Today’s question is from Michelle:
As graduations for both high school and college are quickly approaching, do you have any thoughtful yet inexpensive gift ideas other than cash?
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{ 241 comments... read them below or add one }
One of my most favorite gifts from my high school graduation is the book “Oh the Places You Will Go” by Dr. Suess. It was a perfect fit for the next chapter of my life that I was starting and I think of it often! Even given has a gift a few times, as well!
This is such an amazing idea! I’ll be graduating from college and I’m 26. I would absolutely LOVE this as a gift!!!!
This is a really cute gift, but I have 4 copies I received as graduation gifts. They all have a note to me from the giver, and while I appreciated it, I really don’t need 4 of the same book. Since they had the notes in them, I couldn’t return them. And they really just are clutter in my house. I would much rather have received the $16.95 as a check that I could spend toward something useful.
I have to agree. It’s total clutter.
I love that book. Never received it as a graduation gift, but I do own a copy. I would be very hesitant to give it as a gift as well because so many people already have it. Personally, I’ve always appreciated cash as a gift, and often not knowing what other people have or want, I usually give cash (or maybe gift cards) for graduation and wedding gifts. It may not be a very personal gift, but unless I know someone really well, I’m not very good at picking out more personal gifts.
I love this idea!
I’ve heard of someone that had friends and relatives sign that book when they came to the open house for the graduate.
I gave my daughter this when she graduated college. She is now getting ready to graduate law school and she told me recently she re-read it many times when she was wondering if she would make it.
This graduation I am giving a clock (but it is a very nice clock)
I think this is a very fitting gift for one who will exchange hours for dollars in life and to give to a gal who’s Mom is not well. Time is running out !
After all isn’t life about how we spend our time!
My husband got a clock for graduation from high school in 1986 and it still hangs in our kitchen:).
“Tico and the Golden Wings” is also beautiful.
Books and other items on Dave Ramsey’s website go on sale frequently for $10.00 each. I wish someone had given me one when I graduated! =)
Excellent idea, Susan!!
Or, some cash envelopes!! {wink!}
*like* Yup I just liked this comment, lol
Especially if they are envelopes you recycled from your junk mail.
Yes, I wish someone had introduced me to Dave Ramsey when I graduated from college!
I also know Dave Ramsey has recommended to put a note in the book saying “If you read this book and write me a page of what you learned, I will give you X amount of money”. This may work great for someone close to you that you would possibly be giving a larger gift to. I would do this for my son this year, but he has taken the high school program twice alreay! He can already quote Dave!
That’s an amazing idea Jennifer! Thank you!
That is what we do!
Next time there’s a graduation, that’s what we’re doing!!!
Yes! I wish someone had given me a Dave Ramsey book when I graduated from high school (or college for that matter).
Dave’s daughter has a book/DVD set coming out in May for HS graduates for $20!
High School graduation . . . something practical for college. TOWELS.
My mom gets towels on sale throughout the year, then has a friend embroider them with the graduate’s name.
I recieved an embroidered towel for my highschool graduation and still have it almost 12 years later! It was a great gift, I am thinking now it’s time to turn it into rags though it’s a bit tattered!
lol
I so agree with this one! I never had extra money in college for towels, and I was so grateful for the towels that I received for high school graduation. I used them until they were so threadbare! I also recieved a personalized photo album for high school graduation that I loved. There are so many memories made in college!
I am still using towels I got for high school graduation…albeit now they are used as rags! It was a very practical and useful gift!
Me too! =) And I remember who they were from! Actually, I took the nicer set overseas with me when I lived there for a year, and then left them for a friend as they didn’t have soft towels available readily. I imagine that set of graduation towels is still going strong!
LOL. Thats what I asked for 20 years ago…
I still have towel I got as a high school grad gift in 1987
If a student will be moving out of town for school or work, I like to give a laundry basket, bag and detergent, plus a roll of quarters.
Awesome, awesome, awesome. Thanks for this great idea.
Perfect!!
I do the same thing for high schoolers going off to college, if not the laundry basket thing, then an inexpensive shower caddy/carry all and a few shower supplies. Or Dorm room supplies – these items are usually inexpensive and you can get them a few thoughtful items!
When I was moving out to go to college, my family hosted a “college shower” for family only. I received enough soap, shave gel, razors, snacks, rolls of quarters, laundry detergent, towels, etc…everything to get me through several years of college. I was the first ever going, so it was a big deal to all my family. It was the most helpful thing ever!
My husband’s church does something similar to Brandy’s family. All college students who are members of the church get a great gift set each year. All of the families in the church contribute multiples of the same item. A few families buy cheap laundry baskets, and the other families will buy multiple packages of laundry products, snacks, soaps, etc. Some of the church ladies then divide up all of the items into the laundry baskets, and the college kids get great gifts of useful items. It costs each church member less than $10, and it is such a wonderful gift all the kids enjoyed.
Good idea and the dollar store is great for this, especially my favorite—Dollar Tree! Lots of cheap household items, bath caddies, everything!
I’m giving 15 travel/sample pouches of laundry detergent (mostly tide I picked up for free with coupons), a box of the shout color cathers and roll of quarters
I received a laundry bag with my school logo on it when I went off to college, along with a film canister full of quarters. A drawstring laundry bag in school colors is a very simple sewing project!
Add some flare by turning that roll of quarters into a 2011 on a piece of card stock in the color of the school they are going to or leaving.
love it
I often give the kids a check in the amount of the year they graduated. This year it will be $20.11.
I like that!
That’s a great idea Lisa.
We are HUGE Dave Ramsey fans and just saw that they are offering “The Graduate’s Survival Guide” at a pre-order price of $19.95. It includes a book and DVD-I SO wish I knew a grad this year! http://www.daveramsey.com/store/kids-teens/the-graduates-survival-guide/prodgsg.html
Thanks for the Dave Ramsey heads up. I just ordered the set for my brother who is graduating high school this year!!!!
My daughter is graduating next month. Now u know someone. Lol
I’m a college student and gas gift cards are great!
Great idea!!
Just make sure they are to gas stations that are also in the area where they will be living when they move. My roommate in college had received cards from her hometown out of state and could only use them when she went home on long breaks so she ended up selling them back to her parents for their value.
What about a little goody bag for college – quarters for the laundry, necessities for the dorm (new towel, shower shoes, etc). I bet a lot of fun things can be found at the dollar store or at other places for very little money.
I love to give a roll of quarters, some laundry detergent and a small laundry basket. If I coupon the detergent and watch for a good sale on the basket it costs me about $15.00.
I have also given a bath towel, hand towel and washcloth that I embroidered with the graduates name so that it would never get mixed up with a roommate’s! I love to give the Martha Stewart from Kmart towels for this because they are (in my opinion) the best quality for the inexpensive cost. I think this costs about $10.00 plus my time.
This is a fabulous idea. Personal, yet practical. Awesome.
I did this recently for my brother who had someone take his towel at college. I didn’t have time to embroider it, so I took a towel in to a local embroidery shop and they embroidered his name in block letters for $5. He loved it!
When I graduated, one of the things I still use to this day is the laundry bag that someone gave me, along with dryer sheets and some detergent. Another thing I love is some of those cloth totes that are so popular. I think they’re pretty cheap at Target. Other things might be some non-perishable food (like Oreos:) ). Honestly, graduates really do appreciate money, however lame and uncreative that might sound. Many of them put it toward a computer or their textbooks for that year.
Or Senior trip!
Shower caddy with flip flops, filled with shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, shower gel, all things you can get great deals on with coupons. Also a towel and a wash cloth.
I’m a Pampered Chef consultant, so I’m a little biased toward our products
) We have some really unique, budget-friendly items that make the perfect gift for graduates to help them cook healthily in their dorms or common kitchens. My favorites are the Large Micro-Cooker ($11) for heating soups or even cooking chicken breasts & ground beef in the microwave (and it tastes great!). The Mix-n-Chop is a great companion for the Micro-Cooker ($10.50); it chops ground beef finely or can chop up cooked chicken breasts. The 2-quart Collapsible Serving Bowl ($15.50) doesn’t take up a lot of room and is great for a bowl of popcorn or other goodies.
I loved the microcooker! It was my most commonly used kitchen-type item I used in college, and I still use it years later.
My micro-cooker has been serving my family well for over 10 years. I can’t imagine living without it!
don’t forget the can-opener!
Oh my mom used to sell PC too and I love all of the stuff I have including the micro-cooker. I don’t know how many of the other products would be all that practical for college kids but the stuff you mentioned would for sure! The great thing is, even if it is not ultra cheap, you know it will last and last and last……..
LOVE my microcooker!! Gave it to two others for Christmas and they all use it.
