If you're obligated to give a gift, you might as well send a thinly-veiled message along with it.
When you share a living space with other human beings, a few bumps in the road are inevitable. But sometimes those bumps can feel more like mountains. You know, like when your roommate is constantly "forgetting" to pay the bills, leaving clothes all over the floor, and stealing your food from the fridge.
Instead of treating your roomie to another coffee gift card or pair of slippers, why not get them a gift that'll double as a hint? Healthy communication is fine and dandy, but so is a self-help book, an oversized robe, or one of the other recommendations in this list.
Be sure to check out our many other buying guides, including our favorite tablets, 25 gifts under $25, and gifts for PC gamers .
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Photograph: Amazon
For the Extra-Casual Dresser
Alexander Del Rossa Plush Fleece Robe with Hood
We all like dressing down, but if your roommate gets a little too casual, it's time to rectify that situation. You could just pipe up and ask them politely to please avoid walking around the house sans pants, especially when your parents are over, and especially while you're having dinner with them. Alternatively, you could just get them this oversized robe. It has a hood, deep pockets, and most importantly, a big tie to hold the whole thing together. Your roommate will be happy, and you won't be scarred for life.
Photograph: Amazon
For the Forgetful Roommate
Quick Canary Magnetic Weekly Dry Erase Board
Does your housemate "forget" to pay bills by their due date? Are they constantly shirking pet-sitting duties? Have you reminded them several times which day of the week is trash day, only to watch them miss it again? Enough! This household calendar sticks to your fridge, though you can also hang it on the wall. Use the included dry-erase markers to jot down important dates and reminders so that you never have to nag your roommate again. It's also handy to have these around for less passive-aggressive purposes. Use it to inform your roommates that you're going out of town, or write down the Wi-Fi password in a place where guests can easily find it.
Photograph: Amazon
For the Food Thief
Dissolvable Food Lables
Is your fridge space is being eradicated by leftovers? Do you swear your housemate is stealing your food? Mark the date or, better yet, your territory with these labels. They're dissolvable—the adhesive washes right off and won't ruin your storage containers. They also stick to just about everything, even your special name-brand plant mylk. Your future hungry self will thank you.
Photograph: Amazon
For the Mug Borrower
Yeti Rambler 14-Ounce Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Mug
You probably have a favorite coffee mug, and your roommate has probably swiped it a few times. Put an end to the cycle by gifting them this luxe Rambler mug. It's available in tons of different colors, and it keeps drinks at their ideal temperature for hours at a time. The 14-ounce capacity ensures enough caffeine for a whole morning, while the wide handle makes it easy to transport the cup from place to place. Maybe now they'll keep their grubby mitts off your favorite morning beverage vessel.
Photograph: Getty Images
For When You Need to Speak Without Speaking
Post-It Big Notes
They say to go big or go home, and these massive sticky notes are about as big as it gets. Leave some not-so-gentle reminders (or sweet notes of encouragement) around the house. Reminding roomie that it's their turn to do the dishes and you're pretty sure something is gaining sentience in the fridge? Offering motivation ("You can do it!") before a job interview because they need to get their life in order or else? These notes will help you say whatever it is you need to say, all without having to utter a word—the ultimate passive-aggressive move.
Photograph: Target
For the Funky Roommate
Chesapeake Bay Lantern Fragrance Warmer
What happens in ones' bedroom is nobody else's business, but if your roommate's boudoir is starting to emanate some mysterious odor, it's time to address the situation. You might not be able to control what they do with their own space, but you can control the way the rest of the house is impacted by whatever science experiment is growing under their bed.
This wax warmer heats up scented waxes—just like a scented candle, but without the flame. It's neutral and compact, so you'll be able to stash it in nearly any room with no difficulty. Provided you and your housemates can agree on the fragrance, this device will help ensure that everything smells clean and fresh. I personally love Bath and Body Works melts, but there are plenty of other options out there.
Photograph: Amazon
For the Chore Avoider
Dyson V8 Animal Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner
It's not that your roomie hates vacuuming. They swear they just can't stand the crappy vacuum in the closet. Give the gift of clean floors with this lightweight and powerful model from Dyson. It has super-strong suction and it's easy to maneuver around tight corners or awkward furniture. They can also convert it into a handheld vacuum to clean up small areas like their trash-strewn vehicle footwell or the inside of their closet.
If you have doubts that your roommate would ever vacuum, even with this upgrade, then you should treat the house to a new robot vacuum cleaner. You'll never have to cajole it into doing its part. These robot vacuums are our favorite.
