Gifts should be a nice addition to your life, not something you shove to the back of your closet and forget about. I’m looking at you Aunt Janet. Please, don’t buy me another flannel pajama set. I live in Florida. As college kids on the brink of adulthood, take advantage of this gift-giving holiday season and ask for something useful that will make your life a little easier.
Keep your inner Grinch at bay and ask for one of these useful holiday presents.
1. A Planner
Every type-A college student just smiled because, whether you believe it or not, a good planner can change your life. It may sound like a lame present but think of all the assignments you almost forgot about this semester. Remember that all-nighter you pulled to pound out a 12-page research paper you definitely had enough time to finish early? Well, all those problems and stress zits could disappear with a properly organized planner. “As an easily overwhelmed, type-A college student, I find that writing everything I have to do on a daily, weekly and monthly basis helps me feel more collected and prepared for life,” FSU senior Michelle del Castillo said. “It’s almost a stress relief activity for me to fill in my planner at the beginning of the semester and add in all the fun things I have to look forward to in the midst of all the crazy sh-t.” Get ready for the real world—which I’m discovering is just more deadlines and stress about said deadlines—with an expensive, high-quality planner. And the best part: you don’t even have to pay for it.
$38.952. Electric Mixer
You may think the idea of baking desserts for your roommates and significant other sounds like a lot of fun, but have you ever tried to knead dough completely by hand? You’ll be sore well after all the sweets are gone. While you ice your aching biceps, you’ll have to face the fact that you’re not in grandma’s kitchen anymore. It’s time to get your own equipment. But what kind of baking-enthusiast college student can afford their own electric mixer? Queue the Christmas carols and jingle bells and ask for some fancy kitchen equipment this holiday season. “I want an electric mixer because you never know when you’re gonna need to mix some sh-t,” FSU senior, Breanna Tonello said. Ain’t that the truth. Now all you have to do is find some time to bake.
$245.743. A Laptop
Whether you just got shipped off to university or you only have a few weeks left before you graduate and cashiers start calling you ma’am, it’s time for a new laptop. No matter your major or future career plans, a new laptop starts you off on a clean slate. The last thing you want is all those high school book reports clogging up your hard drive. “I’d ask for a new laptop,” FSU senior Taylor Bonachea said, “but one of those with a stylus and touchscreen so I can take notes in class and not have 792 notebooks in my backpack.” Notes, art projects or papers, a new laptop sets you up for a successful future.
$579.004. Shoe Rack
On a particularly chilly day, you reach into the closet and pull out that old sweater you never get to wear. Unfortunately, you stacked about 50 other articles of clothing on top and they all just fell on the floor. Ask your parents, or whoever buys you presents, for a shoe rack or hangable shelves this holiday season. Get organized like all those cute adults on Pinterest and never fall victim to a clothing avalanche again.
$25.895. An Iron
An iron might sound like another lame thing to ask for, but would you actually go and buy this for yourself? I’ve been ‘borrowing’ my friend’s iron for three months now because my bank account doesn’t think it’s a lucrative investment yet. Sounds like the perfect thing for someone else to buy me. Or you. Don’t be that person who shows up to an interview in a wrinkled pair of slacks and a crumpled dress shirt. Ask your folks for an iron and stay fresh-pressed this holiday season.
6. Poop Spray
If the library bathroom right next to the Starbucks has taught me anything, it’s that everyone could use a bottle of poop spray. Not only will you poop in public with confidence, you’ll make everyone else’s life a little better when you spray a squirt in the bowl. As an adult, we learn to keep some things to ourselves, and the Indian food you had last night for dinner should be one of them. Spare yourself the embarrassment of your boss walking into the bathroom right after you dropped a bomb and ask your mom for a bottle of poop spray.
$9.957. Stationary
It’s letter of recommendation season and nothing says “I’m good at networking and maintaining relationships” like a hand-written thank you note. Stationary isn’t typically on the shopping list when you have a weekly food budget of about $10. Ask for some nice, thick card stock this holiday season and maybe a few postage stamps too.
$8.858. Roku/Amazon Fire Stick
If your apartment complex doesn’t include cable in the rent and you’re still too cheap to pay for your own Hulu account (seriously, it’s only like $6 a month for students and you get Spotify) ask Santa for a Fire Stick this Christmas. “You’re not just giving me a tool to watch my favorite shows and movies, you’re giving me endless entertainment,” FSU senior Maeghan Eaton said. “You’re providing me a gift so precious, that I will never leave my room for. From the moment I receive this blessing, I will live by the strictest binge-watching code. For me and my movies, it’s til death do us part. And that’s all thanks to you.” Give yourself a million reasons to stay in bed this winter and ask for a Roku or Amazon Fire Stick.
$39.999. iPhone Music and Charger Adapter
Apple thinks they’re pretty slick making the headphone jack the same hole as the charger port. And they are, because their plan to make iPhone groupies buy more dongles has totally worked. On the road trip back to campus after winter break, keep the all-important GPS navigating and the Dua Lipa jams blasting with an iPhone music and charger adapter. Save the dreaded radio for when mom’s driving.
$12.9910. A Bike
It wouldn’t be Christmas if you didn’t beg your parents for a new bike. And I know what you’re thinking: “What am I? 12?” No, you’re probably 18 to 22, but that doesn’t change the fact that a new bike is a totally awesome Christmas present. The campus shuttle moves at a snail’s pace and you know there won’t be a parking spot within a 10-mile radius of your 1 p.m. class, so get your heart pumping on the way to Greek debate and ask for a cherry red racer. Or maybe a beach cruiser or something cute like that.
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