My son & daughter are graduating from both highschool and college next month. I am struggling with getting them something that is meaningful but not a budgetbreaker. I contemplated laptops, but they are just too much (since there are two of them). Groupon has indoor skydiving available right now and I’m really thinking this might be a great gift. It’s only $40 (two dives each and a DVD) and would be really memorable for them. They could go together or bring some friends (who pay their own way of course). I could couple it with a gas card and a g/c for lunch and stay under $175 for two gifts. While that’s not super cheap, since this is from mom and dad for HS and college for TWO kids, I think that’s pretty good. If I can get the lunch from Restaurant.com then we’re doing even better!
Definitely the most meaningful gift I was received was from my parents: a scrapbook filled with letters. They asked friends, youth pastor, mentors, neighbors, family members…anyone and everyone
….to write a letter to me. My Mom asked them to give me advice for college and just life after h.s. in general, talk about memories we’ve had together, share a Bible verse….whatever they wanted to say. She then compiled them all in a nice scrapbook. I went to college 13 hours away from home, and I read them SO often, especially my freshman year. Now I’m married and still enjoy looking back through the letters and drawing encouragement from them.
What a thoughtful gift–something memorable for them!
This is a perfect idea! I’m going to do it for my daughter. Thank you!
As a college grad I often received gifts that were a sort of “catch all” graduation gifts–stuffed owls wearing graduation caps, for instance. For a college grad, focus on the fact that many are either a.) starting a home and/or family and/or b.) starting (or trying to start) a new career.
Some of the most thoughtful gifts I received: a homemade cookbook with a simple, small iron skillet; a box of staples for my pantry; a piece of (20$) art from 20X200.com; a used (but in great condition) dvd series I loved; a piece of handmade jewelry from etsy; a scarf from my very poor backpacking brother that he picked up for $1.10 in Guatemala.
My husband is claiming food stuffs (particularly summer sausage packs) are the best gifts…
My youngest brother just graduated from high school, and I know he appreciated things to get him prepped for college. Our aunt gave him a shower caddy with body wash, a nice razor and shampoo– he absolutely loved it! She got it all for free, of course…
I’m in a similar position with 4 graduations coming up. We’re really having to stretch.
I still have a coffee mug that was painted with my name on it. It had a bag of coffee stuffed inside. This could also work by painting on a stainless steel water bottle.
I’ve also given a “money tree” – hot glue scratch-off lottery tickets to a tree branch stuck in an inexpensive pot.
My grandma gave small toolkits when people graduated. I was the only one on my floor in the dorm with any tools, and they came in quite handy, especially at the beginning of the year when people are trying to put their new stuff together. People were always looking for tools, so it helped me to meet new people as people went door to door looking for what they needed.
You can get small toolkits for $20 or less at Target, Walmart, etc., but you should also be able to get the tools free or almost free after rebates from Menards if you just watch the sales. And you can get lots of other things free there, too. My husband and I actually use Menards rebates to buy most gifts we give throughout the year, as they let you get all sorts of things free or really cheap, from picture frames to candles to sports equipment to tools. You just roll your rebates like you would for Walgreens or CVS. If you’re interested, click my name as a link to an article about how to get free stuff there.
I was also one of the only ones with tools in my dorm, and you’re right, it’s a great way to meet people!
I agree! A tool kit was the most useful gift my daughter received when she graduated from high school a couple of years ago.
That’s so funny – my mom has always thought that a woman should have her own tools so I also started college with a toolkit. I was the only person – female or male – with a toolkit. It was quite in demand!
I like that idea. My mom always gave us tools for Christmas so we had our own basic tools. I know that some tools you could probably find at the Dollar Tree. But having an assortment of basic tools is great!
If they are going to college…a hot glue gun is a great gift too because you never know when you will need one.
My roommates toolkit was super handy in our townhouse of 6 girls!
I got one for high school graduation used it until I got married to a handyman. What a great idea!
My favorite teacher gave me a graduation gift of a small ice chest stuffed with a hammer, assorted screw drivers, packages of assorted nails, picture hangers, and a few other things like that. I used those things all the time, and I still have the hammer. It was by far my favorite gift.
Now most of our friends have children who remain in the home until they get married, so I don’t usually need to give a gift like that. I usually give books, like cook books, Dave Ramsey books, or books about other skills they’ll need as an adult.
If you have an Ikea nearby they sell a toolkit with the basics (hammer, screwdrivers, plyers, wrench, etc.) in a handy case for just $7-8! I often give them as gifts when people are moving, but I also have a set at home, in my car, and at work
When I graduated from high school, a good friends gave me a stash of office supplies: stapler and staples, pens, highlighters, scissors, sticky notes, staple remover, etc. I can’t remember everything that was in it, but I still use most of it to this day (8 years later) and think of her with extreme gratitude! That might work for a college grad as well, if they haven’t collected all of that stuff on their own. Another friend gave me a kit of things like a tape measure, a small hammer and screwdriver set, small nails for hanging pictures, thumbtacks, etc. I still use a number of those things as well. One of my favorite things to give on a small budget is an electric griddle. I can usually find one for about $20 on sale, and a college student or grad can cook a lot of things on one of those! Grilled cheese, quesadillas, pancakes, French toast, eggs, bacon, sausage… enough to stay decently fed.
I think this is my favorite idea so far! Not good for this year, but it’s a great idea to pick up school supplies in the fall when they’re cheap–or after back to school when they’re 75% off at Target.
I’m a college professor, and I second, third and fourth this suggestion–the number of students who need to borrow a stapler, three hole punch, and tape are just ridiculous! I also add in highlighters, post it notes, pens of different colors and something to store it in. Very practical and not expensive (especially if you stock up during back to school sales!)
Lol — I’m a prof too and when I saw the stapler suggestion I thought YES! Students always try to just fold the corners of their papers over vs. going out and buying their own stapler.
I’m also a prof, and third this suggestion! A gift basket of office supplies is always nice for students to have. Also, grocery or large chain store gift cards are nice. And non-perishable foods: canned soups, shelf-stable meals, etc that they can heat in the microwave.
An electric griddle is really nice to have, but keep in mind that many dorms will not allow them (fire hazard). Many allow only a microwave. I also teach some university classes, and I agree: students don’t own staplers, hole punches, etc. I wish they did, and many of them wish they did, too.
A jump drive would be a great gift for any graduate and I do believe you can pick one up pretty cheap right now.
I own a print on demand store and have a lot of fun making things for grads from there. Sometimes I print t-shirts for the college they are going to, or photo mugs, or thermos bottles with their graduation year, or a teddy bear wearing a t-shirt with their graduation year, etc. etc. Each is unique and like I said, fun for me to come up!
I love John Maxwell and just bought this for my second cousin who is graduating high school. I got it brand new for $2.99 + $3.99 shipping on Half.com. I needed something affordable and easily mailable!
Leadership Principles for Graduates : John C. Maxwell, John Maxwell (Hardcover, 2007)
ISBN-10: 1404104240
ISBN-13: 9781404104242
Tool sets are great, I still use the one I got when I went to college 11 years ago. Also I like to give nice journals, even if my nephew laughed and asked me what he was going to do with a diary. That first year my parents got me grocery gift cards for every holiday and I loved it.
My family has always given graduates really nice coolers and sometimes coolie cups. A very practical gift that can be used bringing food back and forth and while at college. We have all LOVED it! The practical joke was whoever went in on the gift brought all their spare change to throw in the bottom. The graduate could make a lot of money off our big family – once they rolled the coins. A great tradition that we have now started on my husband’s side of the family.
One of my favorite gifts was a Groupon gift certificate! It was so fun to search for fun things, and it was nice to feel like I had “spending money.” It would be especially great for graduates moving to a new place- I tried a lot of local spots thanks to Groupons.
My favorite graduation gift was a Bible from my youth pastor and his wife. I also loved the laundry basket with towel and washcloth, microwave friendly plate, bowl and mug, roll of quarters. You could fill it with whatever you can afford. Gas cards, even just a $10 one would be really helpful to a grad for getting to school or work (especially since entry level jobs leave budgets pretty tight, usually). I love the idea of a tool set.
Dorm staples are good. Since most of us coupon, you probably have a ton of toothpaste, toothbrushes, body wash, paper towels, toilet paper, etc… package that up into a small laundry basket and you have a really awesome present if the person is going off to college, of course.
I realize this is sort of against the grain of the site
but the most useful gifts I received were cash. I was on scholarship and my parents couldn’t help out a lot so every dollar was super helpful to pay for living expenses like laundry, toiletries, etc. I can honestly say that I didn’t give one thought to whether it was $5 or $100 – they were all such a blessing and I’m grateful to this day for the generosity of the givers. They all contributed toward my college education!
I have to agree, Lise. My parents didn’t give me a dime for college so I was grateful for whatever I did get. I used a lot of my graduation money for various living expenses in the first few months of being away from home.
I really appreciated giftcards to Target and Office Max (giving cash is taboo in my family). My mother was not on a position to help me financially when I started college.
