37 Most Useful Gifts for Adulting Made Easy in 2024
For the new college grad or young person making their way into the real world, a few thoughtful gifts for adulting can make the transition just a bit easier on them.
Leaving the nest is a super exciting time in any young person’s life, but it brings a new set of challenges and of course, the need for a lot more supplies.
Whether you’re looking to send a care package to encourage them or some useful supplies for a new apartment, it’s important to consider what gifts for adulting you might have found necessary back in the day.
Wondering what are some of the best gifts for a young adult? Consider their interests as well as their new lifestyle. A new big-girl or big-boy job might bring with it the need for a nice briefcase or something to fuel their coffee habit.
Even cute, handmade gifts to bring a sense of home to their new place are sure to be appreciated. Aside from doing something nice for a special young adult in your life, you can benefit just from giving a gift!
The Times of India reports that giving gifts activates a reward pathway in your brain, releasing dopamine and making you feel happy. Most people experience when giving a gift or doing something nice for someone else, they just might not know the science behind it.
Use this list of gifts for adulting and do something nice for someone else, knowing you will feel great about it all day long.
Jump to Section
- Best Practical Gifts for Adulting
- Useful & Unique Gifts for Young Adult Women
- Useful & Unique Gifts for Young Adult Men
- Funny Gifts for Adulting
Best Practical Gifts for Adulting
1. Learning How to Cook
Coming from college or home where all your meals are prepared for you, cooking is a vital skill that every adult should have. Whether they’re already exploring or don’t know a potato from a parsnip, check out cooking classes near you for a practical gift for adulting.
With cooking classes in Dallas, cooking classes in Atlanta or cooking classes in San Francisco to name a few, this experience gift is perfect for parents and young adult children or roommates.
They’ll go beyond the basics and learn to cook some incredible meals that will become a staple in their at-home cooking. Online cooking classes are also available, so they can learn right at home.
2. Classpop! Gift Card
Want to give the gift of fun, but not sure where to start? Classpop! giftcards are an all-encompassing gift for adulting where the recipient has their choice from experiences like dance classes, art classes, cooking classes and more.
These make a great graduation gift idea or going away gift because there are offerings in cities across the country and the world, including online options. What better way to explore your new city than with an interactive cooking class downtown?
3. AAA Membership
If you’re a parent to a young adult moving somewhere new, you want to know they are safe and in good hands. This gift for adulting is a little bit like a safety blanket, metaphorically of course.
Give a AAA membership or car safety kit to ensure the young adult you love is taken care of in case they have any car trouble.
4. Coffee Gift Subscription
From 8:00 a.m. college classes to early mornings in the office, coffee is an adult necessity. Bean Box offers coffee gift subscription boxes that make a great gift for adulting with several options to choose from.
Try a coffee road trip through the United States with local roasts from coast-to-coast or a chocolate and coffee sampler box, featuring dark chocolate bars to pair with different roasts. This is an easy unisex gift that will fuel a young adult for months at a time.
5. Home Tool Kit
A home tool kit is the perfect gift for adulting and gift for new homeowners. When you own rather than rent, there always seem to be little things that pop up that need attention, but you never know exactly what tools you might need.
This Essential Set Toolkit covers all your bases in a cool, organized box.
6. Fitness Tracker
Along with a new job and a generally new lifestyle, a lot of young adults like to keep fitness as a priority.
A new fitness tracker is a great gift for adulting because it might be a bit of a splurge item that a new college grad wouldn’t necessarily be able to buy for themselves, but they’d love to have one anyway.
There are tons of designs and levels to choose from so you can stay basic but useful or go all-out. It's one of the most popular stocking stuffers for adults!
7. Therabody Massage Tools
Adulting can be stressful, to say the least. This relaxation gift doubles as a gift for adulting when all of a sudden you wake up with aches and pains that you’ve never had before.
Trips to the spa can be expensive and time-consuming, but you can take care of things at home with Therabody massage tools. There are a number of tools for different price points, making this an accessible gift for newlyweds or 18th birthday gift idea.
8. Home Security System
A home security system is the ultimate gift for adulting, especially for new homeowners. From motion-activated camera doorbells to cameras on the perimeter, each piece adds an additional piece of mind.
It might not be the first item that comes to mind for a wedding registry or homeowners gift, but it sure is useful.
9. Oral-B Electric Toothbrush
Once you make the switch to an Oral-B electric toothbrush, you never go back. Plus, something about taking care of your oral health is just so…mature.
This gift for adulting will change the game when it comes to fresh breath and white teeth, boosting their confidence all the while.
