10 Last Minute Gifts For Roommates That Get Rave Reviews
Need a Last Minute Gift for a Roommate? These Textable Gift Cards Will Have It Taken Care of In Seconds
Living with roommates is more common than ever, and not just for students. According to the Pew Research Center, the “shared living” or “doubling up” trend of adults living with other adults with whom they are not romantically involved started during the Great Recession and has only picked up steam since.
What’s more, lots of people love living with their roomies – a survey by the National Apartment Association found that nearly 45% of renters living with roommates are “extremely satisfied” with their situation, whereas only 1% of renters were “extremely dissatisfied.”
But if you’re reading this article, chances are I don’t need to tell you how great living with a good roommate can be. Roomies can be some of your best friends, and sharing a roof for even a couple of years can have a magical way of turning near-strangers into lifelong friends. So now that you and your roommate are besties too, you might find yourself searching for the perfect birthday gift, holiday present, or even just a little something just because.
Not to worry – we’ve got a list of the most popular last minute gift cards for roommates on any occasion. And like all GiftYa gift cards, they’re perfect for last-minute shoppers.
Meet GiftYa, The Ultimate Last Minute Gift
To get started, let’s take a minute to talk about what a GiftYa is. On the surface, it’s a digital gift card, but it’s way more convenient than that. You can customize your gift with a personal message, picture of you chilling in your shared home, or even that boomerang you took on your last night out on the town together.
GiftYa can be used like any other digital gift card, from your phone, where it keeps track of the balance so your roommate doesn’t have to. Or it can be linked to one of the credit cards they have in their wallet every day anyway, which lets them rack up rewards points as they cash in your gift.
Now that we’re on the same page, let’s not spend any more time chatting. We’ve got a lot of last-minute roommate gifts to go over.
1 - Bath & Body Works
Upgrade the Soaps and Scents on Their Side of Your Shared Shower
Buy a Bath & Body Works gift card
Swoon-worthy scents are just part of what makes a house (or apartment, or dorm) a home. It’s not about having the fanciest $80 candle out there, it’s about the unique blend of room sprays, body washes, and hand soaps that combine to create a smell that only exists in your space.
Help your roomie add their favorite scents to the mix with a Bath and Body Works gift card. Candle enthusiasts will be thrilled to shop B&BW’s iconic three-wick candle sales to stock up on all their favorite seasonal scents, but there are plenty of other options to choose from as well. Wallflower scented plugins keep your home smelling fresh with zero effort once you stick it in the nearest wall outlet.
Plus with Bath & Body Works’s vast collection of personal fragrance items, your roomie could also choose a chic scent for her or something rugged from the men's collection to treat themself.
Buy a Bath & Body Works gift card
2 - DoorDash
Skip the Argument Over Who’s Doing the Dishes and Order In
You probably share more meals with your roommate than anyone else at this point in your life. And sure, sometimes you have awesome culinary collabs where you’re both in the kitchen and everything moves like clockwork, but let’s be honest. Sometimes the easiest way to avoid disagreements about whose turn it is to cook or who should be sliding on those squeaky yellow gloves to scrub down the dishes is just to avoid the issue entirely.
That’s where DoorDash comes in. This gift card will treat your roommate to their favorite meal – and if they’re feeling generous, they might even add something to the order for you, too. Which means to muss, no fuss when it comes time to clean up.
3 - GameStop
Treat Your Favorite Player 2 Like the #1 in Your Life with a Gaming Gift
When you live with someone – whether you’ve moved in with a romantic partner, a friend, or a new acquaintance – not every moment is exciting. Once the furniture is arranged and the boxes are put away, there’s honestly a lot of time to kill. And for many roommates, one of the best ways to bust boredom is gaming together.
GameStop has everything you need for your favorite console – whether you’re looking for the latest Nintendo Switch releases or a retro controller for the Sega Genesis your roomie found in their mom’s attic last time they were home. GameStop also stocks collectibles, toys, and games, so your roommate is sure to find something that speaks to them.
4 - Hulu
Add Another Streaming Service to the Collection You’ve Been Building
Netflix might be cracking down on password sharing and Max may have torpedoed their user interface, but as of this writing Hulu is still going strong. If your roomie can’t fall asleep without The Kardashians on in the background or relies on The Bear to get them through boring hours of data entry at work, a gift card for the streaming service is sure to be a smash hit.
Plus, Hulu now partners with other major players in the world of streaming like Disney+ and ESPN, so your roommate can choose a plan that has all of their favorite shows, movies, and sports, all in one place.
