The holiday season has officially arrived! The most festive time of year, when the world glows with bright lights and gift shopping is in full swing! This also means it’s time again for family and friends to start asking for gift ideas. However, brainstorming a holiday wishlist is often a second thought for college students, as final project deadlines and exam dates take precedence. This holiday wishlist offers seven simple yet practical gift ideas for students to help them tackle their day-to-day college lifestyles.
- Tote Bags
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Tote bags are the go-to accessory for university students, offering stylish durability for carrying laptops and textbooks instead of bulky backpacks. Their sleek designs and multi-purpose storage for school supplies, along with daily essentials like earphones, lip balm, and snacks, blend functionality with style.
In addition to school, tote bags are a practical accessory for social outings, as they can hold more items than a small handbag or pants pockets without clashing with the outfit. Tote bags come in a wide range of sizes and designs, offering students a variety of options based on their preferred use and fashion choices. A tote bag is a perfect, practical gift to add to the college holiday wishlist, as students can never have too many to match their outfits throughout the school year!
- Water bottles
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You can never go wrong with water bottles as gifts, given their convenience when commuting to and from class, studying on campus, and attending extracurriculars. Water bottles are a real money saver, helping students stay hydrated without having to purchase single-use plastic water bottles at a convenience store before class. Durable water bottles such as S’well, Stanley, and Hydro Flask come in various sizes and styles. There are also insulated water bottles like YETI to store cold water, as well as hot drinks like coffee, tea, and hot chocolate for chilly winter days! A new, reusable water bottle can be a practical and stylish gift that supports student health and well-being!
Where to buy: Amazon, Canadian Tire, Sportchek, Mark’s, Lululemon
- Kitchenware
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For students who live off campus in apartment buildings, basic kitchenware such as pots, pans, bowls, and cutlery is essential for daily cooking. However, the cost of high-quality kitchenware tends to be on the pricey side, especially after factoring in student rent, tuition, transportation, and grocery prices.
Gifting this type of practical home decor equips students with high-quality cooking tools, enabling them to create nutritious homemade food and reduce reliance on pre-made meals or expensive takeout. Kitchenware can also help piece together the student’s apartment to feel more like a cozy home rather than a temporary living space. Kitchenware gifts for college students can range from an individual item, like a stainless steel colander, to a set of ceramic mixing bowls – the possibilities are endless!
Where to buy: Amazon, IKEA, Homesense, Canadian Tire, Walmart
- Skincare Products
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When stressed out and sleep-deprived, skincare products can be a lifesaver for self-care! When considering the recipe for healthy skin, it starts with the products you use. The right cleanser and moisturizer duo can give students a refreshing boost of confidence in their appearance, which can improve their mental state and lead to a positive, productive mindset to tackle the craziness of college. However, students may not have the budget to splurge on high-quality skincare products, which makes them valuable additions to the college student wishlist!
Skincare products are not limited to cleansers, moisturizers, and serums; face masks, body lotion, lip balms, and even hand soap are also practical gift ideas in the skincare category!
Where to buy: Shoppers, Sephora, The Detox Market, LUSH, The Body Shop
- Slippers
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Cozy footwear can be a comforting addition to a student’s wardrobe and the key to navigating off-campus life with ease! A pair of soft slippers can provide students with much-needed comfort and cushioning to protect their feet from cold, hard apartment floors.
For students living in dorms, slippers can be a cozy alternative to shoes, especially when you don’t feel like wasting a pair of clean socks just to grab laundry or a late-night snack. Slippers can come in a variety of styles fit for indoor and outdoor settings and can last months before replacing, with the proper care, of course! These cozy benefits make slippers a simple yet versatile gift that helps students navigate their new home away from home in comfort!
Where to buy: Amazon, SoftMoc, Old Navy, La Vie En Rose, Designer Shoe Warehouse
- Blankets
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A cozy gift idea that never goes out of style! Blankets are often considered a fan favourite among university students as they add a touch of comfort to the chaos of college life. Wrapping yourself in a soft, fluffy blanket can feel like a warm hug, making blankets a thoughtful gift of emotional support.
This practical home decor piece can help reduce stress, improve sleep quality, and keep students warm on chilly winter nights when curled up on the couch to study, read, or watch TV. These gifts can range from heated or weighted blankets for extra comfort when it’s cold to lightweight throw blankets perfect for all seasons of the school year!
- Gift Cards
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While gift cards can be perceived as impersonal or an indicator of minimal effort, they can be valuable money savers for university students! The convenience of pre-loaded funds and the flexibility to spend them on a variety of items give students the freedom to splurge on what they desire. Gift cards such as the prepaid Mastercard, Visa, and Joker cards are more versatile, helping students save on groceries, takeout, and social activity costs like shopping and movies.
However, to help personalize gift cards, you can purchase the ones that align with the student’s favoured interests in restaurants, retail stores, coffee shops, technology, music, and more! Ultimately, the meaning of the gift card is dependent on the context and choices behind the selection. There can be value in gifting a gift card if you know the person receiving it will use it to purchase something they love, reducing the risk of spending money on a physical gift they may end up returning.
Where to buy: Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart, Dollarama, restaurants and retail stores
As a fourth-year college student, I find that receiving gifts as simple as face masks, slippers, and gift cards can help me balance self-care with schoolwork. Hopefully, this list has sparked some inspiration for the types of little luxuries to gift college students this giving season!