Ten Gift Ideas for the College Bound Male

As the holidays fast approach, nobody is in the need of present ideas less than little boys and girls. There are so many easy to find inexpensive (and expensive) toys and games that any 1st through 7th grader would be tickled to have. Teenagers are also too obvious; clothes are good for girls, video games for boys. Parents love predictability in gifts… a tie or a tool for Dad, a piece of jewelry or a massage for Mom. These are all easy to think of and very easy to find gifts. But no, we needn't be worried about gift ideas for these groups of people. The demographic that is most in need of a gift guide is most definitely the undergraduate college bound or college gone man. These are the young, high spirited youths trying to shake off the bones of childhood, and meander drunkenly through 4 (or sometimes 5) years of school to that mysterious land of promise that Mom and Dad affectionately call "the real world". These are the most undervalued gift receivers while also being one of the easiest to buy for. Undervalued because after a huge cash outflow by Mom and Dad from buying things like microwaves and mini-fridges, T.V.'s DVD players and computers, they forget that Christmas is only a short time away from fall move in dates… and although we appreciate all of the money and gifts and commodities you've bought us for leaving your house, we would still like a little something under the tree or next to the Menorah when the holiday break comes around. So, the following, in no particular order, are some money saving, Son satisfying gift ideas that any young American would be thrilled to have.

#1 Gift idea - This gift idea comes with a disclaimer: It is not for parents, this is a gift idea for friends of the gift receiver only. No Mother or Father ever wants to know about such things. So if the reader is a mother or father looking for a good gift idea for their son, then look on to the next gift idea. That being written, the first on the list of easy gift ideas is the fake I.D. card - This item can go for as little as 0$ from a friend or as much as 50$ if the quality merits such a price. They can either be created, with a picture of the gift receiver, or numbers may be scratched off of real cards, or they could just be someone else's I.D. that maybe looks like the gift receiver. However it is done, a good fake I.D. is one of the most invaluable parts of a college career until the young chap turns 21.

#2 Gift idea - One sheet of plywood and two sawhorses is an excellent addition to any apartment or house. You guessed it, a beer pong table. Beer pong is a relatively recent drinking phenomenon and any college student would count themselves lucky to have such a thing. It is very cheap and needs no wrapping. Just a ribbon and a package of Plastic cups should send the message loud and clear, that message being, "We love you, instead of going out to a bar and getting arrested, stay home and drink responsibly." Hey, any parent should know that their student is going to drink, why not give them a reason not to go out in public?

#3 Gift idea - There is only one way to get the beer out of a keg, you have to have a keg tap. These go for $30-60 depending on the quality of the tap and the place you buy it from. This gift is something that can be very useful when the student is on a drinking budget. Everyone has a friend that is invited to the party because they have a tap, and it goes without saying that if you bring your tap to a tapless keg party then you don't have to pay for the beer inside the keg. Do your son/cousin/nephew a favor and get him a keg tap, it will save him great amounts of money that he can use for more productive things like Ramen noodles or late night fast food runs. Be sure to warn against thieves however, because one of the most high theft items from a party is the tap to the keg.

#4 Gift idea - Large Funnel and 3 feet of 2" plastic tubing will run you about $9 at any Home Depot or Lowe's. These two things can be put together to fashion what is affectionately known as a "Beer Bong". If the college student doesn't have one of these, they are very likely to go out and pick one up themselves, so why not take the initiative and take up space under the tree with this under priced, undervalued gift. Make it personal and use a permanent marker to give it a name. A pun on the name of the recipient would be best, but if you can't think of anything just write "Bad Decision" on the side of the funnel.

#5 Gift idea - A large poster for the wall would be greatly appreciated by your typical college student. Do some research; find out what his favorite movie is, or maybe his favorite musician. Go out and pick up a poster or order one online. These can go from about $9 to $25 dollars depending on the quality and size of the poster. If you can't seem to figure out any particular poster that he might want, you can never go wrong with "Scarface".

#6 Gift idea - Speaking of "Scarface", no student should be without a copy of one of the greatest crime dramas of all time. The special addition will go for about $20 but you can probably find it for cheaper than that at a pawn shop or a hole in the wall music store.

#7 Gift idea - A bottle opener is a simple and practical gift for anyone who is constantly around unopened beers. There is nothing more chivalrous than a young man taking it upon himself to open a beer for a young lady. Most domestics are twist off nowadays but when you are feeling classy drinking those fancy imports, when someone wants one opened, your gift recipient will be the man to see. Personalize this gift by buying one from the school gift shop. Prices on these are from $2-8 depending on the school.

#8 Gift idea - Membership to Sam's Club is one of the best things on this list. For one year it is $40 plus tax. There is nothing better than paying 30% less because you bought in bulk. Most of college students grocery lists consist of the same things anyway, Ramen and Soda. An added bonus of this gift is when the student turns 21. The liquor prices are comparable to dirt when matched with the run of the mill liquor store. Sam's isn't in every city so look around, there is bound to be a bulk buying warehouse store somewhere within 20 miles. A good substitute is BJ's or Costco.

#9 Gift idea - Printer ink is a good idea if you want your college student to never have the excuse for his professor that his printer ran out of ink at the last minute. This teaches a student responsibility; if he always has ink then he is less likely to use this excuse than if he just let it run out and didn't replace it for a month or two. Different printers use different inks but you can find any type online or at Best Buy.

#10 gift idea - Condoms… probably the best investment you'll make if you are a parent. A 40 pack at Sam's club is around $12. This is one of the best buys in the entire store. The student that you love is most definitely going to have sex, make sure he does it safely.

So there is the list. A bit different perhaps, maybe a little too realistic for some, so for them, go ahead and buy your favorite student a gift card to Wal-mart. Go ahead and get them a gift card to a book store. Whatever, but if you want him to appreciate you, to give you a big hug and a thank you from the heart, then pay attention to this list. Do the right thing, get the right gift.