Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in this post may be "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Disclosure in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255. This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.
College. It’s a time for new experiences and fun. But along with that, comes being so broke that Cheerios becomes a gourmet meal. Here are a few Christmas gift ideas for that starving college student in your life.
We all know how hard it is to survive on student loans as a college student! Move over ramen noodles, these gifts will have your college age kid living large and eating like a king.
Unique Gifts for a Starving College Student on a Tight Budget
All these gifts are great to help out anyone who’s living on a tight budget but they’re especially useful to college students who are living in shared spaces or dorms.
InstaPot
Dried rice and beans are the cheapest way to get protein, but who has the time to cook them from scratch? With an Instapot, they sure will! Dried in the package to fully cooked in half an hour. They can make all sorts of healthy and nutritious food quickly with one of these.
$5 College Cookbook
A cookbook where all the meals are under $5 and not from the dining hall? Sign me up! This book has over 300 recipes that are yummy but won’t break the bank.
Kinda Hungry Kinda Tired T-Shirt
There has never been a more relevant t-shirt, especially for a college student. Also, getting a new shirt in the mail is just another reason not to do laundry.
Last Name: Hungry First Name: Always Mug
Your hungry college student can pair this with their t-shirt if they’re really struggling that day. Mugs are a perfect gift because there is no college student who isn’t addicted to coffee.
20 Packs Of Ramen Noodles
Ramen is an easy go-to that college students just have to accept. You can make it in less than five minutes and can amp it up however you want.
Weekly Meal Planner
If your college student is trying to cook on a budget, then a meal planner is the only way to go. By planning out meals, it’ll be less easy to go out to eat because everything is already mapped out for you.
A Premade College Care Package
Have a busy schedule yourself? Well thankfully, there is a service that puts together care packages for you and can send them to your student whenever you want. This way, you’re both winning.
Waffle Maker
You can make a lot of things in waffle form. Brownies, eggs, waffles, anything really. It’s a hot surface with no open coil (which most colleges prefer) and cooks quickly!
A Nice Bowl For Meals
It really does make a difference to have one really nice bowl. If your student is in a dorm, it gives them just a little something that is theirs.
A Brita
Sometimes, colleges forget that you need water in your room and the tap water doesn’t always cut it. But, a Brita will provide a pitcher of clean water to quench their thirst at one a.m.
Tupperware Filled With Food
When students come home, they are usually hoping to come back with a few Tupperware’s full of homemade food. This is the one free gift that they will always be grateful for.
Fast Food Gift Cards
Sometimes, the dining hall and ramen just don’t cut it. But, fast food becomes a delicacy when on a budget. Gift them with some of their favorite fast food gift cards, and you’ll see love like never before.
Grocery Store Gift Cards
If your student has their own apartment and likes to cook but is usually limited because of their budget, grocery store gift cards are #1 on the list of gifts. It still gives them the freedom to shop and cook.
Coffee Gift Cards
This one is a no-brainer. Most students have a crazy schedule and sleep is not high on their list. Coffee is the only way to stay alive.
Food Scented Candles
Eating mac and cheese again? Just lite a cupcake candle and you can imagine you’re eating that instead.
TV Dinner Tables
Sitting a real table can be too much for a lazy student. Having a pop-up TV tray table is the perfect way to go on those casual nights.
An Instant Water Boiler
You’ll actually be surprised by how handy this is. No one in college has time to sit and boiler water on a stove, so this little nifty machine really comes in handy.
A Food Coloring Book
What better way to procrastinate then to color? Add in some delicious food pictures and recipes and your student is good to go.
A Subscription to Food Network Magazine
Food Network is a dream for anyone learning how to cook. And if your student is looking to get their own place and learn to cook, anything Food Network is the way to go.
A Food Mural
Now, this would be more of a gag gift but something a college student might actually like. It gives them some way to decorate their room and some foodspiration! What’s better than having a picture of pizza on your wall?
With any of these Christmas gift ideas, your starving college student will be forever grateful and full of (kinda) delicious food.
