Acollegestudent,
I certainly don’t want or expect a gift when my son’s friends stay over. I’ll either cook a nice meal or take them out. I’ve also hosted young people in a certain sport, when finals held in my area. They are staying with me, a stranger, to save money.
It is different when I’m invited to friends’ or relatives’ homes. I know these people well, and come with part of the meal, their favorite alcoholic beverage, an orchid plant (for one person), chocolates for another, farmer market’s jams, hot sauce, salad dressing, etc. It is easy and fun to be creative.