Any large or heavy items–like the laundry hamper, detergent, shower caddy–would have been left home. Because I went to college >1500 miles from home, I bought almost everything upon arrival–including hangers, linens, office supplies, desk lamp. Shipping the items would have been costly. So I urge you to consider the students’ circumstances.
I agree about cash gifts. We have always had a tight budget, and each of my three oldest girls was able to buy a laptop with her high school cash graduation gifts. We felt so blessed with the generosity of our friends and loved ones!
i agree! the student can determine what they need the most! as a graduate of high school, college, and soon to be grad school, cash is always most appreciated! “cheap and creative” gifts are usually a waste of money for us and end up sometimes going to good will or taking up space in our apartment.
I agree with cash- when I transferred schools the was a paperwork snafu with my scholarship AND my work study job didn’t exist. The only money I had for the first six weeks was what I had in the bank. Trust me that after paying for the roof over my head and the textbooks that were actually being used making that $100 last was tough. I was walking two miles to school in the snow with a negative windchill (no money for the bus) and washing my clothes in the sink. The single biggest thing is that I was not eating well and trying to get the most calories for my dollar ($2.38 per day to spend on everything and that was if I didn’t need to buy toothpaste or deodorant- (I had enough thank god) I ate too much ramen and not enough vegetables.
As soon as the funds were released I bought a bus pass, warmer sweater and tons of good food but I was already run down and sick and stayed that way until the semester was over. Even doubling my budget to $200 would have done wonderful things.
If I know someone is on scholarship I give money because one never knows if there will be a problem with the funds being disbursed on time.
Thinking back on both my high school and college graduation I have 2 favorite gifts. The first is a binder a friend made for me. She had many of my friends each write me a letter, gathered them all together and gave them to me. To this day this is probably my favorite gift! It was very inexpensive to her but means the world to me. (I may end up doing this for my sister who is graduating.) The other gift that stands out is a car kit that my aunt made me when I graduated from college. It included a gas car, Armor All to clean the car, a first aid kit, flash light, and jumper cables! Other than that just give money. Even a small amount is better than a book which will end up at Good Will. I was really frugal growing up and throughout college so I purchased most of my own things very inexpensively at yard sales and using coupons.
A great idea for college graduates – especially if they do not have a job – is a box of resume paper and an ink cartridge, maybe a resume writing book if they have not already taken a course or met with a career counselor for help with it!
Great idea!
I have 5 kids, all of whom graduated high school and 3 from college, so far. When they graduated from high school, some of the best gifts they received were practical things for day-to-day in the dorms.
The laundry kit is a great idea. Most college dorms have phased out the need for quarters. They swipe their student cards or have laundry cards they recharge.
Other things they received:
1. a set of microwaveable dishes – plate, bowl, fork, knife, etc. with dorm snacks – microwave popcorn, canned soup, canned chili, Easy Mac
2. my daughter skipped the dorm and went straight to an apt. She got cookbooks and kitchen gadgets. (Could be good for a college grad, too.)
3. big bath sheet towels
4. a throw for those chilly nights while up studying
5. automatic shut-off tea kettle
6. sweatshirt with their college logo (they wear something with their high school logo ONCE and never do that again).
I would also suggest gift cards for places near campus – my kids’ favorite is for the grocery store. Dorm food gets old fast! They still look for those cards in their Christmas stockings. You could even add coupons if they won’t expire too soon.
A gift card to Target or Bed Bath & Beyond would be nice to get dorm items, too. A pile of BB&B coupons (that never expire, even after they’ve expired) would probably be appreciated as well.
For college grads… we give them cash. Otherwise it would depend on their situation. Getting an apartment…that’s easy. They need everything – kitchen, bath, throws, small appliances. My kids live in cities and don’t have cars, so gas cards wouldn’t work for them.
Two of my sons needed new wardrobes for their new jobs. Business casual is very different than most college wardrobes of ratty T-shirts and holey jeans. Costco has nice shirts for reasonable prices…or LL Bean, Land’s End, etc gift cards. My daughter just got interview dresses from Kohls.
Awesome ideas! a cookbook is fantastic! They can always be picked up at half price books for under $10 or another discount store. When I graduated from college, I would have LOVED a set of drinking glasses. Ikea has sets of 6 for 5.99-9.99. They are fantastic; I ended up buying them for myself. Kitchen gadgets are great too; I buy mine from Ross/Marshalls. My paring knifes are always around $3, and they are fantastic.
Another idea (that could be for free)would be amazon giftcards, which you can get free from Swagbucks. Books can cost a small fortune, and they’re cheapest to buy online from amazon, half.com, or another book site. An amazon giftcard or a few of the $5 ones would definitely be able to be put to good use by anyone going to college or any grad who likes books (or anything else they sell).
Lindsey–Love, Love, Love this idea!!!
Yes! We are including $50 in Amazon gift cards (also free from swagbucks!) in my daughter’s gift. We’re hoping that it might pay for at least one book. We’ve also told her about the program, and she’s just signed up for her own account. So, I’d say to be sure to tell them about swagbucks, too (you don’t have to tell them you used it for their gift). That way, they can be working towards another book or two on their own!
Amazon gift cards are a great idea. My oldest son buys some of his college textbooks used from Amazon to save money, so gift cards would be well used!
Along w/ the suggestions for practical things for high schoolers, how about something like this. If you request all those samples listed here and on other sites, package several of them in a cute bag or basket of some kind, along w/ some other cheaper items like a tooth brush. If you want to boost the gift a bit more, add a gift card for a popular fast food joint, such as Subway.
The best graduation gifts I received (and remember) were:
1. A small laundry basket with dryer sheets, some washing powders, a tupperware-type container to pour the powders in so they would not spill during my laundry trips, and a couple of rolls of quarters.
2. Magazine subscriptions that were sent to my campus PO box.
3. Letters that were sent weekly from my grandma, brother, etc. with stamps included (this was pre-email and inexpensive cellphone days). Kept me from getting homesick.
4. A three-ring hole puncher!! No joke! EVERYONE needed this and NO ONE ever had one…so I met a lot of people who would drop by and borrow it. (I still have that hole puncher and use it frequently!)
I realize this gift might not appeal to everyone who reads this site, but something that my husband and I love to give is the book “Dug Down Deep” by Joshua Harris. It’s a book that outlines in a very accessible narrative the “what and why” Christian beliefs. We write something like “College is a time when all of us are questioning our upbringing and trying to figure out what we believe, and this is a very useful tool for exploring historic Christian beliefs,” in the front of it and feel like it’s very worth our $9.87 (from Amazon) investment .
The best thing I have seen my daughter who is in college presently use is a microwave popcorn popper ….It is a Presto Power Pop that you can purchase at Walmart for $15. Because of hers I actually purchased one for our home.
She used it in the dorm and still uses it in her apartment.
It makes great popcorn and is very inexspensive to use.
It has been 23 years since I graduated from high school. My aunt gave me a hot air popcorn popper. We are still using it to this day!! Haha, I’ll have to tell her it really was the gift that kept on giving!
Along with a laundry basket and detergent, I also received a small basic iron which I used much more than I originally thought I would. Another good idea that has always been well received is a t-shirt from the college they will be attending.
I am a youth leader at our church and every year I get the kids the same thing: a laundry basket, detergent, fabric softener and a jar full of quarters ($10-15 worth) for the laundry machines at college. They love it! I secretly suspect the quarters go to a vending machine!
I received that kind of gift, and it was very much appreciated. However, the washing machines at Caltech didn’t take change, only our student ID’s! So all my quarters went to vending machines, too.
I think most colleges are using this system now. My in-laws have given my daughter a check for $100, made out to the school’s bursar office so that she will have a nice balance when she needs it.
Of the graduation gifts I received, hands down the most appreciated was cash. Boring, I know, but life is a huge transition at that point and money is always helpful. Even if it’s not a huge amount.
That being said, a very practical gift was a towel and washcloth set that I got from a friend’s mom. It was a great brand and a color that I loved. I still have that set.
Please be careful about dorm room supplies such as cooking stuff. A lot of schools limit that kind of thing for safety’s sake and it’s best settled privately between roommates. School supplies would be decent if done well. I did like some gift certificates for BBW or a restaurant. That made for some fun memories the summer before I went to school.
Milk crates which are stackable–fill w/ laundry supplies/food etc (14 years AFTER I graduated from college, these milk crates are still being used); gift cards to a restaurant in the college town where your HS graduate will be living (LOVED this!); tickets to b-ball or f-ball game (I couldn’t afford it, so never went to a single sporting event my entire 4.5 years!); roll of quarters or gift card to laundromat; good board game (scattegories, scrabble) or movie trivia game; gift card to amazon for text books; a box of office supplies; tool kit (this came in so handy!), anything from IKEA
Also, FEBREEZE…dorm rooms get this funky smell. And Downey wrinkle releaser. Cuz nobody like to iron!
