Gift for teen off to uni -

[salmonfreezy]

I wanted to buy a gift for a friends DD who is off to uni and had thought a toastie maker would be a good thing but she will be in a catered hall and they apparently aren't allowed any plugs apart from haircare (!)

What else would be a good "making friends" kind of gift?

I’d get her a beautiful mug for making tea and coffee. Is she allowed to do that? Or silly games, like cards against humanity?

A set of tumblers

There's usually a thread or two on the Higher Education board around this time of year on 'what to take to uni'.

Specifically on 'making friends', nice mugs are always useful - something reflecting the students interests perhaps. A selection box of teas, maybe some coffee bags, and a tin of biscuits to go with them maybe? (I can't believe a catered hall wont have some sort of way for students to make hot drinks)

Cafeteria if she likes coffee, a bag of real coffee and a huge tin of chocolate biscuits

Alcohol
Pizza vouchers
Amazon echo dot
Biscuits/chocolate

I think a lovely mug and supply of tea & coffee and box of biscuits would go down well too, biscuits can be shared with new friends.

Starbucks/costa etc gift card

Snack pack with treats like biscuits, chocolate and sweets that could be shared

We got a Greggs voucher for our niece last week! She has already got all the usual stuff and I know she has a Greggs next door to her halls!

A crimpit!

Goes in the microwave makes lovely little wraps and stuff. Similar to a toastie maker but with wraps. It was the surprise hit Christmas present for my DD (18) last year.

A Netflix subscription. Mine all used the family one while at uni but the b's have blocked that now.

ah what a nice thing to do.. coffee press and biscuits would be a social thing she could bring with her

Not for someone just off to uni.
(And tbh I think they're a bit cringey ... suspect most new graduates would say thanks and hide those in a cupboard)

Vouchers for coffee shops and coffee chains and sandwich shops like Pret A Manger or similar (helpful when making new friends)

Shot glasses

And you admit it? 😂

Apologies for being harsh, but you're not meant to be advertising on here so it seems fair game.

Seriously, I wouldn't.
Students may or may not drink, regardless of glassware, but I'm really not sure normalising/implicitly encouraging shots as a way of making friends is a good idea.

I would just give the one thing I can be sure every student needs. Cash. Inside a nice good luck card.

My DD took a 'Jenga blocks' set and pack of cards...this broke the ice and got the (drinking!) games going in her flat.

A four pack of Stella and cake/ brownies to share on day one. And cash.

I agree with cash, or maybe a voucher for groceries.

My dd wouldn’t want anything else.

I’d also feel uncomfortable about buying alcohol for a friend’s dd, even though they are legally adults, but maybe that’s just me.

I've sent ds off with a whole load of stuff like first aid kit, sewing kit, painkillers, a small tool kit etc, just all the handy stuff he would be able to grab here if he needed.

If he's anything like my other ds he will be the go to person for when someone is needing a small favour done.

I gave a Tesco card so they could buy food, who am I kidding alcohol! 😃

It’s difficult as you won’t presumably know what she’s got already. My DD already has bought lovely mugs and some glasses. I’d go for a Costa voucher. Or ask her mum for a suggestion

Those are what grandparents think teenagers like 🫣

I gave my friend's DD a Tesco gift card for emergency -beer- supplies.

Uber eats voucher
agree card game - exploding kittens maybe?
a nice bottle of vodka