10. Canon Inkjet Multifunction Printer
Even though we live in a digital age, there are still plenty of things that need to be physically printed. Since they can’t print at their college library anymore, a new printer is a natural gift for adulting.
This Canon PIXMA MG3620 Inkjet printer is available at all major stores like Walmart and Target, and it’s super affordable.
11. Nespresso Deluxe Coffee Maker
The importance of coffee cannot be overstated in a young person’s life, and a Nespresso coffeemaker is a thoughtful gift for adulting so they can finally curb that Starbucks habit.
With tasty seasonal pods in both regular or espresso sizes, they can become their own barista with ease.
12. Aluminum Alloy Pill Box
This chic gift for adulting makes taking your vitamins easy. Designed with travel in mind, your loved one can keep their medications and supplements organized for the week ahead, even on the go.
Useful & Unique Gifts for Young Adult Women
13. Art Classes
Give the gift of handmade art to the young adult women in your life. This gift for adulting offers the perfect creative outlet to relieve the stress of a new job plus an opportunity to meet people living in a new city.
From art classes in Atlanta, art classes in Portland to art classes in Houston, wherever you live there are art classes near you. Social aspect aside, they offer a great opportunity for some beautiful handmade art to add coziness to a new space.
14. Stitch Fix Custom Style Box
What better way to get excited for a new job than with a new work wardrobe? Making the change from college clothes to grown-up clothes can take some time, but a Stitch Fix custom style box is a perfect gift for young adult women who want to nail their style while dressing appropriately for work or school.
15. New Luggage
No more throwing items into a messy duffel bag or scuffed-up suitcase. Chic new luggage will have her feeling like a responsible adult in no time.
From wheely weekender bags to heavy-duty checked suitcases, this is a fun yet useful gift for adulting. Plus, with clean new stuff, it’s the perfect excuse to throw out any old, ripped bags that were on their last leg anyway.
16. Set of Stemless Wine Glasses
A set of shatter-proof stemless wine glasses are a must-have gift for adulting. Accidents can happen, but they’re not quite as messy since these chic glasses won’t break.
Perfect as a hostess gift or 21st birthday token, she will be ready for wine + the Bachelor with her friends or a responsible glass of red with dinner.
17. Papier Planner
Organization is essential, and this gift for adulting nails it in a super chic way. Papier planners are a great small gift idea for young adults to set them on the path to success whether with work or school.
With tons of patterns and designs to choose from, they’re a useful gift for men and women.
18. Barnes & Noble Gift Card
A Barnes & Noble gift card is like a free ticket to relaxation, plus it’s an easy 21st birthday gift idea as a gift for adulting. With endless options from puzzles to board games and every kind of book you could dream of, there’s something for everyone.
Decorative coffee table books or a new fiction novel to get lost in, you could spend the whole afternoon just looking around the store.
19. Brooklinen Luxe Sheet Set
Moving out of a college dorm and out of that twin XL bed calls for some nice sheets to go on a big-girl bed. This gift for adulting can really help a new place feel cozy and like home.
With tons of choices for colors and patterns, whatever her style is there’s a luxe set of sheets made for her.
20. Work From Anywhere Gift Set
With so many remote jobs nowadays, gifts for adulting can now include remote office supplies, like this work-from-anywhere gift set. Keeps coffee hot and cords organized, and it comes with a nice leather journal for scribbling down important thoughts.
21. Hatch Bedside Sleep Guide
There’s something that feels really mature about having a bedside alarm clock that isn’t just your iPhone. The Hatch Bedside Sleep Guide is the hottest alarm clock on the market because it wakes you by imitating the rising sun.
This useful gift for young adults will help you wake up peaceful and refreshed, ready to tackle whatever is ahead of you.
22. Cherry Measuring Spoons
For the avid home baker, these adorable measuring spoons that look like cute cherries also come with a built-in egg separator disguised as a leaf. This cute gift for adulting makes baking or cooking even more of a joy. Plus, at just under $15, it’s an easy way to bring a smile to someone’s face.
Useful & Unique Gifts for Young Adult Men
23. Starter Cookware Set
The adjustment from eating every meal in a college dorm meal hall to cooking for yourself can be a tough one. Take the guesswork out of stocking up the kitchen by gifting a starter cookware set, the perfect gift for young adult men or cooking gift for the home chef.
A good set of pots and pans will last them for years to come. Now that’s a useful gift for adulting!
24. Leather Portfolio
This gorgeous leather portfolio screams gifts for adulting. The perfect office organization tool, great for interviews, everyday work or traveling, it will have any young professional feeling confident.
Any number of these leather folios make a thoughtful gift for young adult men whether it be a promotion, new job or birthday.