I like to give a “coupon” that the student can mail back to me (in a postage paid envelope already addressed) and request homemade goodies. I ask they to include a note about how they are doing. I then mail them back homemade goodies. Most mail back their coupon a bit into the year when they are wanting some homemade treats. Another gift that doesn’t cost much that my children received was a “Rainy Day Box” to keep cards and letters in that special people give them that they might want to go back and read for encouragement or just to remember. That box can be very simple with instructions on what it is and how it can be used.
One other idea: a mentor at the time gave me the choice of any biblical reference book to use. I chose Strong’s Concordance and I still use it. I think lots of options would be very helpful in this category.
I have a few plastic containers that I fill with toiletries throughout the year. When the open house invitations arrive, I have a gift ready to go – filled with the things that I’ve gotten for free or close to free!
The laundry kit was my no. 1 gift for graduates. But the toolkit and 3-hole punch ideas are fabulous. Now what to do about a family high-school graduate who will stay at home and has no plans for college (and not really plans for a job either)? Want to get her something but I’m at a loss for ideas.
A spa treatment or something personal or unique. One person suggested skydiving. Something they would not get any other time.
I was given a laundry basket filled with cleaning supplies that made for a very practical gift! With coupons & sales you could easily fill a basket with various cleaning supplies for a pretty decent price if you searched over time for the items (laundry detergent, kitchen soap, 409, paper towels, air freshner) that students would *hopefully* use to keep their dorm somewhat clean
One of my standard gifts for high school grads is a basic first aid kit: ice pack, their preferred pain reliever, bandages, Pepto, antibiotic ointment, alcohol wipes, tweezers, fingernail clippers, eye drops, an ace bandage, etc. I package it in a school-box or something similar. It doesn’t cost much to make, but comes in handy when mama’s not around! I try to touch base with the grad’s mom to see if there are any brands their family is particular about. Seeing something familiar when you’re away from home and hurting can be a big comfort!
I got one of those kits when I graduated from High School. I thought it was funny and a bit odd…. until I got sick a few weeks into the semester and my mom wasn’t around to take care of me. Very useful! LOL!
We have done a lot of the practical items as well such as the Laundry Basket full of Soap, Dryer Sheets or a Caddy with Toothpaste, Shaving Gel, Shampoo, Lotion, etc…. since we can usually get them for a great price. One great idea that you can usually get at a discount or free is a magazine subscription they enjoy. For example, Field & Stream had a free year subscription this week that you could get and they remember you every month. Another wonderful gift is a photo album of family and friends especially if they are going further away for college.
A set of towels and body soap makes a great high school graduation present.
A few years ago I made my cousin a care package for his high school graduation (I plan to do the same for his brother this year). Since my cousin was going to be commuter student I knew that the biggest things he would need would be gas money and food. So I put $5 or $10 (I can’t remember the exact amount) in his card and then I filled a box with shelf stable microwaveable meals & soup, Easy Mac cups, single serving apple sauces, fruit cups, and a box of granola bars. He loved it.
A neat idea I’ve seen at bridal showers that would be great for a college graduation is a a few kitchen utensils, a strainer, a jar of nice pasta sauce, and a box or bag of pasta.
As far as college graduation presents go, I think cash is completely acceptable. Chances are they are need of numerous things to get started in their post college life. Even though I really needed money when I graduated from college, I saved all my graduation money because I felt I needed to use it for something special and important. My now husband thought the same thing when he graduated. So later when we got engaged we decided to pool our graduation money that had been sitting around for some time and used it to buy 16 place setting of dishes (the brand we bought was 50% off at the time). Since we weren’t living together, he kept the dishes at his place for a while and then I took them to my place for safe keeping until we got married. We’ve been married almost 6 years now and that was still a smart use of that money. We love those dishes and use them every day.
I received a quality umbrella. The note mentioned needing it for walking around campus. It lasted me for 15 years.
Great idea!! My son went through five cheap umbrellas until we bought him a nice one. They need to have the wind vent in them so that the wind doesn’t catch it and destroy it!
I got one too and it fit in my college backpack so well!
I’m a high school teacher so I usually end up buying many graduation gifts. My standard gift has become a cross ornament that I get from Kirklands for $5 (but I usually use a coupon and get them for cheaper). I don’t think there is any better way for those kids to remember me. Plus, it makes for a very inexpensive gift.
When I went off to college a friend gave me a duffle bag that contained a throw blanket, laundry bag, and a few filler items. I used the duffle every time I took a trip back home, and I used the throw often since it was easier to grab than the bed spread. 10 years later I still have and use these things, and remember the friend that gave them to me.
I paid my own way through school, so I didn’t have any spare money. My Mom brought and discreetly gave me name brand feminine items every time I saw her. I didn’t have time to coupon and they are an expensive necessity that I really appreciated.
Great idea! Very practical!
This is way off from all the other suggestions, so maybe what we do is a bad idea, or just uncommon. We often buy a cooler for a grad. Just big enough to hold a days worth of food and drinks for a road trip, etc. A plus is that they’re usually on sale for memorial day which is around the same time. Of course, they’re bulky in a dorm, unless you use them to hold other stuff!
so when i graduated hs, my most remembered gift was a towel set (lime green, so it wouldnt blend in with any one else’s) with a HUGE thing of laundry soap that lasted almost 2 years, and i did laundry every week.and a “hamper” that i later found out was a flexible cooler. and every thing matched. that i still have.
i also liked as a gift, my set of tools. hamer screwdrivers and such.
i turned 21 not to long after i graduated community college so a friend put together a hangover kit ina big 5 gallon bucket. that included trachbags( for my puke bucket) water, asprin, bandaids, pepto, saltines, toothpaste and some mints. i still have keep the bucket cuz ya never know whats gonna happen.
I have always hated the thought of cash or gift cards because it seemed so impersonal. However, I tend to go that way more often than not these days, particularly if I have to spend money on postage too. Other great ideas would be a gift certificate to a local movie theatre. I know many high school grads that love the I-tunes gift cards. If they are in a large city, maybe find gift certificates on restaurants.com. With dorm spaces so small, I would steer clear of anything that is not consumable (shower stuff, desk supplies, etc) If you do give a book, don’t write in it, but rather insert a piece of paper with a hand written note – that way it can be returned if needed. Another good idea would be a dry erase board so roommates could easily leave messages. Also those hooks that are made by Command that are non-marking but could be used to hang stuff on walls or doors.
One thing I did for my niece that took some time but not a lot of money is make her a t-shirt quilt. At some point I had mentioned to my sister about any of her old t-shirts because I wanted to make something out of them (pillowcase, quilt, etc). My sister gathered them up and I ended up with like 25. I am a novice sewer at best but found a great website that did a step by step on how to put it together. http://www.synthcom.com/~val/Quilts/Tutorials/AddingSashing.html
I know it is not a quick and easy gift, but my sister is already starting to save shirts for my other nieces that are still at home.
I second the recommendation for Command hooks/adhesives. Scotch also makes them, I believe. I spent a lot of money (it seemed to me) on those in college, just trying to personalize the room a little bit! My college didn’t allow any other form of hanging hardware on the walls. And I had to by some every year because of course I had to pack up during the summer and get a different room in the fall. One year they even moved me to a different room in the middle of the year! Those adhesives are not reusable, so it adds up!
One of my favorite gifts to give someone going off to college is a laundry basket with laundry detergent, softener, etc. and a roll of quarters!
Another gift I received when I left for college was a dictionary and thesaurus set! I used them all the time…and still have them to this day!
This is fantastic! You might buy them another book that you know they will need throughout college, such as “A Manual for Writers of Research Papers . . . .” by Kate Turabian. Or “Elements of Style” by Strunk and White. These were the two I was required to have for my basic “Research and Writing” class freshman year. I imagine other colleges require the same or similar. If you are going to give a gift card, consider giving one for a site where they can buy their textbooks. This is one of the biggest expenses of a college student (after tuition, of course!!)
I haven’t read all of the other comments, but one of my favorites graduation gifts to give high school graduates (that are college bound) is a simple basket with a few items such as:
Envelopes/Stationery/Stamps ~ to write letters home!
Snacks & Food ~ to keep up their stash in their dorm room!
Pocket Bible ~
Gift card for gas or food
The book “University of Destruction: Your Game Plan for Spiritual Victory on Campus” by David Wheaton
If you didn’t want to fill a whole basket, the last item I mentioned (the book by David Wheaton) is a great gift all by itself ~ and, aside from the Bible, probably one that would be most helpful. This book sounds like it is only intended for Christian students to keep them strong in their faith during the questions and scenarios they will face as a new college student (and it is definitely tailored to this!!)…however, it also presents the Gospel for students who may not be Christians in such a powerful and clear way. I highly recommend this wonderful book. I’ve given them away, and am planning to do this again.
Great question!
Pocket Bible! This would be good for a college grad, too. If he/she is already a Christian, it’s a great tool for sharing the gospel at work.
There have been a number of great “daily deal” offers lately for movie tickets. For a college grad, that would be a great date night.
