What would you like for your first apartment?

[montanafan]

A former student just told me that she's chosen her college and she and some friends will be getting an apartment. She's 18 and this is her first apartment and first time away from home. I've purchased apartment-warming gifts for relatives when they've started college before, but it was always something their mothers told me to get for them, like sheets and towels, dishes, etc.

I was sort of a mentor to this student and I'd like to get her something useful, but also something that she would think was cool, not dull like the above. Since many of you are around her age and probably not far removed from the college and first apartment phenomenon, I thought I'd ask for your advice. Let's set the spending limit at say, $100.00. Any suggestions?

 

[santar72]

Futon, coffee maker, mini fig, shelves, dvd player, etc.

 

[yasha]

A caller ID unit would be nice and usefull. They can see which "boy" is calling them and not pick up if it's Ken instead of Chad.

 

[Poncherelli]

Get something cool so when she looks at it, she thinks how nice it was for you to get it for her. I'd want something in the kitchen like microwave, toasteroven, espresso maker, something i'd use alot. After thinking this over, get an espresso maker, those things kick ass.

 

[Sluggo]

Set of cookware is useful

DVD player or VCR

Biggo box O condoms....gets busy when you got your own pad.

Damn nice down comforter

Maybe a gift certificate to a local store for some snazzy new clothes.

CD burner

Set of good cookbooks

Answering machine, maybe connected to a nice cordless phone.

 

[ViperMagic]

A lava lamp. A real nice $100 one or a bunch of cheap $20 ones.

 

[montanafan]

Lots of good suggestions.

I know she doesn't have a DVD player or an espresso machine.

I don't know if she or one of her roomates will bring an answering machine, Caller ID, or microwave, but those are good.

I'd actually thought of the lava lamp, but I figure they'll do their own decorating.

I don't know if she plays mp3s much, but maybe she could use a little shelf CD player for her bedroom.

The gift certificate for clothes is a good one too, but I want to make it more for the apartment, something she wouldn't be bringing herself.

I think I'll skip the condom idea, although I'm sure it would show an interest in her safety and well-being.

 

[perry]

Mini George Foreman grill! Like $20 I think. (I want my mommy to buy me one for my new 1bdroom apartment!) You could get a bigger one if you want to spend more money

towels

magazine rack

table cloth

napkin holder

salt & pepper shakers

those fold up canvas/nylon chairs for when extra people are over

electric can opener

VHS tape rewinder (save wear and tear on the VCR)

doormat

Just thinking of stuff I've bought for myself or need to buy for my new apartment that I move in to in less than 3 weeks (woohoo!)

 

[RossMAN]

Well it looks like Sluggo, montanafan and perry pretty much covered almost all the bases but having lived on my own (ok with a roommate) for several years, here's what's nice to have when living alone.

Set of bath, hand and kitchen towels.

Mini toaster.

Microwave.

DVD Player.

TV (at least 27&quot.

Washer & Dryer.

KITCHEN COOKWARE! Pots & Pans, silverware, bowels, cups, tumblers, frying pans.

Deep fryer cooker.

Outside Weber gas or propane BBQ.

Oven/Range.

Bed.

Futon.

Bean Bags.

Toilet Paper.

Ramen.

Cordless phone with caller ID and answering machine built in.

and of course a Welcome mat.

 

[yasha]

How about a gift certificate for their local coin laundry, or just a bag of quarters?

It's something they'll need very much. Also calling cards are very nice.


Best of all, just give them the phone number to Da Playaaa, me.

 

[Soybomb]

Many things are useful to someone moving out for the first time, as far as cool stuff goes, I like a dvd player, vcr and $25 gift certificate to blockbuster or whatever, maybe even a video game system like the Sega Dreamcast (its cheap, games are readily available, and its fun) with a couple extra controllers for the apartment dwellers to do on those boring nights, etc!

 

[montanafan]

More good ideas.

I'd thought about the video game system. I don't think she plays video games much now, but she might like to have something for entertainment there.

