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Holiday shopping for college students is a whole lot easier than you might think. This "genre" of people, if you will, possibly comprises the least picky names etched onto your Christmas list. For them, it's all about the caffeine, the food, and the (hopefully) clean laundry. Speaking as a college student, I would be just as happy to receive a gift card to Target, Borders, or Starbucks as I would be to receive something big or fragile to worry about. Not only do large and fragile items pose a storage problem, but they are also a hassle to transport back to school, especially if the trip involves an airplane. Here are some practical and fun gift ideas that are sure to be a hit with any college student.

Gift Cards
Like I said, Target, Borders, and Starbucks are great. Most colleges have these stores (or similar ones) nearby; check the area to see which ones are accessible by your recipient. If you can't narrow down a store, check for nearby malls and see if they offer a general gift certificate that applies to most, if not all, stores in the mall. iTunes gift cards are fantastic, but you might want to check to make sure they have an iPod beforehand. Gift cards to their own college's bookstore are also a great option.

Food and Beverages
Does he love coffee? Does she love tea? Both of these items are often overlooked, but there can never be enough of either one! Treat your college student to gourmet, flavored Fair Trade coffee or tea that they can enjoy daily. Include some chocolate-covered espresso beans for an extra treat. Not a coffee or tea fan? What about hot chocolate or apple cider mix? Throw in a thermos to keep all these comforting drinks warm. For the sweets-lover, homemade baked goods are always appreciated. Cookies, brownies, caramelsI have a friend whose family lives nearby, and her Mom made her entire dorm cream puffs.

Clothing
Regardless of the recipient, clothing is always a borderline dangerous gift. Even socks can be a hotly contested fashion issue. The one clothing item that consensually seems to be a "need" of the college student is the lounge pant. But be wary; some female college students like baby pink sweatpants with "SWEETIE PIE" on the behind in light blue, but many would never consider wearing such a thing.

Alternative
College students have hearts and souls, too. There are many alternative gift options out there, including planting trees or buying livestock for people in need. Many of these are simple online transactions in which you buy the gift and a card or certificate will be sent to the recipient, informing them that you have planted 100 trees or bought a cow in their name. Organizations that promote these gifts include Oxfam America (oxfamamericaunwrapped.com) and American Forests (americanforests.org), among others.

With these great ideas, you can't go wrong this holiday season. The smallest bit of tender loving care goes a long way to show college students how much you care.

Learn more about this author, Briana Murphy.
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