Anything practical is so helpful. Costco sized packages of any snack food would have been a welcome gift as a high school graduate.
Love the suggestion of a good umbrella. I have been out of college for 7 years and still don’t have one.
I create Shower Caddies for graduates. I typically can get cheap plastic shower sandles and soaps/shampoos on great coupon deals, and then I’ll buy a scrubbie and shower caddy from the dollar store. Depending on who it is, I might splurge on some nice towels or a bathrobe for the giftee. But, for general high school graduation party invites, I still with the basics so as not to overrun my gift budget every spring!
I always write a check. High school, Undergrad, Master’s, or Doctoral degree…..the greater the accomplishment the bigger the check!
Most universities and colleges have a themed planner/agenda in the bookstore based around that particular college. It’s great because it has important dates already in it- like spring break, games, etc.
For my sister graduating this year, (hope she doesn’t read this! lol) I bought one of those planners from the bookstore. I wrote in other important days- family member’s birthdays and such. I also picked a few random days and wrote things like “Ice cream with sister day!” and “Sister comes and does my laundry day!” which I wrote on my calendar so I can follow through on those dates. I paired it with some cute pens. Check to make sure the students don’t get one of those planners as a complimentary gift to freshmen- some do, some don’t.
Also, as a recent college grad, PLEASE don’t forget about graduates BEYOND graduation. Some of the greatest gifts I got were letters from a couple members of my church family to let me know I was missed and they were praying for me. It’s priceless to get one of those when you’re feeling homesick.
I LOVE the shower caddy/laundry kit/personal care items idea. That stuff was MURDER to pay for on a college student/first job/first apartment budget. Even a nice Bath and Body Works gift basket would be so lovely if you know the grad likes what I call “smelly stuff” because $8 for body wash on a new college grad’s budget ain’t happening, but it feels so pamper-y to use a nice bath product. My brother got me a roll of quarters for Christmas my first year of college and I LOVED it….our washing machines only took quarters, so they were worth more than the equivalent in dimes and nickels would have been!
Cookbooks are handy too (more for college grads than HS, I would guess); I had a book called “What d I do Now that Mom’s Not Here” that was my Bible in my first-apartment days!
An inexpensive laundry basket ( they have them at the dollar store), and fill it with things they will need for the next phase of life ( you can use those bargains you accumulate over the year)
I would fill it with those things you are shocked when you first start having to buy yourself, ( what do you mean toilet paper does not grow on the roll?)
I have also done a recipe along with every single item they need to make it (both dishes and ingredients)
That said most of our recent grad announcements have been out of state, we send cash lol.
While I see a lot of practical and college ideas I do not see any amazing suggestions for those graduating high school that are going to go to college at home. My son is going to go to college here and stay at home so as not to go in debt. But his graduation is a milestone and I would like to give him something memorable.
Tami, I agree with you, this is a huge milestone. My daughter graduated last year and I wanted to give her something special and memorable. One of the gifts we gave her was a beautiful Boluva watch engraved with a special message. Also in the box was a framed picture of us from first grade. She loved all her gifts she received that day.
It won’t be a surprise, but why don’t you ask him what he wants (giving a price range I guess – don’t want him asking for a car or something!)? I know for my college graduation I really wanted a nice camera. This was before digital cameras, so my parents ended up buying me a nice manual/automatic camera for college graduation. It was so useful, since I ended up traveling a lot in my early twenties and was able to take great pictures. My dad and I picked it out together, which is also a nice memory I have.
My brothers stayed at home for community college and they received gifts to help them with their jobs. One brother got a push mower and weedeater for his lawn business and the other got some tools for his mechanics job. I know this would depend on budget but it was a great way to encourage them to make a living and help them get started in the world as a grown-up, lol.
Another great gift that I love for any occasion is the gift of an EXPERIENCE, whether it be a vacation, or a weekend trip, a day out, or even tickets to a memorable event. I think that would be an awesome gift to receive from a parent and suitable for a guy or a girl. I encourage my parents to create memories with my kids (ages 1 & 2 right now) instead of more STUFF.
I always give graduates their invitation in a floating frame. I usually cut it along the fold and arrange it in a floating photo frame, with a picture if it was included and the name card of the graduate. Someone did this for me and it was a really special keepsake and in fact, still hangs in my bedroom at my parents house. It has been really well received by kids I’ve given it to.
I received one of those, too, for my high school graduation, and it was a great keepsake.
As a college student, let me say that the very best idea is cash or a gift card to a store you’re 100% sure they shop at. If you’re dead set against that, I recommend something edible. Someone heading off to college or heading into the work world just do NOT need one more thing to pack and move around. Please – don’t get them something you find sentimental, or some junky “keepsake”. That’s the absolute last think they’d want or find useful. Think of what they might like.
I have to agree about not giving something that they have to move around. When I went to college, I moved 650 miles away from home, and I wouldn’t have needed another thing to pack. Things like laundry baskets and shower essentials are good thoughts, but honestly I would have been more appreciative of the cash to buy those things myself after I got to my destination. I guess it depends on how far away the person is going, though. Housewarming gifts would be good for someone moving into a nearby apartment.
A first Aid kit, so handy… And the umbrella idea is great too. Rolls of quarters is not a smart gift since most vending machines do not even take change let alone the laundry machines
Every apartment I’ve ever lived in has offered coin-fed laundry machines. And coin-fed is the standard for many laundromats too.
No apartment I have ever lived in (4) has had coin laundry machines. And neither of my colleges (2) used coin laundry machines — and that was 8 years ago! I had brought a HUGE container of quarters that I saved the last two years of high school, and I ended up carrying around bags of quarters to go to the grocery store since I couldn’t use them for laundry (or the vending machines).
I didn’t need quarters for laundry, either. It was all on my stuent ID cars that we had to load money on to do anything…vending machines, laundry, copiers, etc.
My aunt made me a family recipe book, copied and placed in an inexpensive pocket folder. I love it because I could try out another aunt’s amazing roll recipe (she sells them to friends and we would always look forward to eating them at gatherings.) Give with an apron for fun if you’re crafty or find a great deal.
My cousin gave me a bucket with a handle and cleaning supplies when I got married.
I bought four big RUBBERMAID TOTES to move to college. I packed all my stuff in them and used one for laundry when I got to school. The other totes stacked in my closet. Now I use them for old books, sentimental tshirts, and other things I want to keep.
The best gift I got when I graduated high school was a house key to my aunt and uncle’s home. I went to school several states away, but only two hours from their home. The key was more symbolic than anything, but told me how welcome I was in their house. I had my own bedroom in their home, brought my friends over all the time, and was made to feel like a daughter. That gift of time and family was better than anything else I could have when so far away from home.
If you’re not living near the graduate’s college, I suggest restaurant gift cards or movie tickets. Having the opportunity to get off campus can be a huge boost to a poor student!
Dear Money Saving Mom,
Thanks for sharing a great resource.
My question is: do you have any thoughts for European readers? We tend to use/have coupons far less and have to rely on more ‘old-fashioned’ ways of saving money.
I wrote an article on ‘money and mindfulness’ on my own blog, partially based on my European experiences. Perhaps it will prove helpful for readers – both European and American.
http://this-good-life.blogspot.com/2011/04/money-and-mindfulness.html
Blessings,
This Good Life
I think that all of my ideas are listed above, but just to give them one more thumbs up!
- from one Aunt and Uncle, I received a desk caddy and a box of office supplies – staples, paper clips, pens, pencils, notepads, post-it notes, white out (it was pre-computers), white board markers and a small white board. It was a great collection, although I must say that for some of the lesser used things, I used them long into my adult life.
- from another relative, I received a shower caddy with supplies. It included flip flops for the shower, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, a poof, and more.
- another group of relatives gave me a laundry basket filled with towels and wash clothes.
- a family I used to babysit for gave me a college survival kit, it had quarters for laundry, note paper that was a form letter saying send more money, microwave popcorn, snack bowls, chip clips and other odds and ends that you use but don’t think about getting.
- another group of relatives gave me a trunk, packed with goodies including laundry detergent and towels. It was nice because I could use it to store things and I could set it on end to be a piece of furniture to hold the TV.
- as to something memorable to mark the milestone, I have a necklace that my grandparents gave to me on my 16th birthday. I wear it almost every day and have been for over 20 years. A special ring can also be a nice momento for a girl. For a girl or a guy, perhaps a nice watch and perhaps engraved.
My daughter lives at home and goes to a local community college. She really wanted a laptop for her high school graduation, so we agreed to pay for half for her graduation. She received mostly cash and checks and some other gifts but the money has really come in handy especially when it’s time to buy books.
Another lesser-known book perfect for graduations: The Adventures of Johnny Bunko by Dan Pink. It’s a manga-style career guide (no, I’m not making this up!) The cartoon presentation makes it great for a grad gift–because under other circumstances giving a career advice book to a new grad is like giving a brand new mom a gym membership!
