Giant-Ass Thing of Toothpaste
This is a must-have for any kid. You know that this is an item they’re using daily (or you hope for Pete’s sake they are). If they’re not using it, you get to be the hero they didn’t know they needed. Plus, you’re giving yourself a present with the peace of mind that they’re following dental hygiene protocol for the upcoming 4-7 months. Really, you’re giving them the gift of cavity prevention, and nothing says “fun gift” quite like that.
Off-Brand Shampoo
Not the fancy stuff or anything with a nice scent. You’ll want to find the most obscure-smelling one or the one that smells like your grandpa after he claims he showered, but probably hasn’t (I bet their friends don’t have that one)! You want to get the store comparison brand or the brand that is on sale or even wait for a BOGO if you have two kids. Waiting for the deal allows you to save money for other gifting must-haves.
Brightly Patterned Socks That Match Nothing
We know you’re all over the socks. You’ve probably even gifted them before. Perhaps the standard white or the socks with neutral-colored toes and heels. Make this birthday of theirs extra special and buy the most obnoxious pattern you can find. They’ll likely match with absolutely nothing, but also in a weird way could go with anything. Extra points for you if you can get them monogrammed. Extra extra points if the monogram is with your initials.
Pens, But the Ones That Are Like a Step Up From BIC
Whether your kid is in school or at that job that you can totally understand and can explain to other people, they’re probably writing things. The pen aisle can be overwhelming, but if you want to surprise them and show that you care, we definitely recommend upgrading their pen game to the Pilot G2 Pros.
V-Neck T-Shirts
You saw a picture of Josh Groban wearing a tasteful V, so you know these are still trendy; plus, T-shirts are classic. We recommend hitting up Target for their five-pack of standard Hanes T-shirts, but kudos to you if you find a deal at any of the last remaining Kohl’s. When gifting the V-necks it’s important to comment on the number of outfits these T-shirts could be paired with.
