Top Gifts for College Students Under $75

College students can be a tricky demographic to buy for, especially if you have one on your list when they are your child, niece, nephew, grandchild, or otherwise in a different generation from yourself. Consequently, I have put together this quick guide with several ideas for college students, all under $75.

Idea one: Textbooks. At least to me, as one who just graduated college this past summer, textbooks (or more likely, a gift certificate) make a fantastic gift at the holidays, although there are others who might disagree. Let me put it this way: each semester, buying textbooks at the beginning of the year was a monumental pain, both mentally and in the wallet. Textbook prices can run students $500 or more each term, so in my book, giving a kid $50 in gift certificates to a fantastic website like Textbookx.com or Amazon.com, or maybe even a gift certificate to their local campus bookstore (Beck's Books being the most widespread corporate version) cannot be a bad gift. If you especially want to show that you care, go out of your way to find out *exactly* what titles they'll be needing the next semester and buy them new copies (or used if you're sure they like them). While it may not strike some as an ideal holiday treat, I'll tell you that if I received cash or book store gift certificates at Christmas the past few years, chances are most of it went towards textbooks. You're guaranteed you'll gift will be used, unlike a lot of holiday offerings, no matter how thoughtful or unique.

Idea two: NCAA Apparel. For the student going to a major university, this is the easiest possible option, but it is still a great one. Fansedge.com has all sorts of clothing options, from sweatshirts to pajamas to hats to sandals and more, as do most university stores and numerous other online outlets. Most items are well under $75. A hooded sweatshirt is a staple of the college wardrobe, and a quality one - regardless of what school your gift recipient attends - should be available for $40-$50. There is also an infinite amount of non-clothing items out there for the NCAA fan or student of major schools, including clocks, watches, mugs, Frisbees, and probably even kitchen sinks. If your student goes to school in an area with less fortunate weather, look to get them school ear muffs or an umbrella (for more non-clothing accessories, try sportsfanfare.com and see what they have for your school).

Idea three: Fish. A lot of college students want some kid of pet. Having an animal presence is known to reduce stress, and managing stress is essential for college students. Unfortunately (or fortunately if you understand the demographic), almost all college dorms outlaw dogs, cats, and other pets. The one exception in most cases is fish. A good dorm-sized aquarium from fishtankwarehouse.com or your local dealer will only cost about $25 (think 3-4 gallons), and most fish are priced at a few dollars apiece. Giving the right person an aquarium kit, some fish food, and some suggestions on low-maintenance fish can be a great way to make someone's dorm room much friendlier and relaxing, especially if the person wishes they could have a dog or cat, and all for a price significantly less than $50.

Idea four: Electronic Accessories. No college student can live without a computer, and most take technology further by having iPods, Xboxes, and countless other gadgets. However, most electronic units today come with all sorts of enhancements and special features that many college students do not have the budget to pay for. Check out what gear might make your student's electronic experience more enhanced. For the extremely popular iPod, check out two accessories in particular: the universal dock, which allows you to connect your iPod to a stereo sound system and other multimedia outlets for $39.99 and the iPod camera connector, which allow photo maniacs to download pictures from their digital camera into their iPod instead of hauling around extra cartridges. For more details, go to apple.com. For other electronic gear, DVDs, CDs, and computer games, browse through Best Buy , Circuit City, or any number of websites.

Idea five: Gift Certificates. Most college students live off a budget and are consequently always looking for things to do that don't cost a mountain of money. Consequently, gift certificates make a great gift because they cost nothing to the student and they mean more than cash. Best Buy and iTunes are common ones right now, but do not rule out other possibly unique options. Considering most students live on dorm food and cheap restaurants, a $50 gift certificate to a restaurant nice enough to take a date, significant other, or a good friend just have a nice night out is not a bad idea at all. For students with commutes to campus, a transit pass or even a $75 gas card can make a huge difference to a grateful individual. Heck, I had one friend who received a $60 tab at a local bar and he said it was by far the best gift he received that Christmas. While you understandably might not want to promote alcoholism, I imagine most of us would rather have our gifts being used and enjoyed than sitting in a closet or being worn twice a year.

So there are five main ideas for possible gifts, and I hope I have helped make this holiday season slightly easier. For college students, remember a few things. First, for a majority of students, it is a period with no regularity, limited financial resources, and sometimes-odd time demands, and therefore managing stress is paramount. Above all else, think how you can use your holiday gift to help make the student's life easier or more relaxed. Help enjoy college as they should instead of worrying about buying this or that or eating bad thin-crust pizza yet another night. Trust me; anything the student can cross off the list with a holiday gift is a huge bonus that should be met with gratitude.