Gift ideas for a 25 year old guy

March 12, 2012 8:09 PM

What should I get my 25 year old roommate for his birthday that's $20 or less?

My roommate is turning 25 this week and I'm having a hard time coming up with some unique or fun birthday gift ideas. My limit is $20 because I've already picked up a few things for him.

I know that he enjoys fun gifts. He's not much of a movie watcher, but he does listen to music regularly. He plays Steam games a lot and is usually on his computer when he's home. He does cook regularly.

Please let me know of any fun, unique, or useful gift ideas you have.
Thanks!

posted by mtphoto to Shopping (19 answers total)

A cast iron skillet. If he seasons it and takes care it properly, his grandchildren will be fighting over it. I would recommend the 12", but it is a tad more than $25.
posted by timsteil at 8:15 PM on March 12, 2012 [1 favorite]

Bottle of liquor can't hurt...
posted by scose at 8:17 PM on March 12, 2012 [4 favorites]

Best answer: Pizza stone!!!
posted by fuzzysoft at 8:29 PM on March 12, 2012 [2 favorites]

Beer.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 8:40 PM on March 12, 2012 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: What is a pizza stone?
posted by mtphoto at 8:41 PM on March 12, 2012

Do you know if he plays TF2? Some Mann Co. Keys would be a fun gift.
posted by deezil at 8:46 PM on March 12, 2012

Give him the twenty bucks inside an envelope that says "Have a drink on me".
posted by tumid dahlia at 8:51 PM on March 12, 2012

Or just ten bucks, and the envelope says "Have ONE drink on me". Total profit to you <$10.00 (less the cost of the envelope and ink, unless you can pinch those from work). But don't overthink it.
posted by tumid dahlia at 8:52 PM on March 12, 2012

Oh, and if he's a cooker, you'd get yourself a real nice bottle of olive oil for twenty bucks. I'm talkin' real nice. Like drinkypoos nice.
posted by tumid dahlia at 8:53 PM on March 12, 2012 [1 favorite]

A decent chef's knife. Oxo has a couple on Amazon for under $20, good reviews Sorry, can't get the links to work on my phone.
posted by toastedbeagle at 8:59 PM on March 12, 2012

Seconding Pizza Stone.
posted by notned at 9:13 PM on March 12, 2012

A pizza stone lets one make really awesome crispy light thincrust pizzas at home.

Does your roommate smoke pot? Does he have a dealer? No? Hook 'em up with one.

Are they nascent wine afficiandos? Wine aerator (basically a mesh the wine goes through to get aerated) or wine saver (vacuum pump thing to get rid of air/oxygen). Hey. Don't look at me that way. Either are/can-be in the
Something from ThinkGeek?
posted by porpoise at 9:15 PM on March 12, 2012

I usually buy people scratch-off tickets in this situation.
posted by Snarl Furillo at 9:22 PM on March 12, 2012 [1 favorite]

Best answer: A $20 gift card from a bricks-and-mortar bookstore. Get him a book, but let him choose.
posted by zardoz at 9:24 PM on March 12, 2012

For $9.99 (not including tax/shipping), you can get a 5 oz. tube of Swiss Navy Premium Masturbation Cream.
posted by Gilbert at 10:23 PM on March 12, 2012 [3 favorites]

A harmonica. You never know, he could be the next Neil Young.
posted by gentian at 10:33 PM on March 12, 2012 [1 favorite]

gentian, bad advise. Personal experience says handing an annoying musical instrument to a person you live with is deadly for all involved. A nice bottle of wine is always welcome for most people. Or you can figure out a steam game he would like and gift it to him.
posted by Felex at 12:31 AM on March 13, 2012 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Aeropress, if he drinks coffee.
posted by backwards guitar at 4:08 AM on March 13, 2012

A silly straw that spells out his name in cursive (google "personalized silly straw")
posted by WeekendJen at 10:13 AM on March 13, 2012 [1 favorite]