One of the hardest groups to buy for on your Christmas list is the college student. If you are looking for the perfect Christmas gifts for the college student on your list, but are short on funds, no worries, I’ve got you covered. Here are 10 Christmas gifts, your college student is sure to love and your budget will love as well. Each of these gifts are very useful and under $30.00. They are sure to put a smile on your college student’s face and you just might be their new favorite!
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1. Tapestry
Do a quick search of dorm room decorating ideas and you will see a tapestry in nearly every photo. These are incredibly popular among college dorm rooms and almost considered a necessity. Even if your college student is not living in the dorm, tapestries are very popular among the college crowd for decorating bedrooms and apartments. You can find them here on Amazon for under $20.00. You will be able to give your college student a gift they are sure to use and love without breaking your budget.
2. Hanging Lights
When you look at those dorm room decorating ideas, the other thing you will see in each photo is a set of hanging lights. These are possibly even more popular than the tapestry and at under $20.00 for a set, these will be a favorite gift. Actual Christmas lights tend to be more popular with the guys. Again, these hanging lights are also very popular with college students for decorating bedrooms and apartments.
3. Decorative Pillows
College students love to be comfortable while doing their studying. Most college students, when not in class or the library, spend most of their time in their bed, having some comfortable and decorative pillows are sure to be a hit. This not so subtle reminder to call home is a top pick!
4. Flash Drive
A flash drive makes excellent Christmas gifts for the college student. Today a computer laptop is a necessity for college students. Flash drives are a necessary part of their computer requirements and somehow they always seem to be misplaced.
You can make this a super personalized gift by picking a flash drive that represents something your college student is really into. There are so many choices these days, you can find one to fit any personality, just do a quick search for novelty flash drives on Amazon.
5. Cell Phone Wallet Case.
Most colleges require your student to carry their id with them at all times. These cell phone wallet cases are perfect gifts, there is a little slot for their id and money without having to worry about carrying around a lot of extra stuff. These minimalist wallets are also hugely popular today!
6. Gift Cards
Honestly, you cannot go wrong with a gift card when it comes to looking for Christmas gifts for the college student. They are always short on funds and they really appreciate those gift cards. Especially the food ones! Some ideas would be:
Their favorite food place, think Chipotle, Chik-fil-a
Help them refuel with a Starbucks card
If they don’t have a car Uber is perfect, to help them get around town.
A night at the movies will be a great break from studying.
Amazon – you can’t go wrong with an Amazon card, they can use it for anything.
7. Portable Battery Charger
With all the electronics college kids require today, this is such a practical gift that will be sure to get lots of use. In no time a portable battery charger will be their favorite gift.
8. Snack Basket
No matter the meal plan your college student may have at school, late-night study sessions are sure to bring on the munchies, put together a snack basket filled with their favorite healthy snacks. You can even purchase pre-made snack baskets. The nice thing about snack baskets it that they are consumable and you don’t have to worry about them having the room or creating clutter. A snack basket will be one of the most appreciated Christmas gifts for the college student.
9. Bluetooth Speaker
This is a very popular item among college students. Most college students listen to their music on their phones having a portable speaker is sure to be on their current wish list. You can find these speakers ranging in various price points. This one here sells for under $30.
10. Kindle Unlimited Subscription
A Kindle Unlimited Subscription is a great Christmas gift for your college student. Kindle Unlimited is a subscription service that gives you access to more than one million titles and thousands of audiobooks.
It can be used on any device, and the recipient does not need to have a kindle. Kindle Unlimited gives you the freedom to explore new genres and discover new authors.
You can try it free for 30 days.
Click here to give Kindle Unlimited as a gift.
11. LED Photo Clips String Lights
This is another one of those very popular dorm room and apartment items that will be one of the top Christmas gifts for the college student. The cool thing about these Photo Clip String Lights is that you get the string lights vibe while also letting them hang their favorite pictures that remind them of home. It easily attaches to any wall, lights up, and holds lots of pictures, giving college students an easy way to decorate and remember home.
If your budget allows, a great gift to go with the Photo Clip String Lights is an easy way to print their favorite shots. This Polaroid ZIP Wireless Mobile Photo Mini Printer makes it easy for them to print out photos straight from their phone. Your college student can use it to print out their favorite photos to decorate their rooms.
12. Personal Alarm Keychain
Let’s face it, college can sometimes be dangerous. Most college kids have never been away for home for extended periods of time. Plus, many college classes take place at night requiring them to walk back to the dorm alone after dark. Don’t let your college student leave home without this simple but effective alarm keychain. If anything were to happen, all they have to do is press a button and the keychain will play a loud, sharp ringing sound.
13. Canvas Laundry Bag
Okay, I’ll admit I love this bag. It is absolutely perfect for the college student who’s not sure how to actually do their laundry! This cute and funny laundry bag to carry their laundry will tell them everything they need to know and do. Especially number 10!
14. Homesick Candles
Every college kid gets a little homesick from time to time. Whether they’re at school across the country or down the road, remind them of home, with a candle that actually smells like their hometown. These Homesick Candles have scent profiles of different states.
15. Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker
Those late-night study sessions require a fair amount of caffeine to keep your college student going. With this Takeya Cold Brew Maker, they can make their favorite cold brew right in their dorm room and save a small fortune by avoiding daily trips to the coffee shop.
If your college student is more of a fan of hot coffee, a mini Keurig is a fantastic gift. Don’t forget to add some k-cups to make it their all time favorite gift!
16. YETI Rambler
This is pretty much a cult classic on college campus’. The YETI Rambler Tumbler will keep cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot for hours. Perfect for all those long classes and study sessions.
I hope this list got your ideas flowing and helps you check off your college student from your Christmas gift list! Is there anything you would add to the list? Share your ideas in the comments!
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