college freshman is a T.V. The reason why I selected this as my favorite gift is because televisions aren’t just for watching sitcoms anymore, but now people can stream, download apps, listen to music, access the internet, share photos, and many more things. And most college dorms will allow T.V.s, but be sure to check with that special college student in your life to make sure they can bring one to campus with them. You might think that a 43 inch T.V. is too big, but I think it’s the perfect size for a college dorm room after a lot of research.
2.) My next favorite gift, a portable battery operated tire inflator. I seriously don’t understand how anyone cannot own one of these. I personally own one, and it has come in handy at least a dozen times. No joke. And most college students won’t have access to electricity near their car to use an electric tire inflator or air compressor, so the battery is a must. I’ve had to use this a time or two when my tire was nearly flat and I just needed to make it to a tire shop to get it fixed, so definitely add this to your list.
3.) When I was a college student, I did not own one tool. Seriously. And I found myself hammering a nail into the wall with a candle stick holder. Nothing was off limits to use as a hammer in my apartment. And I really could have benefited from a tool kit of some kind. You don’t have to break the bank buying this gift and it has many purposes.
4.) I want you to think for a minute and ask yourself how many college students own first aid supplies? Do you think it’s the first thing on their packing list? Nope. College students are just trying to get by on the little money they have and aren’t likely to think that they’ll really need a first aid kit. So go ahead and add this to your gift list so they’ll be set in case of an emergency.
5.) Since college students are very likely to have smartphones, they’ll need a portable charger in case of emergencies. If they are ever out and lose power on their phone and need to contact someone or look for directions, they can use this portable charger to give them a boost. Just make sure you know what type of phone they have and make sure it’s compatible since this works with iPhones.
I have no doubt that one or all of these items will be the perfect gift for the special college student in your life. And if you need some more suggestions, check out my list of stocking stuffers.