5 - Lyft
Help Your Roommate Get Home Safe with the Gift of a Ride Home
Nobody wants to be responsible for getting the gang home on a night out on the town – but having a DD is a necessary safety precaution on any bar crawl. But when you give your roommate a gift card for a rideshare service like Lyft, you outsource that responsibility. Now you, your roomie, and all of your friends can let loose for a few hours – because Lyft will be just a few minutes away to safely escort you home when it’s time to turn in.
Your roomie can even use their gift card toward a LyftPink membership to take advantage of even more VIP perks like faster pickups, member-exclusive pricing, and roadside assistance when driving their own car. Win!
6 - REI
The Great Outdoors Make For a Pretty Good Gift
If your roommate is an outdoor adventurer of any sort, REI should be at the top of your last-minute gift list. REI stocks everything you might need to get out and about, from hiker-friendly boots and sandals, to moisture-wicking clothes, to carbon fiber bike frames, to camping meals.
Plus, if your roomie has taken the plunge and paid the $30 one-time fee for a lifetime membership to the co-op, your gift will go even farther. Members can take advantage of exclusive sales and discounts, buy and trade in used gear, and participate in exclusive members only events in their local area.
7 - Barnes & Noble
The Perfect Gift For Your Favorite Live-In Bookworm
Buy a Barnes & Noble gift card
Stop me if this sounds familiar: books on the coffee table. Books on the counter. Books by the door, books in canvas tote bags, books under the couch, books on the bedside table… books. Just everywhere, books. If this sounds like your roommate, then chances are you’re dealing with a bona fide bookworm.
Whether your roommate is a full-blown book hoarder or usually picks out a few titles when they have a chance to stop by the library, a Barnes & Noble gift card is a great way to make them smile. Barnes & Noble has something for everyone, including new releases, best sellers, classics, and even signed and special editions. Plus, if your roommate is always on the go, they can use their gift card toward a handy Nook ereader and choose some titles from B&N’s collection of over 3.6million eBooks (and counting).
Buy a Barnes & Noble gift card
8 - Target
Turn Running Errands Into An Event
Ah, Target. Sure, there are plenty of legitimate reasons to stop in – stocking up on your favorite granola, grabbing another body wash for when you run out, picking up a new toy for your feline friend. But often, we use those legitimate reasons as an excuse for going on a long-awaited ✨Target run✨.
Picture it: just you and your roommate, and an empty red shopping cart just waiting for all of your finds. You can stop and smell the candles at every end cap. Run your hands over every cozy microfiber throw and seasonal throw pillow. Pick out some new picture frames, or maybe treat yourselves to a new book, movie, or game from the entertainment section. The possibilities are endless.
9 - Wayfair
Make Their Space More Functional with Awesome Furniture Finds
Sometimes it’s hard to admit when somethings not working, whether it’s the laptop you don’t feel like spending the cash to replace or the friendship from middle school that has slowly turned toxic. And it can be just as hard to muster up the gumption (and the budget) to deal with areas in your living space that just aren’t working, as well.
Whether your roommate’s closet is a disaster or they simply don’t have enough flat surfaces in their bedroom, Wayfair can get them back on track. The online furniture store sells everything from bedding and bath items to storage and organization. Need a new appliance for the kitchen? They’ve got it. Need something to dress up the outdoor space on your balcony? Look no further. Wayfair has just what they need.
10 - Visa
Personalize Your Last Minute Roommate Gift with a Fun Photo
Not vibing with the digital options on this list? Not to worry – you can also build a physical Visa gift card in just a couple of clicks with Gift Card Granny’s build a card feature. All you need to do now is choose your favorite selfie with your roommate, add a gift message, and it’s off! Most custom Visa cards print same day and ship out the next, so your gift will arrive before you know it.
There you have it – the best last minute gift ideas we have for a roommate.
Roommates are special people, somewhere in between friends and family. Whether you’re searching for the perfect birthday gift or a little something just ‘cause, your roommate is sure to love any of the gifts on this list.
Still haven’t found what you’re looking for? Not to worry. The GiftYa catalog has thousands of local and national brands to choose from, so you’re sure to find something your roomie will love as much as they love living with you. Whether it’s a gift card to their favorite local coffee shop or the indie bookstore down the street, GiftYa has something for everyone. Happy shopping!
Trae Bodge
Trae Bodge is the shopping expert here at GiftYa. Trae helps people find the best deals and ideas on popular new items to purchase.
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