What should a college student bring to friend’s beach house as gift?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nothing! He’s a poor college kid and the parents are rich. Just a polite attitude, and gave him mail a thank you card after the fact.

This! They don’t want him buying $100 bouquet of flowers or wine. They are doing from the kindness of their heart. He just needs to pay his own way for souvenirs amd such and be respectful of their money, things, and time.

If you as the parent want to send a “ thank you for hosting my kid”, maybe wine or flowers. But I don’t think that’s necessary or expected.

[Anonymous]

Nice chocolates, flowers and wine. 2 out of 3 - based on feedback from the friend.

[Anonymous]

We give our son money for local flowers and the friends' mothers love it. And any other buddies invited jealously call him a kiss ass for making them look bad. Hehe!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dad loved college friends bringing booze to our family beach house, but he wanted a very specific bottle of scotch that costs $80 to 100. But honestly, even a thank you card was appreciated. Most college kids don’t bring anything. My mom and dad never said anything to their faces about being moochers but after they left my dad would make sarcastic comments.

If your parents invited them, or you did, they aren't moochers, they are guests. If they invited themselves they are moochers.

I don't think college kids realize how expensive it is to entertain a handful of college kids at your normal family beach house for merely 3 days. Food and booze is easily north of $1000 if not $2000 if you go out to eat a few times, depending on how much jet ski and boat use, another $1000 in petrol, inevitably something will get broken, plus all the bedding and cleanup after they leave.

The least you can do is grab a $5 thank you card in town and leave it on the counter when you leave. Apparently most kids are not taught that by their parents.

If you own the house its not that expensive. Anyone under 21 should not get alcohol and you can do cheap things like pizza.

[Anonymous]

Any family inviting their kid's friend to their vacation house likely has pretty specific tastes around wine etc. Just bring a token gift (chocolate, baked goods, local spice blend, etc) and send a thank you card after your stay. My kids are not yet in college, but we have a vacation home where we have invited their friends. A thank you card is nice. Everything else is just a formality. No kid is going to offset the cost of hosting them in an expensive vacation destination for a week. I would not want them to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing! He’s a poor college kid and the parents are rich. Just a polite attitude, and gave him mail a thank you card after the fact.

This! They don’t want him buying $100 bouquet of flowers or wine. They are doing from the kindness of their heart. He just needs to pay his own way for souvenirs amd such and be respectful of their money, things, and time.

If you as the parent want to send a “ thank you for hosting my kid”, maybe wine or flowers. But I don’t think that’s necessary or expected.

Do not do this for an adult child!!!

[Anonymous]

A nice breakfast basket. Good quality pancake mix, maple syrup, berries,coffee and jam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A nice breakfast basket. Good quality pancake mix, maple syrup, berries,coffee and jam.

Too much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t overthink it: Bouquet of flowers. Fifty bucks. No vase.

No flower arrangement in a vessel since they may not have one suitable

Every beach house has vases for fresh flowers. This is an easy way to save some cash for a college kid; otherwise they have to pay additional $30 for a cheap $1 vase.

Just got flowers this weekend. Our beach house (we own it and live here part time) doesn’t have a vase. Used a pitcher. Not every beach house has vases.

[Anonymous]

I think a baked good item like a box of cookies or cupcakes or a pie picked up in town and a thank you note is a nice gesture. If you’re just showing up to the house a candle and a note is great. It’s really just the gesture!!! It should not be more than $25 in my opinion. We have a second home and I if we invited kids and they gifted more than that I would be embarrassed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A nice breakfast basket. Good quality pancake mix, maple syrup, berries,coffee and jam.

What boy would think of this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My dad loved college friends bringing booze to our family beach house, but he wanted a very specific bottle of scotch that costs $80 to 100. But honestly, even a thank you card was appreciated. Most college kids don’t bring anything. My mom and dad never said anything to their faces about being moochers but after they left my dad would make sarcastic comments.

Ridiculous

[Anonymous]

It would be awesome to pick up a check.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any family inviting their kid's friend to their vacation house likely has pretty specific tastes around wine etc. Just bring a token gift (chocolate, baked goods, local spice blend, etc) and send a thank you card after your stay. My kids are not yet in college, but we have a vacation home where we have invited their friends. A thank you card is nice. Everything else is just a formality. No kid is going to offset the cost of hosting them in an expensive vacation destination for a week. I would not want them to.

Some people have money without competitive fashion obsession.

[Anonymous]

Nice cookies or brownies as a token- even if parents won’t eat it, kids will devour.

The best thing he can do is be a good guest by cleaning up after himself and being friendly and polite. Have plenty of his own spending money. Send a TY afterwards.