<p>Any ideas? </p>
<p>I think my kids have pretty much anything anyone could need or want but I’m somewhat of a minimalist at times and usually too practical minded. It can also be a challenge getting something for college kids when they’re as transient as they are in dorms and temp apartments.</p>
<p>yes, he’s getting the receipt that says ‘your spring semester is paid for’ and ‘here is your money for books for spring semester’ and ‘I just ordered contact lenses for you’.</p>
<p>Oh, you mean something he wanted ?! Just more cash please, I can’t shop for a college boy</p>
<p>One of my DDs is getting a gift certificate for a large car maintenance coming up.</p>
<p>I am still working on ideas for the other two.</p>
<p>I am looking for stocking stuffer ideas, too! For girl.</p>
<p>Male college student in Colorado</p>
<p>Freshman year --airplane ticket to Jackson Hole (using air miles)
Soph year --Colorado ski pass.</p>
<p>I can’t take credit for this idea, but I set both my daughters up with a Target gift registry, and asked them to do some browsing online. When they’re faced with all that stuff online, they can often find things they want/need. One daughter thought it was a great idea, and the other still wants to be surprised (and generally isn’t as difficult to please)</p>
<p>The one thing my D cannot get enough of - Itunes gift cards. She’s addicted to her Ipod. She has downloaded all of my old CDs and is always thirsty for new music.</p>
<p>I have the same problem plus S is coming home for Thanksgiving and his birthday is the day before Thanksgiving. The only suggestion he’s come up with for me so far is a wireless keyboard. He has a laptop - so the only reason I can think of that he would want wireless is to maybe play online video games where you connect your computer to your TV? Okaaayyy…that still leaves me with Christmas.</p>
<p>So just for the heck of it I started googling for ideas; he’s studying engineering so I tried googling “gifts for engineers.” Hit the jackpot - there’s actually a site called giftsforengineers which has given me some ideas esp for stocking stuffers. Hope he likes the “geekman” action figure he’s getting in his stocking which coincidentally looks just like him, black glasses and all (well, minus the pocket protector but I’ve got that covered now too)!</p>
<p>I have 3 kids.
One who has a list a mile long. Everything on it expensive. Most relating to horses and riding.
My son is a minimalist. He actually told us he did not need anything for his last birthday. We settled on new gloves for snowboarding. I suggested a new skateboard since his is in poor shape but he doesn’t mind having an old junky board. So at a lost as to what to get him.
Oldest D also is at a loss for what she wants. Probably clothes but it is hard to buy her things without her trying them on. We will probably not see her this yr so it will all be mailed. Gift cards seem so anticlimatic to open. I did pick up a Marshalls gift card at the market. I am trying to space out my buying.
Ideas for stockings- underwear for the girls, picked up a 6 pack of puma low socks yesterday at Ross (will break it up for the girls), for oldest I picked up one of those nylon grocery bags that stuffs small to have in her purse for purchases on her way home from work.</p>
<p>sueinphilly ~ LOL, my son got the exact same things as yours!</p>
<p>Mine is a tech guy so I’m sure there will be lots of stuff on his list that I have no idea what it is. Always have to upgrade the computer ya know. I tell him to give me the exact link to the item! </p>
<p>scansmom ~ you can check out thinkgeek.com too.</p>
<p>Another winner is a magazine subscription of their choice. The Economist for S’s soph year birthday. It also gives them something else to check the mail for.</p>
<p>Another is offer to pay for their passport (or renewal).</p>
<p>hey thanks kitty!! I also discovered another site, xtremegeek.com. Although I will have to be careful not to overdo it with the “fun” novelty items. S (who has Aspergers) does not have a great sense of humor in spite of (or perhaps as a result of) my efforts to cultivate one! 
</p>
<p>Actually, for stocking stuffers (aside from Geekman) I typically try to combine novelty with practical. So I thought S would really like “Hubman” - a hub with 5 USB ports shaped like a stick man (I thought it was cute. And yet, also practical), until he mentioned the WIRELESS keyboard (and mouse) that he wanted. Oh well, at least he can still use Hubman with the flashdrive he got last year that looks like a LEGO block…</p>
<p>S told me that he would like to go somewhere’s/anywhere’s during spring break with friends. He has asked for money. I have also told grandparents and other relatives that is all he wants. Aside from a few stocking stuffers, that is all I am planning on giving him.
As for ideas, gift cards are always welcomed. Starbucks, Subway, favorite book store and any chain store in the area near the school. Also food places like Chic Fil A and Chiplote were a big hit last year.</p>
<p>I need to check out those geeky sites. A different one I have used before is Thinkgeek. Gifts for the female geek as well.</p>
<p>They may not want surprises anymore.</p>
<p>In recent years, I have taken to asking my kids (now ages 19 and 22) whether they want to be surprised for Christmas or their birthdays or whether they have something in mind that they would like me to buy. Several times, they have had specific requests (DVDs of entire seasons of a favorite TV series, a bowling ball and shoes, an iPod, a George Foreman grill – I’ll leave you to guess which of those were my daughter’s choices and which were my son’s). Other times, they have opted for surprises.</p>
<p>So unless it’s not part of your family’s customs, it might not hurt to simply ask.</p>
<p>My D’s birthday was last week. She wanted a fuzzy robe and slippers. I ordered the wicked slippers from LL Bean for her. But that might not be as important for kids in CA instead of the Northeast!</p>
<p>My S wanted an external hard drive for his laptop. The better to download all of the movies and games that he loves to aquire.</p>
<p>I’m sure my D will want a better winter coat now that she has to walk everywhere! Who knows what my S will want, he usually doesn’t want much, doesn’t spend much money, but is happy with whatever you buy. He might get some new clothes since he grew in college and still wears the too short pants. (What can I say, he’s an engineer and he goes to a tech school). I will get him a key lime pie since it’s his favorite.</p>
<p>I ask and the answer is always “nothing - putting me through college is enough.” Well, I’m big on presents, so I don’t spend a lot but they get something. Last year it was new bed pillows, work clothes for oldest, coat and gloves for the youngest, plus a few very small things (socks, boxers, etc.). Plus a plane ticket home. I wish they had some ideas, because I’m out this year.</p>
<p>My daughter sent me a link to a website with nice (much nicer than I would buy for myself) leather boots that she wants. That and her stocking are it. I do add some practical things to the silly fun stuff in the stocking…a Starbucks card, an iTunes card, flannel pajama pants…a few things like that.</p>
<p>I think the Flip video camcorder is pretty cool. There are several versions with different features, but the original is around $130 (cheaper at Costco). It’s great for shooting quick videos to upload to Youtube.
[The</a> Flip - Products - Flip Video](<a href=“http://www.theflip.com/products_flip_video.shtml]The”>http://www.theflip.com/products_flip_video.shtml)</p>
<p>We do not do stockings at our house. They end up filled with junk and promote proliferation of cheap plastic crap. The kids were too practical - they wanted big stuff under the tree. However, as they aged, the size of the boxes went down. An iPod or a pair of earrings does fit into a smaller box than a doll. The iTunes cards from Costco (there is even a coupon for several bucks off) will be a part of the gift this year. It will save me a bundle on the wrapping paper, since the cards will fit into a small envelope!</p>
<p>ucsd<em>ucla</em>dad, you’ve probably already thought about it (or may already have done it) but a name brand lifetime warranty basic “starter” tool kit is a good no brainer. Makes a lot of sense for those close to “being on their own”. Plus, it’s something you can always add to in years to come.</p>
<p>Another thought is covering a year or two membership in a professional or trade specific association, or a major specific journal/publication subscription.</p>