Gift Ideas for Teenage Nieces and Nephews? Please share!

[IdaBriggs]

We forgot to be born independently wealthy, and have a small horde of "older" nieces and nephews, including a couple of college students. In the search for "economical but useful" gifts, anyone have any good suggestions? Cash per kid shouldn't be more than $20 - (we have a lot of them!) - and "gift card for the movies with candy bars" is starting to feel lame. "Gas Cards" doesn't feel right, "Amazon Gift Cards" aren't always used (to be fair, I think gift cards in general have a 50/50 chance of being used - sigh), my taste in clothing is undoubtedly "adult suspect/boring" and -- argh!

Whatever it is, I also have to be aware the gifts will be opened in front of each other. Thoughts?

[Wait Wut]

1. iTunes cards...

...they'll get used.

And...I found this:

ts.com/recipient/teen/L2UYDa

Okay, that link refuses to work because it thinks there should be a 'gif'. So, it is gifts.com search teen under $25

[loli phabay]

2. cash, simple and it works.

[Chan790]

3. Are we talking 12 or 18 here?

The answer is not really the same.

Older kids 17-18 are likely to prefer gift cards as they will need to outlay a dorm room or first apartment in the near future. Also things that are useful for a dorm room, bedroom or first apartment are welcome. That's certainly the case for college kids...my 2nd brother is just out of college and because we're both poor, we've secretly had an agreement where we just ask...we'd both rather get something we want than be surprised. My cousins all asked specifically for gift cards this year.

Younger kids (12-15) are more likely to want things they can play with and entertainment items.

[Kali]

4. nice pens and stationary

and if they don't send thank-yous, drop 'em from the list

-signed,
scroogy mc grouch

[tabbycat31]

5. What are their exact ages

I'm a fan of gift cards for that age group. For example I always get my college age cousin an Amazon card because college textbooks add up and she can put it towards them.

Even though movie gift cards feel lame, it's appreciated from that age group. You can also do gift cards/certificates for things they enjoy, such as mini golf, ice cream shop, fast food, etc.

I think many people prefer experience gifts to stuff anyways.

If in doubt, cold hard cash works.