How to Choose Stocking Stuffers for College Students

Looking for that perfect set of stocking stuffers for the campus dweller? Try some of these ideas.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Barrettes
• Hair Clips
• Wallets
• Address Books
• Day Planner Calendars
• Journals
• Calculators
• Christmas Stockings
• Photo Frames
• Pez Dispensers
• Makeup Brushes
• Perfume Samplers
• Magazine Subscriptions
• Movie Tickets
• Music Gift Certificates
• Postage Stamps
• Post-it Notes
• Address Labels
• Fountain Pens
• Staplers
• Cameras
• Film
• Slinkys
• Stickers
• Yo-yos
• PlayStation Games
• Prepaid Telephone Calling Cards
• Calculators
• Cameras

1. Think of what a student can use: pens, a day planner or Palm device, a stapler, a calculator, a package of cool Post-it notes.

2. Choose things that you know he or she will use, such as a prepaid phone card, stamps, an address book, address labels and bookmarks.

3. Look for things that are fun like a Slinky, Pez dispenser, yo-yo, and gift certificates for CDs.

4. Consider items that will be handy, but aren't necessarily school-related: a pocketknife, a journal, a coffee mug warmer, a new wallet.

5. Go with a theme. Try several small picture frames, a camera and film. Or choose hair accessories, makeup brushes and perfume.

6. Try movie passes, video-rental coupons or gift certificates to online and offline merchants.

7. Find a magazine that is in the student's field of study and order a subscription.

8. Remember that video games are still an option - if you can afford it, get the student a new Sony Playstation 2 and he or she will have the most popular room in the dorm.

9. Stick a note in his or her stocking offering a night out on you.

10. Keep in mind that cash is always handy.

[nabjab]

on 12/19/2007 my son is studying in africa for spring semester, i need ideas for stocking stuffers, HELP!

on 6/30/2006 One thing I've learned is to give new students a set of the mini office supplies: stapler, Scotch tape (with extra rolls), a hole punch, and a staple remover. I bought a set that's small enough to fit in a playing card case, which takes up very little room in a back pack. I can't tell you how often the mini stapler has come in handy when the class needs to turn in assignments! Mini staples can be hard to find, so be sure to include a box of extras. Some small staplers take the standard size, so check before you buy.

I also keep small blunt-nosed scissors in my pencil bag- they work well in a pinch, but you don't get jabbed when digging for something.

Another item that I find invaluable is Post-It flags. They're shaped like arrows and come in different colors- very good for marking pages or specific lines when you need to quote them for a research paper!

Last, but not least: the three-hole punch. For some reason, that item was the most coveted by friends of the high school graduate I gave a gift pack to!

on 11/22/2005 Compact quality tool kits can be really useful and make great stocking stuffers. Kits that includes nails, a small hammer, and a screwdriver with multiple heads are great. If the student cooks, a nice can opener, or a Cutco vegetable peeler or a knife would be appreciated. A Cutco pizza cutter is great for those who prepare frozen pizzas. Give them chocolate - from Hershey's to Godiva! A refill of cool dry erase markers. The USB storage device. Those are the best! A mini tape-recorder and mini-cassette are good for conducting interviews for research papers or for a newspaper, and they're also just fun to play with with your friends.

on 11/22/2005 The eHow list is not accurate for college students. The worst things to receive are little knick-knacks that are impossible to pack and a pain to move. Keep in mind college students change rooms often and are more in need of things relating to three essentials: food, alcohol and school. Here are some suggestions:

1. A keychain bottle-opener. These things are used so often, it will look like they've been dropped in a garbage disposal after four years.
2. A small, pocket sized USB storage device. I have had many classes where this would have come in handy. They are not cheap, but very useful, especially because many colleges have Macs in their labs which don't use Floppy discs.
3. A gift certificate to a restaurant in their college town. Chili's and Applebee's are common.
4. A Target gift card. I guarantee this will be appreciated.
5. The best suggestion of all on this board is a roll of quarters. They are almost more valuable than bills when it comes to doing laundry.

on 11/22/2005 Try a plastic box containing a "sick kit" to take back to school. This can include microwavable soup and crackers, Vicks Vaporub, a thermometer, fever reducer, cough drops, a toothbrush to use with the flu, travel hand wipes, and a clean pillow case. When they are sick in bed for a week and away from home, it helps. Throw in a "get well" card and a note saying that you love them. College kids also need money!