21 great holiday gifts for college students

(MoneyWatch) If you haven't begun shopping for holiday gifts for college students on your list, now is the time to get started. To help make it easier to find great presents for students, here are 21 gift ideas:

1. Nearly effortless diary. Urban Outfitters sells a five-year memory book that has enough room for the owner to write one line a day in it. ($16.95).

2. Wallet stuffed with surprises. I stole this idea from a mom who bought a wallet for her son last Christmas and then put in cash, movie tickets and gift cards for stores that he liked. The gift was a big hit.

3. Rugged camera. GoPro cameras are shock-proof and waterproof and can be used for such recreational activities as biking, snowboarding, swimming, surfing and running. Video from these cameras have appeared in dozens of television shows, including Mythbusters ($200-$400).

4. Chalkboard coffee cup. You can write your own messages with chalk on this black ceramic coffee cup with lid ($12).

5. Bluetooth speakers. Students can share their favorite songs from their smartphone or mp3 player with bluetooth speakers. The Kinivo ZX100 Mini Portfable Speaker with rechargeable battery has received great reviews and is affordable ($18.95). For more expensive wireless speakers, check this popular one from Logitech ($109).

6. Mini coffee maker with travel mug. No need to head to the cafeteria when a college student needs a cup of coffee. I like this single-serve Black and Decker coffee maker because the cup is a travel mug.

7. Unique USB flash drives. How about a flash drive bracelet ($20) for a stocking stuffer or how about a cork flash drive?

8. A great read. If you give "Gone Girl" as a Christmas present to a young woman on your list, don't be surprised if she spends December 25 with her nose in this popular thriller. Here's another book suggestion from an ex-Navy seal: "No Easy Day: The First Hand Account of the Mission that Killed Osama bin Laden."

9. Family recipes. This can be a priceless gift for college students who now must cook for themselves. Buy a binder and fill it with your child's favorite family recipes. Another alternative -- check out "I Love Trader Joe's College Cook Book." 

10. Plane ticket. Spring for a plane ticket for your child to head out for spring break or to visit a college friend over the summer break.

11. Chick flicks. Buy your child's favorite blue-ray movies. Here is a chick flick package ($37) that includes "Juno," "27 Dresses" and "The Devil Wears Prada."

12. Geek clock. If your child is into math or engineering, consider this geek clock for his or her dorm room. I bought one for my son last Christmas and he loves it. 

13. Touchscreen gloves. It could be cold out, but students can still use their phone, iPad, eReaders and other electronic devices by wearing touchscreen gloves.

14. College advice. Besides my own book, "The Thinking Student's Guide to College" is my favorite title in the college niche. It's a book for college students who want to make the absolute most out of their college years.

15. Heart-rate monitor watch. Heart-rate monitor watches work with a chest strap to allow users to see how hard they are working and how many calories they're burning. Here's one suggestion -- the Timex T5j031 Unisex Digital Fitness Heart Rate Monitor Watch ($59.47).

16. Etsy gift. If you haven't visited this online bazaar of homemade gifts, ranging from jewelry and clothing to art and an an assortment of strange gadgets, you've got to take a peek. You sure won't find Etsy creations at the mall.

17. Swiss Army Knife. For a tricked-out knife, check out the Swiss Army CyberTool 34, which includes a can opener, corkscrew, scissors, toothpick, wire cutters, screw drivers, bit wrench, bottle opener and much more. ($92)

18. OPI nail polish gift set. The bottles in this nail polish set from Sephora ($49.50) are small, but since trends are always changing college students rarely finish full-size bottles anyway. Here are other gift ideas from the cosmetics store.

19. Personalized business card case. Some day soon your child will need business cards. Here's a circuit board business card case, some Frank Lloyd Wright cases and a more traditional leather business card case.

20. Classic stationary. Many students need stationary to write "thank you" notes for internships, jobs, fellowships and mentors. Handwritten notes on classy stationary from Crane & Co. or other stationers will fit the bill.

21. Leather portfolio. These classy portfolios, which can hold resumes, a pad of paper, pens and more, will come in handy when a college student has lined up interviews for jobs or internships.  ($18 to $60)

Christmas gift image by www.metaphoricalplatypus.com. CC 2.0.

[JaredWinterton]

I've found out that it is always the small little accesories that kids use daily that need to be replaced most often (as they 'wander' away and get lost). I definitely recommend grabbing a few <a href="http://etybostore.com/">ipod docks</a>. Anybody else have any great suggestions?

[thiagodaluz7]

Excellent list, definitely piques the curiosity. Not the kind of thing I usually go for, but I've been looking for some <a href="http://www.djtgiftshop.com/default.asp?dept_id=30060">decorative birdhouses</a>(at my wife's behest), so here's hoping to find something in that vein!

[marthtolkien]

Honestly, one of the gifts that my student like the most was spare change for doing his laundry. He was always going without washing his clothes for a long time to save money, and it was really bad. Things like a <a href="http://www.bestgifts4u.net/default.asp?dept_id=45010&PageNumber=1&sort=">unique candelabra</a> won't really help their status out much, but if you can help them save money, they will love it!

[Greatgift]

Who would think college kids would be growing a Legal plant in their dorms that makes them smile and giggle. It's not what your thinking! The TickleMe Plant is a fern like plant that closes its leaves and even lowers its branches when you Tickle It. It is one of the few "pets" you can have in your dorm. It is so much more fun then a gold fish.

Search Pet TickleMe Plant to see it in action and to grow your own.

[rimag]

Excellent list. In keeping with the MoneyWatch theme, I think a thoughtful gift would be a book on money management skills for college kids, there are a few good ones out there, plus MoneyManagement101.org has a great video on money skills designed for college students.

[eduLaunchpad]

Great list! This one is getting linked on our FB page.

Here's a couple others to consider:

On the high end... the ubiquitous laptop computer. Every college student needs one. Get it for Christmas now while all the great sales are going on. And with all the programming available online, it will double as the TV anymore.

A GoPro camera works great on the bike, but with a simple handlebar mount, an iPhone or Android works just as well. And they are the jack of all trades tools these days. They pull doulble, triple, and quadruple duty as phones, cameras, video recorders, sound systems, journals, you name it.

Everyone needs a Swiss Army Knife. I've been carrying one since I was over 30 years. I suggest you check out the Victorinox Midnight Manager. It has all the prerequisite tools, plus a flashlight and a writing pen.

The loudest, most obnoxious alarm clock you can find. I know the phone can double as the clock, but consider this. When the alarm goes off on Monday morning at 7am, there is often an overwhelming urge to throw the offending clock across the room. The phone would be toast.

[Plantasticone]

Beside a goldfish, the pet TickleMe Plant may be the only pet you are allowed in a Dorm. The pet TickleMe Plant is easy to grow from seeds and will close its leaves and even lower its branches when you Tickle It!

http://www.ticklemeplant.com

[cbessada]

StationEry is a terrific idea. Especially if you spell it right. Errors like that, which are repeated in the squib really hurt the eye.

[cbessada]

Misspelled 3x, but you got "stationers" right - and that's the way to remember how to spell it: stationErs - stationEry. College students, if they are stationAry will never get anywhere.

[caljack430]

Don't waste your money on expensive touch screen gloves. Target sells them for 3 bucks a piece! I stocked up in every color.

[clamzo]

Great list again Lynn. I don't see any fashion related items but anyone shopping for college men, be sure to check out www.Broverstock.us for discounts on great clothes.