The gift-giving time of year is upon us. For those who have the enviable talent of being able to pick the perfect present, it is an enjoyable time. For most of us, though, this means struggling to figure out what gifts to give to which people and trying not to go insane in the process.

College students often mystify older generations, but this is the time of year when our wishes are pretty simple. If you are searching for a gift for a college student, this guide will make your life somewhat easier.

1. Money/Gift Cards

These are the basics. We will never be upset to be handed a small envelope filled with money. Never. As a college student, money is necessary for those 2 a.m. pizza orders, mid-week Chinese takeouts, and paying back friends for that one time they ordered everyone cookies. If you want to go the gift card route, Target and Amazon gift cards will always be appreciated.

2. Netflix

We may not always have time for it, but when we do, we will watch it for hours on end. Netflix, to many, is a necessity. For me, it’s a stress reliever. It lets me forget about the three tests I have the next week. At least it does for the length of an Office episode... or five.

3. Plane Tickets/Vouchers

This gift is essential for the out-of-state student. Being able to come home on a break, or even just for a long weekend, means the world to us. Sometimes we just need to see our boyfriends, girlfriends, parents, or cats. Plane tickets, believe it or not, help us maintain our sanity.

4. Coffee Machine/Keurig

College is a time where we are meant to discover ourselves, or at least our addiction to coffee. The caffeine fix is what makes many of us functioning humans, and being able to get the fix in our own dorms or apartments makes life ten times easier. Having a personal coffee machine helps us save money and stay awake to finish our assignments.

5. Subscription Boxes

Subscription boxes are normally delivered monthly and can be preordered for a whole year. For college students, this can mean a reliable source of food for when we forget to get groceries, which happens more than we would like to admit. Subscription boxes like Graze, Love With Food, and Nature Box all offer yummy snacks that are pretty much guaranteed to be better for your college students than that family size bag of Cheetos they keep in their closet.

6. Portable Charger

Our phones always seem to be on the verge of dying. Whether it’s from staying out late working on a group project or from walking across campus, we always seem to need a charge. Portable chargers can be lifesavers, especially when its 3am and we just want to get an Uber. How are we supposed to get an Uber if our phones are dead?

7. New Laptop

If you’re looking to really treat your college student, this is a good way to go. Laptops are basically our life in college. We use them for notes, projects, homework, Netflix (see above), and online shopping. Upgrading our laptops means making this whole experience better, and it would be much appreciated by any college student.

8. A Puppy (or Kitty)

For those still stuck in dorms, this may not be entirely practical. But this list doesn’t have to be realistic, it's a wishlist! As college students, we begin dreaming of a furry friend as though we were seven years old again. The companionship of a puppy (or kitty) seems to be exactly what we need during our stressful years at school.

In the end, if you still don’t know what to get your student, I recommend opting for the cash option. Although you may think it’s impersonal, it’s actually the opposite. We’re college students, so being given money lets us know you’re thinking about what we need daily. We need cash for ice cream after exams, dinners with our friends, and pretty much everything. Just know that whatever you give us, you’re helping us have the best college experience we can, and we truly appreciate that.