Last minute birthday gift by mail for college student
May 30, 2023 12:02 PM Subscribe
We kind of blew it and didn't shop or pre-plan any birthday gifts for my college age daughter! Aside from gift certificates and Door Dash, what can I send her that is a physical gift that will arrive by Saturday?
Looking for suggestions for a physical gift that can arrive by Friday or Saturday for my daughter. I have Amazon prime. Not looking for any gift certificates. I just want her to be able to open a physical gift on her birthday. I don't really want to buy her cheap jewelry or cheap clothes from Amazon. What would be fun? Sorry to be so vague--open to any and all suggestions!! (I will be taking her out when she gets home...just want her to have something to open and I feel stumped)
Looking for suggestions for a physical gift that can arrive by Friday or Saturday for my daughter. I have Amazon prime. Not looking for any gift certificates. I just want her to be able to open a physical gift on her birthday. I don't really want to buy her cheap jewelry or cheap clothes from Amazon. What would be fun? Sorry to be so vague--open to any and all suggestions!! (I will be taking her out when she gets home...just want her to have something to open and I feel stumped)
Best answer: colored pencils and a big coloring poster that she can tack up in the dorm?
a ukulele?
snacks? Weird snacks? Shareable snacks?
A stuffed animal?
posted by adekllny at 12:17 PM on May 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
a ukulele?
snacks? Weird snacks? Shareable snacks?
A stuffed animal?
posted by adekllny at 12:17 PM on May 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Check out this list or this list for some ideas - they don't often link to Amazon but many of the items can also be bought on Amazon. Like this skincare set, fancy Boy Smells candles, disposable cameras...
posted by quadrilaterals at 12:30 PM on May 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by quadrilaterals at 12:30 PM on May 30, 2023 [1 favorite]
1) Send a photo of you doing something fun and familiar (eating an ice cream cone by the lake, biking at the park, sitting with the pets on the back porch, etc.) This is something you usually do together in your home town.
2) Include a card with cash and a note that at a given time on your daughter's birthday, you will be back at that some spot thinking of her.
3) Give an invitation to call, Skype, whatever to share an ice cream date from two different cities.
4) Saturday, June 3rd is the full moon. Make a wish on a star and stand under the same moonlight.
It's not the gift that counts. It's the shared memories.
posted by TrishaU at 12:32 PM on May 30, 2023 [3 favorites]
2) Include a card with cash and a note that at a given time on your daughter's birthday, you will be back at that some spot thinking of her.
3) Give an invitation to call, Skype, whatever to share an ice cream date from two different cities.
4) Saturday, June 3rd is the full moon. Make a wish on a star and stand under the same moonlight.
It's not the gift that counts. It's the shared memories.
posted by TrishaU at 12:32 PM on May 30, 2023 [3 favorites]
Best answer: If you do a gift certificate for a thing she actually wants, you can also do priority shipping on a Pinatagram for the joy factor. (I did this for my college-age kid.)
posted by BlahLaLa at 12:35 PM on May 30, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by BlahLaLa at 12:35 PM on May 30, 2023 [4 favorites]
Best answer: Solar powered rainbow maker. (Kikkerland in general is good for nice gifts on the smaller side.)
posted by cocoagirl at 12:42 PM on May 30, 2023
posted by cocoagirl at 12:42 PM on May 30, 2023
How about having some flowers delivered, or a birthday cake, or balloons? You could easily coordinate with a local florist or bakery to do this without even resorting to Door Dash.
Other alternatives: wine or champagne if she's at drinking age, or just a great big pile of junk food and pay for a streaming movie to have a movie night with friends.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 1:26 PM on May 30, 2023 [2 favorites]
Other alternatives: wine or champagne if she's at drinking age, or just a great big pile of junk food and pay for a streaming movie to have a movie night with friends.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 1:26 PM on May 30, 2023 [2 favorites]
The post office has boxes that you can stuff full of her favorite things. Usually it takes 2 days from one urban area to another though I'm not sure about more rural areas. I include favorite Trader Joe's items and ramen and other trinkets and a note.
Another option is a cupcake or other treat delivery locally that usually builds up around college towns. The parent facebook group might have ideas.
posted by RoadScholar at 4:04 PM on May 30, 2023
Another option is a cupcake or other treat delivery locally that usually builds up around college towns. The parent facebook group might have ideas.
posted by RoadScholar at 4:04 PM on May 30, 2023
I vote for flowers, which is a luxury most people will not get for themselves but are always awesome unless allergies are an issue. By sending flowers, you're signaling that she's an adult now....
posted by mightshould at 4:36 PM on May 30, 2023
posted by mightshould at 4:36 PM on May 30, 2023
Best answer: a package of lotions/candles/soaps/etc
a package of different kinds of fancy snacks (from a place like Harry and David)
a soft, fuzzy blanket or nice hoodie
posted by bearette at 5:05 PM on May 30, 2023
a package of different kinds of fancy snacks (from a place like Harry and David)
a soft, fuzzy blanket or nice hoodie
posted by bearette at 5:05 PM on May 30, 2023
Best answer: Merchandise for a film/book series/TV show she likes - doesn't have to be a T-shirt, you can get mugs, keychains, notebooks, etc with fandom designs on them. Are there any collectibles she likes? Collectors always love receiving items they can add to their display.
I nth the suggestion of getting flowers and cake delivered! It feels very fancy when it happens to you. Local florists and bakeries are usually very understanding of your worries and will agree to deliver during a certain timeslot when you know the recipient will be at home.
If all else fails, high-end, nicely designed stationery sets, like those from Paperchase, go a long way for a tired student!
posted by wandering zinnia at 3:03 AM on May 31, 2023
I nth the suggestion of getting flowers and cake delivered! It feels very fancy when it happens to you. Local florists and bakeries are usually very understanding of your worries and will agree to deliver during a certain timeslot when you know the recipient will be at home.
If all else fails, high-end, nicely designed stationery sets, like those from Paperchase, go a long way for a tired student!
posted by wandering zinnia at 3:03 AM on May 31, 2023
Whatever it is, spice it up with some cash in the package as well
posted by Amy93 at 4:14 AM on May 31, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Amy93 at 4:14 AM on May 31, 2023 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks everyone! You sparked my imagination: Japanese snack box, head massager, eye pillow—ordered! I’m bookmarking the pinatagram for next year!
posted by hellochula at 12:07 PM on June 3, 2023
posted by hellochula at 12:07 PM on June 3, 2023
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What sort of things does she enjoy? If she's in a college town/area, there will be gift shops for a variety of interests that can either do delivery themselves or partner with Door Dash etc. to do so.
Is there a book that was particularly meaningful to you at her age you could send her? Any electronics she might want - noise canceling headphones, speakers, etc.?
posted by Candleman at 12:15 PM on May 30, 2023 [1 favorite]