Your college student probably won’t know WHAT she needs until she cracks open the dorm room for the first time.

Only then will she discover that the space is half the size of her room at home, with a fraction of the closet space, and cinder block walls that won’t hold the pictures she brought.

I remember it well–each “my half of the room” creating it’s own set of challenges year after year. Invariably the organizers I bought the year before didn’t quite work in the new space. And off I’d go to shop for replacements. I didn’t mind setting up the new pad, but I did mind spending my precious few dollars on stuff I might not need the next year.

Gift Idea for College-bound Kids

If you have a college-bound kid in your life, send him packing with a gift card to Target, Walmart, or The Container Store and deliver it with a roll of quarters and a jug of laundry soap (if he’s driving off to school) or a box of dryer sheets (if he’s flying). Funny how gifts change when you’re on your own for the first time.

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• Walmart Gift Card
  Buy Now at
  Walmart.com
• Laundry Hamper
  Buy Now at
  Walmart.com
• Laundry Detergent
  Buy Now at
  Walmart.com

More College Savings

Save 30-80% on College Storage Gear at Target.com
Smart Savings on College Essentials at Walmart.com!
College Must Haves at The Container Store

The saying goes, “People come in to your life for a reason or for a season.” My dear friend, Suzanne, came to me for both. Though we were face-to-face friends for less than a year, she made a lasting impact. Now, constrained by distance, but enabled by technology, we share laughs and heartfelt talks whenever we can.

A Bird Flies Out of the Nest

Last week, she took her oldest boy to the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah where he will begin serving a two-year mission for our church. After a couple months of training, he’ll be headed to Russia. At just 19 years old, this boy’s freckle-filled-boyish face belies a wise, old man who says things you’d expect to hear from someone who’s lived four times his little lifetime. He’s amazing. He can’t wait to serve. But everytime I compliment my friend on raising such a fine boy, she replies, “I can’t take the credit. He came that way.” To which I say, “Then take credit for not messing him up.”

A Token of Comfort for Mom

If we lived closer, I would have been waiting on Suzanne’s doorstep when she got back from the big drop to give her a hug and feed her some chocolate. Because we both know that her boy is gonna do great, but it can be hard for the mamma bird to let even the most well-trained bird fly away.

Since I can’t be there in person, I sent Suzanne an electronic gift card to Deseret Book so she can buy something to uplift her on days that she’s missing him the most. He is in good hands. So is Suzanne.

Celebrate Moms at Graduation Time

This experience has me thinking about graduation time. We always celebrate the graduate for his or her accomplishments and rightly so. But perhaps we need to start celebrating the parents who devoted womb and room to raising these kids. It seems a harsh reward to think that after you’ve exhausted yourself giving your child the tools necessary to survive on his own—he has the nerve to actually do it.

For graduation this season, think about the moms who are being left behind. What gift card would you give to a mom who is about to say goodbye to one of her chicks?

I think of changing the oil in my car the same way I think about going to the dentist or cleaning the furnace vent. I know it’s important, but is certainly nothing I look forward to doing. And honestly, not my first choice in how I spend my money.

But a good friend of mine posted a comment on her blog that reminded me why practical gift cards like Jiffy Lube are sometimes even better than the fanciful ones. If I’m trying to save money, I can opt not to buy something I want but don’t really need (like a new tennis skirt). Putting off maintenance tasks (like taking care of the car), however, could end up costing me more later if I avoid them now in an effort to be frugal.

The Jiffy Lube gift card we’re giving away, inspired me to take better care of my car. With the Signature Service, I got a needed oil change plus a variety of fluid levels topped off. I also got the tire pressure checked which is something I’d been worrying about lately. And they vacuumed every last Cheerio out of the car. With three kids nesting in the back of that minivan, the vacuum service alone would have been worth the trip.

Coming out of the shop, I felt great. It’s truly a gift to take care of something that needs to be done without having to pay for it. So don’t feel bad about getting someone a gift card instead of a “real gift.” Chances are you’ll be giving them exactly what they need.

Don’t forget to enter the Jiffy Lube Gift Card Contest.

Jiffy Lube sent me a couple of $50 gift cards–one to give away and one to test drive. Ally and I ditched the boys last Saturday to get the “Hottesy” all tip-top again before going on a little shopping trip. Rex and the guys at my local Jiffy Lube took care of us right away–fast and friendly. (You can watch our video and read about the adventure in my next blog.)

For the give away, I love the idea of partnering this “on the go” Jiffy Lube card with the popular Dr. Seuss book, “Oh the Places You’ll Go.” The combination would be wonderful as a:

• Graduation gift
• A going away present
• Congratulating someone starting a new chapter in their life
• Birthday gift for a new driver or someone who just got their first car
• Wedding gift for a young, newlywed couple

To enter this contest, leave a comment and tell me how you would turn a Jiffy Lube gift card into a thoughtful gift. How would you package the Jiffy Lube card? What items would you put with it and who would you give it to? (This is a family show, so keep it clean.)

Legal Stuff: Contest open to continental US residents only. Contest ends April 15, 2010 at midnight PST. Winner will be posted on the site for one month and notified by e-mail. Be sure our e-mail address (@giftcardgirlfriend.com) clears your spam filter. If winner doesn’t respond within one month, a runner-up will be chosen.

Ok, answer the question! How would you turn a Jiffy Lube gift card into a thoughtful gift?