It’s in paperback and costs in the neighborhood of ten bucks.
When I graduated high school, my mom’s best friend gave me a card with an “IOU” for one letter per month while at school. She faithfully wrote once a month…more often than not with a little bit of cash (nothing crazy, $1 or $5) to “do something nice for myself.” It was so nice to get real mail, long after the newness of school had rubbed off. The cash was always appreciated, too.
It made me feel really loved and seemed that her cards would show up when I needed a little boost of encouragement. I do this for all my off-to-college acquantainces and it’s been really well-received–some of them even write back!
OK, so this is going to sound like the weirdest gift imaginable, but when I graduated high school my mom’s boss got me an umbrella. It was a really nice umbrella–one of the ones with the button that automatically opens and closes it, but I sort of thought it was a lame gift when I got it. (I know! I shouldn’t have thought that about a gift!) But…when I got to college, it was BY FAR the gift I used the most. College students walk everywhere on campus and with all my books and things to carry, it was so nice to have that umbrella that you could open and close at the touch of a button and it was small enough to fit in my tote bag. I now give one to every high school graduate I know with a little poem about “weathering the storms of life.” Probably the second most used gift was a sweatshirt with my college logo on it. I’m still wearing that thing now and I received it over 11 years ago.
For kids who are staying at home to go to school I get a giftcard to the schools bookstore for books. A lot of college kids underestimate the cost of books. Or many college bookstores are now run by barnes and noble. Some take their discount cards which cost $25 a year. Getting the student their membership card can be a great gift! Saves my hubby 20% online plus has free shipping (he is still in school).
Some colleges are now not allowing bookstore gift cards to be used on textbooks, so you might want to check with the bookstore about that.
There are lots of other things that students need that would be covered – lab notebooks, art supplies, journals, etc. so it would still be a good idea – and would save other funds for the textbooks!
Lea
What’s wrong with a cash gift? It doesn’t have to be a lot of cash. Between high school and college graduation I have about 5 “Keep loving Jesus after you graduate”-type books, and I haven’t read more than a few pages of each. And I still love Jesus, oddly enough. I appreciate the thought, but I might have appreciated the cash used to buy the books more. (Unless they were regifts….hmmm.)
One of the most thoughtful gifts I received when I graduated from HS was a box of school supplies – staples and a stapler, ruler, pens, pencils, a 3-hole punch, etc. These things were necessary and eat into the “book budget” that I had. I also appreciated a roll of quarters for the washing machines.
A personal and thoughtful gift was a coffee mug with my hometown’s name on it and a large package of tea and one of instant coffee. I was going to school out of state so having the tea mug was a nice reminder of my hometown when I starting missing home.
We either give towels (to non-family) or Bibles (to family). We order the Bibles in bulk from our church publishing house so we get them for about $18.00 a Bible. They are nice hard-cover study Bibles with wide margins for notes. The towels we buy are the ones on sale from Target.
I usually ask colors, etc. from parents before buying.
We’ve often sent my husband’s siblings phone cards or gas cards or homemade cookies and other snacks while they are in college. They’re always, always appreciated!
Oh – and my husband’s siblings have always appreciated drawings from their neices and nephews. We tried this with our kids’ former sitter – she LOVED it and would eagerly await the pictures that came in the mail about once a month! She’s home for the summer now and asked if we could send her some at home too, even though we see her each week at worship!
Thanks for all the ideas!
Lea
I put together a college survival kit out of my couponing stash or from the dollar store. It varies, but is usually a reusable shopping bag filled with things like:
bandaids or small first aid kit
laundry detergent
microwave popcorn, protein bars, or other small snacks
toiletries
pens, post-its, or other small office supplies
cleaning supplies
This is usually $5 or so per gift and is pretty well received. The cost is a perk when I’m trying to give something to multiple graduates at our church every year.
Great ideas…please don’t give them teddy bears with their graduation year…*groan* those are junky clutter. give them something they’ll use!
When I was a freshman in college, the best graduation gift I was given was the promise of care packages from my boyfriends family. These were often small packages, but were the most helpful. They would send these a few times a year, in between holidays and breaks (since when you go home, most times family will want to get you things). One time all they sent were homemade cookies and a nice letter-that’s still the one I remember the most.
You could do this once or as many times as your budget will allow. I would advise giving the gradute a few weeks to get settled and see what they still need and send that along with a note to them. For students having a hard time at school or who are homesick, this definitely helps get them through and lifts their spirits!
A thoughtful gift would be the Dr. Suess book “Oh the places you will go”.
I’m a high school teacher and have a senior homeroom this year. They have been my homeroom for 4 years and this is the 1st time we’ve had homerooms for all 4 years and I am very close to this group of students. I have about 15 students and am wondering if anyone has an idea for something useful and fairly cheap since I am going to get 15 of the same thing. They aren’t all going to college and some will be in dorms and some will be living at home.
Wow, that’s a hard one!
Maybe a picture frame with their year on it and then take a picture in the class and frame it. Or, just a picture frame and a picture of your class.
Since there are only 15 (not that 15 isn’t a lot) maybe a photo of you with each of them and a personal note on the back, something encouraging. That’s what I would have wanted from my teacher. Something to remember by. Who needs another item to tote around or dust. Memories matter. If you are going to the trouble of getting a gift, make it count, something they won’t just use up or toss.
Maybe a group portrait of you and the students and have copies made to hand out, especially if your school doesn’t have a yearbook, and give each student your mailing address to keep in touch. Or maybe you could arrange a special field trip for the students and take a ton of pictures and put them in an album. You could take the students to a local university, for a picnic in the local park, and other free things in the community. Take a ton of pictures find cheap photo albums and give them to the students. Yes, we all need money, but sometimes I like to look at pictures and remember when……
Depending on what you teach you could give them something related to the topic- ex. if it is an english class maybe a copy of their favorite books (you can get used copies in good shape), geography you could get them maps, etc.
Write a list called “The Keys to Success” with all the advice you want to give them. You could do one for all or make 15 different ones depending on his/her individual situation. Print it off on nice paper and roll it up like a scroll tied with a ribbon of your high school colors and tie a blank key on one of the ribbons. You can get keys for under a dollar and you do not need to have it cut. Then they can carry the key on thier key chain (house or car keys) and remember the advice you offered.
One of the most useful presents I received when I graduated was a stack of homemade thank you cards. I have since used homemade thank you cards as either an addition to my graduation (or wedding/shower) presents or just as the only present when things are tight (we have had no income for almost a year now). You know the people are going to use them and it saves them from having to buy thank you cards!
I didn’t have time to read all of the comments, so sorry if I’m repeating myself. Last year we had 6 high school/college graduations within a month. We could not afford to spend much money at all! We had 4 girls and 2 boys (the boy’s were family so we decided to spend a little more on them). My budget for the girls was $5 each and for the boy’s was $10. It doesn’t sound like much, but I got so many comments on the gifts!
For the girls:
I make them little “kitchen mittens” consisting of an oven mitt with kitchen utensils (ie: clips, wooden spoon, spatula, tongs, whisk…) sticking out of the oven mitt. It looked so cute and everyone loved them! The mitt cost $1 each. Then each utensil I was able to get 4/$1 at the $1 store.
For the boys:
I made them a little movie package. I also shopped at the dollar store. I bought a large bowl, cups and coasters all for $1. Then I added popcorn, a $5 movie from Walmart and their favorite kind of candy. (I did add a jar of dill pickles for my brother since he LOVES them!)
How about a “Test Survival Kit” with all of the things that make for a great cram session. You could include notecards (LOTs of them), highlighters, colored pens, page flags, maybe even a few self-laminating sheets for those formulas or principles you will use over and over again. Also, a cram session would not be complete without some form of caffeine – think Starbucks Via packets or Mountain Dew. AND if you really want to make it great, top it off with a baseball cap and body spray – because they will more than likely roll out of bed with just enough time to make it to class the next day.
Cute idea!
this is a cute idea!
My favorite gift was the book “My Utmost for His Highest” engraved with my name from my Pastor. He was a wonderful mentor and friend to me and he gave that book with all his heart so it means a lot to me.
As for what to give, I already know what I will be giving my son (who is currently in 8th grade). I am going to give him a coupon binder – binder, card holders, shopping list pad, scissors, calculator and coupons for items I know he will need and want. It will be small – I don’t expect too much from a young guy although he might go for it since he has already said that’s something he wants me to do for him!
A keepsake gift we’ve given is a boxed set of uncirculated coins for the graduating year. This states the year and appreciates in value.
My grandfather always gave silver dollars with the graduation year.
I appreciated the thought behind “Oh the Places You’ll Go,” but never having been a fan of Dr. Seuss or of sentimental-type gifts, I would have preferred the cash. I still have the book, and still think, “What do I do with it??” Whoever commented above along the lines of “Please, not another item to have to move!” was totally right.