The calling card is a really good idea I hadn't thought of.

Mini-toaster maybe instead of a microwave or the George Foreman grill.

Hey guys, I was just looking at AnAngryMuffin's thread about things to bring for college and I was wondering if maybe I should just fix her up a box of little things that you need around a place like, a powerstrip, batteries, laundry bag, umbrella, calling card, blank video tapes, school supplies, etc. instead of the one nice gift.

Would you like it if someone got you something like that or would you prefer the one big gift?

 

[TallBill]

GEORGE FOREMAN GRILL!!!!!!

 

[Kelvrick]

Maybe you should take her out for a good time before she leaves. That, and give her some money and say, a long distance calling card.

Oh, n/m. Just remembered part about her being former student... Well, you should give her some advice from the standpoint of a teacher, and then give her something like, say...

Cash? Always easiest.

 

[RossMAN]

Hey guys, I was just looking at AnAngryMuffin's thread about things to bring for college and I was wondering if maybe I should just fix her up a box of little things that you need around a place like, a powerstrip, batteries, laundry bag, umbrella, calling card, blank video tapes, school supplies, etc. instead of the one nice gift.

Would you like it if someone got you something like that or would you prefer the one big gift?

I actually think this is a great idea and would go for it. You want to get her something USEFUL, this kinda stuff is everyday stuff you need and use. So definitely get her something like this, a sort of housewarming/care package kinda thing. Otherwise a small kitchen appliance (toaster, microwave or George Forman grill) would be great.

 

[Jfur]

microwave!

 

[weezergirl]

another vote for the foreman grill.

 

[rgwalt]

Man, everyone likes those forman grills... personally I don't care for mine. Its OK, but kinda a pain to clean. I use a cast iron grill pan...

Anyway, when I moved into my first appartment, I was AMAZED with how much stuff I had to get. I ended up spending at least $500 at target over the first couple of weeks. So, I would recommend getting her a Target gift card (that is if they have target where she is moving to). I normally shy away from gift certs (putting a price on your love, and letting the person know that you don't want to take the time to get them a real gift, yada yada), but maybe you could do both.

Here is an idea that no one thinks of... A blender. Very useful for a college student in an apartment. There are some things that you simply can't do without a blender or food processor, and a blender will usually suffice. So maybe a blender and a gift card.

The reason I say Target is that they carry nice stuff (really, they do), and stuff that is attractive as well. You can get good quality and nice looking kitchen/home stuff there at very reasonable prices. When she goes in and does a mad shopping spree like I did, she will thank you for the gift card, and all the nifty stuff it bought for her.

Good luck.

Ryan

 

[perry]

When I moved into this apartment 3 years ago I went to Target and applied for a credit card to get the 10% off on my first purchase. I spent a hair over $200 my first time through the store.

Next apartment that I move into has a Target less than a minute's drive away, and grocery store in the same shopping cent. And Wal-Mart across the street. And Circuit City 2 minutes away. I think I'll be set for all of my shopping needs

 

[CattyKathy]

A cat ~meow~

 

[cyclistca]

Beer, beer, and some more beer. Never can have enough beer. Did I mention beer?

 

[iamwiz82]

$100 worth of Cup O' Noodle!!!

That would keep her eating for YEARS

 

[DuffmanOhYeah]

Ohhh.. Definately some nice revealing lingere

 

[TallBill]

oooo.. cup o noodles is good too.. george forman grill and cup o noodles.. drool..

 

[montanafan]

I think there's a Target about 30 minutes from where she'll be living. I like their stuff too. That would be the more sensible way of doing it, but I kind of like the idea of the box full of stuff and the fun of her going through it to see what and all's in there.

She already has a cat CK, I don't know that her roomies would appreciate another one.

I don't think it would be appropriate for me to purchase beer for her; besides, I think she drinks Zima.

DuffmanOhYeah, I said something for her, not for her boyfriend.

$100.00 worth of Cup O' Noodle. I hadn't thought of that. I still hadn't thought of that.