25. Custom Cologne Gift Subscription
Nice cologne is a true sign of maturity, but bottles can be spendy. This custom cologne gift subscription is a super affordable and unique gift for adulting.
The recipient gets one or two miniature-size colognes of their choice each month, starting at just under $10 a month. They get to choose from thousands of designer brand fragrances and figure out which ones they love.
26. Traeger Portable Grill
For the young man who grew up watching his dad barbecue or grill, a Traeger portable grill is an exciting gift for adulting.
With his new outdoor gadget, he can get to work hosting parties and barbecuing all his favorites. It’s a nice gift for married couples, too because sometimes women love to get outdoors and try a new recipe on the grill.
27. Outdoorsman First Aid Kit
Not to be stereotypical, but men don’t always bear safety in mind when doing things. This outdoorsman first aid kit is perfect for accidents, and a gift for adulting that a young adult man might not think to buy for himself.
You never think accidents are going to happen, but it’s best to be prepared for when they do.
28. Men’s Skincare Products
Establishing a skincare routine early in life is essential to aging well, and it’s important for men and women. This gift for adulting will set a young man up with great skincare basics like cleansers, moisturizers and even under-eye cream for dark circles, he can begin to take good care of his skin.
29. Car Cleaning Kit
Keeping a tidy car is a point of pride for many young men, and this car cleaning kit makes it easy. A great gift for adulting, this kit contains everything he will need to wash and detail his car inside and out from home. Choose from a small or large bundle of products to get him started.
30. Instant Pot
Anyone can become a gourmet chef with the help of an Instant Pot. This gift for adulting is equivalent to numerous kitchen tools rolled into one.
Along with the cookbook, it will turn any young adult kitchen into a gourmet station for delicious and nutritious food.
31. National Parks Fill-In Poster
This National Parks poster allows you to keep track of your bucket list trips through the United States. A cute gift to go along with an adventure-themed graduation party idea, it’s a good reminder to stay adventurous and a reminder how important it is to spend time in nature.
This affordable gift for adulting doubles as a decorative piece for a bedroom, bathroom or office.
Funny Gifts for Adulting
32. Funny Adulting Books
A funny adulting book is a creative gift for adulting that also contains nuggets of wisdom. The added humor keeps the reading light, but there is plenty of good information in there that a young professional or new homeowner could benefit from.
Barnes & Noble has an incredible selection of these books to choose from. Add them to a homeowners gift basket or turn them into a birthday gift.
33. “I Can’t Adult Today” Candle
This lighthearted gift for adulting is a perfect coffee table or desktop token. The cheerful Fruit Loops inspired adulting candle is perfect for burning when you need a day of rest or say no to going out in favor of staying in and watching your favorite show.
With over 60 hours of burn time, you’ll get lots of enjoyment out of this affordable candle. It makes a great and funny gift for friends, too.
34. Poo-Pourri Gift Set
The premise might be funny, but this Poo-Pourri gift set is actually incredibly useful, especially for young adults who may have roommates or live in a dorm.
From tiny, travel-size spritzers to a dual-pack for the home bathroom, it’s a great gift for adulting that would make anyone smile. With optional fun, 3D packaging, give the set as a hostess gif or a “congrats on the new place” token.
35. Couch Caster
This funny but useful gift for adulting is aimed specifically at those people who try (and fail) over and over again to successfully place a drink on their couch arm, never seeming to learn that it’s not a stable enough surface.
This tool attaches to the arm and offers a single, sturdy spot for a drink of choice.
36. Unstable Unicorns Card Game
This hilarious game is based on trying to build an army of unicorns before any of your friends. Along with a little betrayal, some strategy and lots of laughs, it’s a great way to spend a Friday night with friends or a slightly competitive 18th birthday party idea.
37. Positive Affirmations Gift Set
These funny positive affirmation cards are a cute gift for adulting and they go perfectly on a bathroom counter, next to the coffee maker or on a desk.
With five sets to choose from, they’re very affordable so you can give all five for over 250 positive affirmations to turn somebody’s day around. A fun gift for young adults, they can look forward to a new affirmation each morning.
Setting out into the real world is an exciting time in a young person’s life, and getting set up for their first apartment or home can be an intimidating task.
You can get by without very much, but thoughtful gifts from friends and loved ones can make the new space and general life transition a lot easier and more enjoyable.
There are tons of great gifts for adulting for everyone from the coffee aficionado to the newly hired work-from-home businessman or the travel junkie.
Whether it be a mailed care package or an in-person delivery, these thoughtful gifts for adulting will make their day are designed to be both fun and useful in everyday life.
For even more fun gift ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!
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