Money or gift cards are fabulous, no matter whether it’s for a Starbucks one-time treat or to get books or to Walmart for necessities.
I thoroughly appreciated my sister’s gift of a plate/cup/bowl/silverware set. I still use them 12 years later.
Fill up a basket of all the toiletries and cleaning items and treats that you can get for free with coupons!!!
Oh, how I WISH someone had given me Dave Ramsey’s book back then. So much trouble would have been avoided.
i got 2 sets of embroidered towels…they are great! i also recommend laundry bags over laundry baskets. bags are much easier to carry up & down the steps in a dorm.
a water bottle is helpful too, as is an id holder (vera bradley has cute wristlets for girls with space for your keys, phone, id, and cash/change inside).
Tools. Everyone needs a home tool kit and you can make it as expensive as you wish with lots of options or you can just do the basic set of hammer and screwdrivers.
Also, what about Starbucks or local coffee shop cards that are in the area if the student is going to college? What student doesn’t love/need some coffee for late night studying? Also, perhaps just asking the graduate what they need for college or an apartment and gifting them that. I’d rather buy something I know they need rather than buy something that might someday become “clutter.”
To be honest almost everyone of my friends who got books didn’t read them and the bathroom supplies are nice, but people give them all the time and most my friends had three sets of them and just gave them away
For the highschool grad who is going away to college: useful things such as a laundry basket filled with towels, a few dishes. etc.
For the college grad who is not getting married: things to start a household especially since most college students have not had to cook for themselves yet.
I always like cash since I could put it towards what I really needed. However, if you’d rather know they are spending it on a new wardrobe you could always get a gas card.
My mom gives high school graduates a care package request form…it includes a small slip of paper with a space for name, address, and special requests; an envelope stamped and addressed to my mom; and a letter explaining the gift. The graduate can keep the request form as long as they want to and during finals week, a hard week at school, etc. they send it to my mom and she send them a care package. She adds anything they put in the special request section, and also usually puts in cookies, gum, and trail mix. My mom gave these to all of my friends when we graduated from high school and my husband filled in his special request with permission to ask me to marry him.
It’s a great gift for high school graduates!
Love that! What a sweet story
My daughter’s and I love this one best!
Thanks! It’s such an easy gift up front and then the money and time to get the care packages done is spread out throughout the year instead of all at once when graduation happens…I will pass the compliments onto my mom.
Oh, I also have received as well as given the following gift. Typically, this would be for a grad who is leaving home and would be given as they leave for college or move into their own place.
14-30 small gifts each individually wrapped with a note instructing the grad to open one gift each day for their first 2-4 weeks at school (or in their new home). You can number the gifts in order by writing numbers on the wrapping paper or let the grad choose which to open.
My husband and I did this for my younger brother and he loved it. At one point he actually called me to ask if we had wrapped any deodorant because he was all out and short on funds. Luckily we had and I was able to remember what wrapping paper it was in.
Here are some ideas: deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, mug with hot chocolate, tea, etc., candy, gum, chocolate, post-it notes, pens, pencils, tape, paper clips, stamps, small gas card, small gift card ($5 Starbucks, etc.), small devotional book, filled photo album, pack of new underwear ~ only if they are family
, CD, socks, shampoo, mints, dart gun (another of my brother’s favorites, great for boy’s dorms)
I buy clearanced or inexpensive quality bath towels and embroider their name on it. My husband and I are both teachers so this makes for a thoughtful gift that doesn’t cost us an arm and a leg. Depending on deals, I normally can get two really nice towels for $5. The only downside to this gift is you have to have an embroidery machine…but you could go with just towels too.
Book of stamps.
We’re youth sponsors and my husband is a teacher, so we have gobs of grad parties to attend every year. I’ve started giving them a set of melamine dishes with a cute (or “cool” if it’s a boy) matching plate, cup, bowl and some snack food to go with it. You can get the dishes really cheap on clearance. I’ve had several of the kids tell me the next year that they still use their dishes from us all the time and think of us every time they do!
I got my hubby’s cousins (who are like siblings to him) throw blankets embrodered with their name and grad date. It was nice because they could take them off to college with them. I got one in 2001 when I graduated and we still use it. I ordered them from Terry’s Village online,
http://www.terrysvillage.com/ui/browse/processRequest.do?requestURI=processProductsCatalog&categoryId=122645&BP=10587&cm_mmc=Pricegrabber-_-pricegrabber-_-pricegrabber-_-pricegrabber&sku=47/1167&ms=tvc&srccode=cii_5784816&cpncode=21-109102185-2. That one is $34.99 but they do have a cheaper fleece blanket for $14.99 here http://www.terrysvillage.com/embroidered-graduation-throw-a2-90_308-12-1.fltr?Ntt=blanket
I think it’s a different and personalized gift!
My roomate got a basket of all sorts of medicine – daytime sinus, cold medicine, allergy stuff, Sudafed,nighttime cold and flu, Pepto Bismal, Tums, Tylenol and ibuprofen, etc. etc. etc. She was the only one who had medicine for all the various stuff that we needed through the year. We were all so used to using Mom’s medicine cabinet when we were sick, but in college, getting sick means finding a way to the store and having money to buy medicine to get through the day (and taking care of yourself -gasp!). You can pick up small boxes of store brand meds for relatively cheap – maybe go in with a friend to get a good stock of stuff to give.
As a gift for High School Graduation my Aunt gave me a candy jar full of m&m’s. It had an adorable tag attached that read “Study Buddies” (in a candy font). It was great because it was consumable, didn’t matter if I lived in the dorm, apt., or home, and the jar could be refilled or used for other items like coffee or even offices supplies. The tag was laminated, and I still have it 13 years later!
Other good gift ideas are “Don’t Waste Your Life” by John Piper, and if you are really close to the person/know them well and have time, a scrapbook is great. It can cover their years in HS, College, or their whole life. For College Graduations I try to get something for their job. For example I know a lot of graduating teachers so getting them stickers, Hall Passes, Red Pens, file folders, notepads, stamps, magnets, copy paper, etc. in a basket/box/tote that can be used in their classroom has gone over well.
Having gone through graduation with my daughter last year, please just keep it simple. She received so many towel sets, knick-knacks, and whim-whams that most ended up at Goodwill (except the towels that are now stashed in a closet in my house). If you are on a budget, just give $5. Truly — the grad needs money worse than a set of towels or a photo album or a basket of toiletries that they could be allergic to.
very good advice!
These are great ideas! Love the umbrella & Dave Ramsey ideas especially. I think I will add these to the hand-stamped monogram notecards I am making for my sister who’s graduating high school. She can use them as thank-you notes for graduation gifts or can use them later to correspond with friends and family.
I am happy to make hand-stamped monogram notecards for purchase, if I’m allowed to say that here? I love hand-made, personalized, and practical gifts!
My most memorable gift was one I thought was kinda odd at the time but turned out to be a HUGE help and that was bed raisers. (They’re like jacks for your bed). I could store so much more under my bed without taking up any more room in my dorm! I also got an airpopper with a popcorn bowl and a butter/salt combo shaker which came in VERY handy. My husband and I have sent “surprise boxes” throughout the 1st year of college filled with snacks, fun cash, silly string, etc.
For high school – I always loved getting a nice, sturdy small laundry basket filled with “goodies” from snacks, mac and cheese, pens, calculator, paper clips, laundry soap, new towel, etc. Whatever you can think of. If it’s a girl – go pink and purples. For boys – blues or greys. With all the savings you find at the stores, you really spend very little on so much stuff. If you’re obnoxious, wrap each gift in tissue paper lol
Not sure on college. I have two siblings graduating and I’m thinking of just taking each one out. Or get them a bottle of liquor lol
I apologize if this was already mentioned but I just don’t have time right now to read all the comments. I would suggest a photo book from Snapfish, Shutterfly, or a similar site. You can often get them really inexpensively or free (just pay shipping) and it is a true gift from the heart that will be appreciated for years to come!
I’m a big fan of the “treat of the month” club idea where you promise to send the grad a special item every month. I think this idea was featured on MSM around Christmastime as a gift idea and many Etsy artisans and gourmet stores also offer this option (if you want to get some inspiration!).
Here are some gifts I received that I really appreciated:
High School: Someone bought me a really nice, soft large towel with matching washcloth for using in the dorms.
College: Professional thankyou notes, resume paper with matching envelopes, stamps, professional-looking coffee to-go cup
School supplies, laundry supplies (I always add a laundry guide too!), shower/toiletry supplies, the $5 target cards you get from deals! CVS or Wags gift card. A set of plastic dishes. A travel mug with a $5 starbucks gift card. Tote bag for books.
Fred’s has the Ninja blender on sale for $14.75 so I am thinking of stocking up for graduate and wedding gifts. My h.s. son makes a protein drink everyday with mine so I am thinking he and his friends would love one! Thanks for all the other suggestions, too… I will know what to say when someone asks me what to get him.