Photograph: Amazon
For the disorganized roommate
AmazonBasics Closet Storage Organizer
If messy closets are your kryptonite, yet yours never seem to stay clean, a lack of organizational shelving could be the culprit. This inexpensive shelf has built-in bins, so you could use it in a myriad of rooms. Put it in your front entryway for an easy shoe storage solution, or keep it near the TV so you can stash video game cases and controllers away. Each shelf has a 10-pound capacity and assembly is simple.
Photograph: Joseph Shin
For the Frantic Key Seeker
Tile Sticker
If your roomie is always losing their keys, these tracking stickers can help put a stop to the "SOS I'm locked out!" texts at 3 am. You can stick them to nearly anything, like a phone, wallet, keychain, or bike helmet. Once the object in question is inevitably lost, a few taps in the Tile app can help track the item's exact location. There's even a sweet lost-and-found network, which uses other Tile stickers to help triangulate the location of an item if you're out of tracking range.
Photograph: 1More
For the Maximum-Volume Listener
1More Stylish True Wireless
The only thing more annoying than someone taking over the TV room with a show you hate blasting on full volume? Someone blaring the same show with their tinny computer speakers. Rather than resigning yourself to seven more seasons of Seinfeld re-runs, gift your roomie a pair of earbuds. These have Bluetooth connectivity, so they should pair perfectly with whatever screen is being used, from phone to tablet to PC. They're quite affordable as well.
Check out the rest of the best headphones for $100 or less.
Photograph: Simply Organized
For the Tub Backer-Upper
TubShroom Drain Protector
So your shower drain is backing up again. You know it's not your fault, because you diligently collect and dispose of your hair like a Decent Human Being. This plastic protector will ensure that your tub drains as expected. It catches hair and other nonsense, and it's easy to clean too. You can't force your roommate to clean up after themselves, but with this product, you'll be able to waste less time doing it yourself. Just make sure you have some sturdy gloves.
Photograph: Amazon
For the All-Natural Roomie
Native Natural Deodorant
So your roommate is a little ... crunchy. Organic granola and excess cannabis consumption are easy enough to deal with, but refusing to wear deodorant is where you draw the line. This deodorant is free of aluminum, parabens, talc, and sulfates, which are four common reasons why someone would avoid deodorant in the first place. It protects against odor and moisture, it's affordable, and it's available in tons of different scents. More importantly, your roomie will stop actively repelling people.
Photograph: Amazon
For the Messy Floor Maker
BoxLegend Folding Board
If you're in a shared living situation where your clothes are stored near your roommate's, keeping everything neat is non-negotiable. Perhaps your roomie constantly complains about running out of storage space. Whatever the case may be, this folding board will help you achieve neat, storefront-worthy stacks of clothes, towels, and sheets. Since everything will be folded uniformly, any available storage space will be used more efficiently as well. I daresay it might even make folding laundry ... fun.
Photograph: Blueland
For the Beard-Trimming Enthusiast
Blueland The Clean Up Kit
If your place is grubby and your roommate is to blame, having additional cleaning supplies on-hand can help. You're going to need to be careful with this one, though. You can't just pop a bow on a container of Clorox wipes and call it a day.
This sustainable kit includes reusable 20-ounce bottles, plus cleaning solution tablets. Dissolve the tablets in water and you'll be left with colorful bathroom, glass, or multi-surface cleaners in aesthetically pleasing spray bottles. Maybe bubblegum pink bathroom cleanser will encourage your housemate to freaking wipe up all their tiny little hairs already.
Photograph: Amazon
The Last-Ditch Effort
Unfu*k Yourself
There's subtle hint-dropping, and then there's gifting someone a book called Unfuck Yourself. Still, this self-help book has quite positive feedback across the 'net, and sometimes a little tough love can make all the difference. If your roomie is a bookworm, they might get a kick out of this title's no-nonsense approach to removing the self-imposed roadblocks and limitations from one's life. Who knows? Maybe some of the lessons will even stick around.
Another popular self-help title, Make Your Bed, might be a better option if your roommate is as straight-laced as they are slovenly.
Louryn Strampe saves money on everything she buys. Prior to joining WIRED's Gear team, she covered price drops, consumer news, and retail holidays for Mobile Nations and Rakuten. Currently based in northern Illinois, Louryn is passionate about coffee in the morning, good food in the evening, and shopping all the... Read more