The unofficially official GC Holiday help desk

[LouisaMay]

Help! Twenty year old niece. She's a college student with an apartment. I feel like I don't know her tastes well at all. She's sort of trendy. Sort of "alternative." We spend around $30 for the family grab bag. Last year, I gave her a Starbucks gift card for her birthday, so I don't want to do anything like that so soon.

Thanks for any help!!!

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by LouisaMay

Help! Twenty year old niece. She's a college student with an apartment. I feel like I don't know her tastes well at all. She's sort of trendy. Sort of "alternative." We spend around $30 for the family grab bag. Last year, I gave her a Starbucks gift card for her birthday, so I don't want to do anything like that so soon.

Thanks for any help!!!

500 Thread Count sheets in a neutral color. Yes, as a 20 year old I might have been less than thrilled when I opened it, but once I tried them out, it would be an AHA! Moment. I honestly like jersey knit sheets better, but everyone needs a good quality set of cotton sheets as well.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

500 Thread Count sheets in a neutral color. Yes, as a 20 year old I might have been less than thrilled when I opened it, but once I tried them out, it would be an AHA! Moment. I honestly like jersey knit sheets better, but everyone needs a good quality set of cotton sheets as well.

Better than jersey or whatevercount cotton is Modal/Beech cotton/whatever else they call it.

Amazingly soft, without seeming to stretch the way jersey does.

[LouisaMay]

Thanks for the great ideas!! Actually, the thought of those bed sheets is making me jealous

[DSTRen13]

Originally Posted by LouisaMay

Help! Twenty year old niece. She's a college student with an apartment. I feel like I don't know her tastes well at all. She's sort of trendy. Sort of "alternative." We spend around $30 for the family grab bag. Last year, I gave her a Starbucks gift card for her birthday, so I don't want to do anything like that so soon.

Thanks for any help!!!

Nice picture frame or two & RitzPix card?

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by LouisaMay

Help! Twenty year old niece. She's a college student with an apartment. I feel like I don't know her tastes well at all. She's sort of trendy. Sort of "alternative." We spend around $30 for the family grab bag. Last year, I gave her a Starbucks gift card for her birthday, so I don't want to do anything like that so soon.

Thanks for any help!!!

Get her something for her apartment. Does she have any pictures of it on Facebook that you could take a look at to get some ideas? I would say to get her a gift card for Pier 1 or something, but I generally shy away from gift cards at Christmas.

And this might sound weird, but...

When I graduated college and got my own apartment, my aunt bought me a few gifts, which at the time made me think, W..T..F..

She got me a small tool kit, a cookbook, two flashlights and a ton of different kinds of batteries.

I can't even begin to tell you how much I appreciated it! When I had to put together new furniture, hang pictures, and when the batteries in my fire alarm had to be changed.. the screwdrivers, nails and tape measure in the tool kit came in handy!

When I had to spend Christmas at my boyfriend's house one year, and I was looking for a good recipe so that I had something to bring to his house, I ran for the cookbook.

The first time my electricity went out unexpectedly, I remembered the flashlights...

And everyone can ALWAYS use batteries!

[psusue]

Originally Posted by LouisaMay

Help! Twenty year old niece. She's a college student with an apartment. I feel like I don't know her tastes well at all. She's sort of trendy. Sort of "alternative." We spend around $30 for the family grab bag. Last year, I gave her a Starbucks gift card for her birthday, so I don't want to do anything like that so soon.

Thanks for any help!!!

If she's a smaller size and likes retro vibe clothes, maybe a gift certificate to Modcloth.com? They have amazing dresses and clothes and lots of quirky things, maybe she'd like it.

Also no college kid would ever say no to a Target/Walmart/grocery store/gas gift card. We're poor. Necessities become luxuries. And while it may not be a gift that they "ooh and ahh" over, they will appreciate it after they run out of body wash and don't get a paycheck for another week (can you tell that this has happened to me, haha?)