Attn: College and Military Personel, etc... esp single guys

[I See Stupid People]

My son (20) is in the Marine Corps. He lives in a dorm-like barracks, with just about no space for personal items. Not easy to buy a gift for, besides the Corps takes care of most of his needs.

So what I'm looking for are ideas on what to buy him for Christmas and his upcoming birthday. (Not just me, the whole family is asking me what to get him) What would be good for dorm life? Keep in mind that it's gotta be something easily stored away, so stuff like bean bag chairs, posters, and large tv's are out :lol:

Also, what items would be good for someone moving into their own place for the first time? While that might be a couple years off for him, I thought it would be nice to start getting him things along those lines now. Those things could be stored here, at our home, sorta like a hope-chest, guy-style.:D

For a few reasons, gift cards aren't really gonna work in this situation, darn it all.

I'm just looking for ideas, in this our (nearly) final hour...

[NightAngel]

Regular gift cards may not work but what about one of those Visa gift cards? You can use them anywhere just like a regular Visa credit card and he can reload it if he wants to later. You can get them at Amscot or similar.

As for things he may need when he gets his own place:
crock pot (so freaking handy!)
microwave
blender
coffee maker
silverware
cooking utensils
plates/glasses
pots/pans (so expensive to buy pans these days!)
tupperware
sheets/blankets/pillow cases
towels/wash rags/dish towels, etc.
curtains/blinds
house phone

[Spiffy McMoron]

Hmmm...homemade baking is ALWAYS appreciated during the holidays! :D

You could try DVDs or CDs-if you're not sure what would work, call up his roommate. Also, you could try a portable game system, like a Game Boy Advance-if money's an issue, then you might want to see if any pawn shop-type stores have them.

Nice clothes and toiletries (I'm thinking of a nice cologne) work as well-if/when he gets a night out on the town, he'll probably want to smell his best while wearing a nice shirt.

I hope that helps.

[Ryu]

video game consoles would be great, would be my first choice
but if space is that limiting maybe a CD so when hes on his own he has that extra bit of savings to help him out, i know personally i'd love that or a gift to charity, but i might just be weird

[Der Cute]

I"d say more gift cards for dept stores (cuz the PX and BX usually carry crap stuff).

Possibly one or 2 dinner GC's for sep. restaurants?

Also look into a digital camera, mp3 player, portable hard drive.

What about a diary or stationary to write home to?
Or a framed fam pic for him to have, with everyone in it?

Cutenoob

[Greenday]

Posters for the walls. Music is always good.

Trying to think of what I put in my room. DVDs and video games if he has any gaming consoles in there. A Maxim magazine as a stocking stuffer if he doesn't have a subscription. It's a great magazine, glad my mom got me a subscription. Really good articles in it. Flyers of any sports team he likes. Calender.

[Lyse]

Be careful about decorations and things like crockpots and hotplates. Most of the barracks I ever lived in where rather strick about cooking appliances, and the room inspections made most decorations more of a hassle than they were worth. Not to mention the whole issue of dealing with roommates.

Small personal electronics would be good. Probably the best though would be the credit card gift card that someone mentioned earlier. They could use it for any personal things and luxeries that they want - goods or services. Plus, it would be accepted at just about any of the places on base; exchange, commisary, bowling alley, barber shop, etc.

Just my two cents about what would have been the most useful for me back in the day.

[I See Stupid People]

Hi everyone, and thanks for the responses. I really appreciate your input. I decided to pick a room, and buy everything I could think of for that room. I figure I can cover a lot of square feet in the next few birthdays/Christmas'.

This time I went for the bathroom, buying some NICE towels (he almost didn't get to keep them!), bath rug set, some way cool chrome accessories, and the all important underbed storage unit, to hold whatever he can't use in the barracks. He liked everything, although I had to explain my reasoning LOL His girlfriend understood right away, but then... she's a girl! And he did take some/leave some, so it worked out fine. YAY!

Now his birthday (21!) is coming up, and I'm doing it again. I found some more coordinating accessories, which I think finishes up the bathroom. I also got him a couple of sets of travel space bags, which should be really good for his impending trip to IRAQ. (OMG, IRAQ) The travel ones are cool, because he can use a vacuum to suck out the air if one is available, or he can just roll and squeeze out the air manually. He won't be home for his Bday, but he will be home on pre-deployment leave shortly after, so... I'm going to send him pictures of his gifts... but no pic will actually give away what it is... like, pics of the bar code, or close ups of some minor detail:devil: And a pic of the whole pile, wrapped of course. I'm a mean mom :lol:

Anyway, thanks again!