My husband is the youth minister at our church. We have several grad gifts to buy every year. For girls, I typically go to http://www.silverjewelryclub.com/Default.aspx and buy jewelry. Much of their stuff is a little too funky for my taste, but give it time and some very lovely things will cycle through. I try to buy stones in favorite colors. I spend approximately $11/girl.
We usually give MagLites to the boys. I’ve taken to buying these on Black Friday, as Lowe’s and Home Depot usually run really great deals on these. I don’t know what it is with men and flashlights, but these are ALWAYS well received.
I also buy the gifts from the church, which we present to the grads in the service. Again, this takes advance planning, as I like to buy leather study bibles. Mardel always has them for $15-$20 on Black Friday. I realize giving Black Friday shopping advice isn’t helpful in April/May, but it can be an idea to tuck away for the future if you know you’ll have graduates to buy for.
The best thing I remember from being away at college, was when someone came to that town, they took me out to eat. It got me out, gave me quality time with them and allowed me to eat something other than dorm food without having to have the money. It was a great treat!!!!! An IOU for this would be perfect in a card.
I agree that cash is always useful. Gift cards are hard unless you know the town they live in.
The umbrella is a great idea. I had other students ask to borrow mine.
I also think the IOU for care packages is a great idea, especially if the student is going far from home!!! I am stealing that idea!!!!
I think tools (wrench, screwdriver and hammer) and command strips are a wonderful idea for apt or dorms. I still have my multi-tool that I used in the dorms to fix my bed.
I have written poems for grads about the keys to success or traveling on the road of life and given a blank key to go with it as a momento.
I also thinking shipping them whatever the gift is after school starts is a great idea. EVERYONE loved to get packages!!!!
My aunt made each of her nieces and nephews crocheted blankets. That is one gift I remember and still use 18 years later. My future mother-in-law made me a patchwork quilt, that I also still use.
ONe of my favorite gifts was a keychain quarter dispenser- probably from a dollar store. Very practical for a lot of people and you could make a basket with detergent, etc as well.
I bought a portable flashdrive for $12 (it had a graphic picture on it). You can find them at Staples,Walmart, etc at a great price! I also added a travel calculator with built in dictionary/thesaurus for $12 at Walmart.
I received a stretchy sheet set that fit my dorm bed and it was very useful. I think it had been purchased at Family Dollar or Dollar General for under $10.
I gave my nephew a bouquet of money roses. I went to the florist and got a box for long stemmed roses, made roses out of paper bills and attached them to artificial flower stems, and put a big bow on it. Needless to say, he opened mine last as he thought it was a bunch of flowers from his crazy aunt. My gift turned out to be his favorite!
I am a high school teacher so I get a lot of invitations to graduation parties. I give “I need cookies” cards. When they get settled at college they can send the card back to me and I will mail them cookies. I sent one just the other night and it cost me $5.10 to send them a dozen cookies plus we have the rest of the batch at home. I usually send out anywhere from 15-20 and usually get a handful of them back. The kids and parents still appreciate the idea.
My husband and I were on a very very tight budget for a long time. Up until about 6-9 months ago, we couldn’t afford to get anyone graduation gifts. We could barely afford to even put gas in our car. So we came up with a tradition. We’re youth leaders at our church, so we know a lot of people who graduate every year, and when we were trying to come up with SOME sort of gift for at least someone who was graduating, we decided to give every kid a dollar bill. Just one. My husband would explain to them, “This is the dollar that will buy the candy bar, coffee, or Mountain Dew that will give you the last boost of energy to finish the most important paper of your entire college career. Use it wisely.” Everyone always laughed at the gift, but now everyone we know expects it and looks forward to “the chat” at their graduations! Now that we have a little bit of wiggle room in our budget (not a lot, but our graduation budget will be more than $5!), we might give them 10 $1 bills or a roll of quarters (and something a little more personal for family) instead.
My sister-in-law will be graduating soon, and I am making her a quilt out of all the t-shirts she’s accumulated from high school (which is a TON!) And this is going to cost me about 10.00 total when its all said and done!
If a student is going to college food and hygiene items are great (budget friendly) gifts. The price of things like toothpaste, laundry soap and toilet paper (TP depends on type of housing) can create unexpected expenses. These are things that students may be buying for the first time. Food is good because it can be expensive if you have not learned to shop sales and use coupons. If you’re all about deals you could probably put together a small stockpile by shopping out of your own pantry of free or cheap finds (cereals, Lysol wipes, toothpaste, Brita pitcher (if they have a fridge), snacks, Ziploc bags, 3m hanging strips, sponges, dish soap, and batteries) . I would put in recycled shopping bags. It can be a headache to receive laundry baskets that don’t match or stack correctly.
I got friends of ours son a gift card to WaWa They can use it for gas a quick soda a cup of coffee in the am or any quick small need. I got the same thing for my nephew but the amount was larger, it all depends on the relationship and the amount you can afford to spend.
When our 4 kids were graduating, some times we would be invited to 12 or 15 parties. I gave beach towels–I prayed, and God always sent along a super deal (often at Target) that made it reasonable to buy so many. I’d roll each one up, tie ribbon around it, and put a name tag on it. No wrapping!
Kids always can use another towel.
I always struggled with this too, but I found a good idea reading “My Antonia” this spring, one of the characters receives an umbrella for a graduation gift. It is one of those things you never quite get around to buying for yourself, until you really need it!
My mom always gave the graduating kids nice beach towels — you can get some on sale at TJMaxx and places like that. She sometimes got hers at Sams’ Club. I saw a lady at Marshall’s the other day buying some CUTE inexpensive tote bags and beach towels…you could throw in sunscreen or SPF chapstick that you get with coupons. My mom always thought it was nice to have something to enjoy right away before college. But I STILL have one of those beach towels she gave me over 10 years ago and love it to this day!
I love my digital picture frame. And I think a college student would too! Fewer frames in their dorm space!
I actually bought one for my Realtor as a thank you gift with a name plate that said “Without You, We’d be Homeless” and she can load photos of her homes for sale on there and stick it in her office.
I bought on Amazon for $25, another from Staples for $25. You have to watch for them to go on sale for the price though. If your budget isn’t too tight you can include the name plate and a memory card. Or they can use their camera’s memory card.
For the college bound high school grad: Shower caddy for the dorm w/ flip flops (no foot fungus!) Fill it up w/ your drug store deals and steals! Maybe even a robe if you can splurge! Also if you live in the same town of the college the grad would be attending how about vouchers for you to do their laundry or for a home cooked meal? Laundry idea, how about a kit for the laundry mat too? Roll of quarters, soap, basket, crossword or wordfind books, paper back books!
As a high school teacher, I regularly get invited to at least 12-15 graduation parties a year. That’s a lot of gifts, even at $20 a pop. So throughout the year, I stock up on copies of “Oh the Places You’ll Go” by Dr. Seuss. Perfect grad present. I write each grad a note and call it a day.
I pick these up at Sam’s Club, book fairs (we have BOGO ones at my school each spring), publisher’s warehouse sales, anywhere I can find copies at a good price (I think the most I ever paid was $10 and that was when I was in a pinch.)
Even though the kids all know what they’re getting, since it’s been the same every year, they all talk about it for years afterward.
My husband & I are both high school teachers, so we get invited to lots of grad parties every year. Trying to buy a gift for each one is NOT in our budget! So, we got this idea from another teacher:
College kids love anything homemade and love getting mail from home. It’s been fun to hear about their new lives and my kids like helping me bake cookies.
Give the congrats card, with another card including a self-addressed, stamped envelope inside. Tell them to send you the card once they get settled at college, giving you an update on life, and include THEIR new address so you can send them a batch of homemade cookies!
My Mom has always been a huge fan of giving someone some of their “favorite things” packaged in a nice basket or something. This worked especially well for me when I left home.
She’s the best
As a high school graduation gift, I like to make the graduate a basket filled with a slim Brita pitcher, extra filters, re-usable water bottles, and some water flavor packets. My daughter fills her Brita from the bathroom each night, pours the water into her bottles and puts them in her small fridge. The next day she has free water bottles to take to the gym, ect. Her only complaint is that everybody on her floor wants to use her Brita to refill their water bottles! An inexpensive, practical gift that develops green habits early!
the cookbook How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman – it’s the only cookbook they’ll ever need. Easy to follow, lots of advice for how to make variations on a meal
What I did last year and may do again this year is to take all the books I no longer need to my favorite used book store which gives me trade bucks. The trade bucks are a great grad gift. My daughter’s friends are all frugal and hate buying something new if they can get it used. A gift of store bucks to a popular used book store really goes a long way. This may not work for out of town grads but the local grads have all loved this gift.
I go to Walmart and get a plastic popcorn bowl, set of bowls, cups, and plates – they have brightly colored ones that are very inexpensive ($1/item), so it’s a very inexpensive but very useful gift. I’ve had many kids tell me they got a lot of use out of them at college!