Gift ideas for cousin swap

December 21, 2015 6:34 AM

Asking anonymously because my cousin could be on Metafilter and I want to give enough details to get interesting responses but don't care if he knows that one of his cousins is on Metafilter if he's here (feel free to chime in yourself, B!). Cousin gift swap. My target cousin is 21, about to graduate with a computer science degree in the urban NE U.S. I don't know what he does for fun, but he is smart, shy-ish, funny, athletic (but doesn't appear to follow the big three major league U.S. sports - MAYBE pro soccer?). His co-op job in school has to do with developing an app. He dresses fashionably.

I don't know anything about gaming or whether he does, uh, that. We share a liberal, over-educated extended family and he is the same. Online or to be found in local urban NE stores (sorry for vague location). The price range is meant to be $25 but I would welcome slightly pricier suggestions. Any ideas?

posted by anonymous to Human Relations (16 answers total)

In times like this I have often resorted to assembling a random box of unusual foods--snacks, sodas, candy, etc. World Market and ethnic groceries near you are great for this type of thing. Buy $23 of snacks and $2 of tissue paper, wrap up each thing individually, and plunk them all down in a box. Fun to open and it's a good conversation piece to share with friends and family. "Want to try a piece of this squid candy my cousin got me?" Winner every time.
posted by phunniemee at 6:50 AM on December 21, 2015

Exploding Kittens? It comes in under the price point a bit, but might pair well with a small gift card...

See the related items link for the NSFW edition, which I prefer myself.
posted by ElDiabloConQueso at 6:51 AM on December 21, 2015

One of those things that is pretty much useful to anyone is a Swiss Army Knife or one of the simpler Leathermans. Not the jillion dollar ones with 50 blades, but a relatively simple and pocketable one. Even if he happens to already have one they get lost, or make a fine regift.
posted by jcworth at 6:57 AM on December 21, 2015

I'm gifting similar type some fun socks that all the fashionable kids seems to be wearing. And a bottle of Irish whiskey.
posted by Ftsqg at 7:01 AM on December 21, 2015

Raspberry Pi? About your price range and pretty open-ended for nerdy projects, I imagine a comp sci major could figure out something cool to do with it.
posted by Nomiconic at 7:08 AM on December 21, 2015

Nice pocket tool, Arduino or Raspberry Pi kit, nice leather valet tray (especially great for keeping important things in one place in a small/crowded dorm or apartment), nice travel mug (Contigo are good) if he likes coffee or tea, power bank for gadgets. If nothing sounds appealing, I've never had a Nerf gun + bullets fail to please, this includes adults and kids of all ages.
posted by rachaelfaith at 7:15 AM on December 21, 2015

Fashionable dresser, you say? Would he like a fun tie or scarf from Cyberoptix?
posted by bile and syntax at 7:15 AM on December 21, 2015

Hamilton cast soundtrack + the book that inspired it?
posted by jillithd at 7:16 AM on December 21, 2015

My brother sounds very similar to your cousin, and his Christmas gift this year is a couple of cool physics toys e.g. this magnetic levitator.
posted by capricorn at 7:17 AM on December 21, 2015

Came in to also vote Cyberoptix - shopping on there myself right now. Extraordinarily beautiful stuff with prints that range from delicate/artistic (jellyfish, mariners maps, blueprints of the engima machine) to bold and graphic (lines of c64 code, eyesight charts, profile of an AK-47 along the tie.)
posted by synapse at 7:21 AM on December 21, 2015

Seconding a Leatherman - make sure it's one with locking knife blades.

If there's a reasonable chance he doesn't have it already, the XKCD book is good for smart and curious people.
posted by Candleman at 8:31 AM on December 21, 2015

I got my similiar cousin Google Cardboard. Virtual Reality glasses for our drawing. I got the plastic version but there are actual paper version under $20.
posted by DarthDuckie at 8:58 AM on December 21, 2015

A pair of flip flops from Rainbow.
T shirt from There There, if his city (or yours) is represented.
Fancy socks.
A bottle of bourbon if you think he drinks sometimes.
posted by vunder at 9:05 AM on December 21, 2015

on the fashionable dress angle, what about a pair of vintage cufflinks?
posted by mmascolino at 9:19 AM on December 21, 2015

Last year for our cousins secret Santa with the same price limit I got one cousin an aeropress coffee maker and the other (on behalf of my husband) a separate cell phone charging battery. Both gifts seemed to go down well but I haven't been around enough to know if they're getting used. I also considered buying touchscreen compatible gloves but I got stuck on not knowing what size to buy.
posted by carolr at 9:59 AM on December 21, 2015

A. K. Dewdney's "The New Turing Omnibus: Sixty-Six Excursions in Computer Science"
posted by at at 12:57 PM on December 21, 2015