Best Christmas Gifts for College Students

As a recent college graduate, I know students as a whole can often be a bit difficult to shop for over the holiday season. As such, gift cards are often a good route to go, because we can use them at our own convenience, can choose which particular items to buy, and can even trade them with others if they're not the right fit for us. This Christmas and holiday season, be sure that your giftee will be happy with these gift cards.

Most gift cards/ gift certificates can be purchased for a range of prices, so that makes they extremely flexible. If you really do not know what to get someone for Christmas, gift cards are perfect gifts.

Music & Video

Itunes Pre-paid Gift Card- All college students love music...but what kind? That's what makes itunes gift certificates perfect for all college students for Christmas and other holidays, of all ages, and of all tastes. You can purchase these gift certificates in most grocery stores for $10-$50 in value. You can also buy them online at apple.com for $15, $25, $50, or $100. They come in a range of colors and designs. All college students will be happy with this Christmas gift.

Netflix Gift Certificate- College students love movies- maybe too much for their own good (grades can suffer!). But if you know you're buying a gift card for a responsible college student, Netflix offers a great variety of packages that make perfect Christmas gifts. Check out www.netflix.com/GiftPurchase to decide on the many options available to you. You choose the plan ($4.99-$16.99 a month) and the number of months (1-12 months), and bam, you're done!

Books, Odds & Ends

Borders/Barnes & Nobel- If you'd like to keep your college student on the right study track, purchase a gift certificate for a bookshop for Christmas. Both shops offer a wide variety of books and CDs, as well as calendars, stationary, and other odds and ends. On borders.com you can choose a gift card in either $25 or $50 denominations and design your own card if you choose. Barnes & Nobel allows you to purchase a gift card in any amount between $10-$250. They have many gift card designs available for purchase. College students love to receive these gift cards for Christmas and other holidays.

Amazon.com Gift Card- Amazon.com sells an almost endless amount of items, from books, to music, to movies, to cookware, to jewelry, to electronics, and so on. While college students frequent this site to scourge for deals, they often pass up items they would like to purchase because they lack the capital. Your college student will be entirely satisfied if you get him or her an Amazon gift card. To purchase, go to amazon.com and search 'amazon gift certificate'. There you can purchase gift cards in any amount from $5-$5,000, and the card can be emailed, printed, or sent through post to your college student for Christmas.

Home/Decoration

Target Gift Card- College students love Target because anything and everything is offered there, from cleaning supplies to clothing, shoes to electronics, organization and storage units to bed sheets. You can buy a gift card for Target for Christmas both in store or online at target.com in any amount from $10-$1,000. This flexibility ensures any college student will be satisfied and able to find something he or she needs over this Christmas holiday.

Bed Bath and Beyond Gift Certificate- Bed Bath and Beyond offers a range of items, from kitchen appliances to bath towels, bathroom appliances to cleaning supplies. College students, always looking to maximize good deals in this realm, love to shop at BBB for great deals. Discounts are always available for those who look for them, and college students always do! Gift cards can be purchased at many grocery stores, as well as online at bedbathandbeyond.com for $25, $50, $100, and $200. Can be combined and never expire. These gift cards are perfect for Christmas gifts.

Like Cash

Visa/Mastercard/American Express Gift Card- If none of the above appeals to you, your best and safest bet is to give your college student for Christmas is a gift card that can be used like cash. These prepaid cards can be used virtually anywhere and so are extremely useful. These can be purchased in many denominations from $25-$300 on the following websites:

http://usa.visa.com/personal/cards/prepaid/visa_gift_card.html

http://www.americanexpress.com/gift/giftcardslanding.shtml

http://www.mastercard.com/us/personal/en/aboutourcards/gift_prepaid/

They can also be purchased at most grocery stores, as well as online at amazon.com.

Good luck, Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays.