College Graduation Gift from Parents?

[vsimeone]

I know this seems like a ways off but I am budgeting NOW!

DS will graduate from HS and DD will graduate from college - both in MAY!

DD's combo HS graduation gift and 18th birthday gift (her birthday was the same day as her party!) was a party and a laptop. DS will get the same gift.

One of my original thoughts was to have a joint party for both of them but DH nixed that idea. He said it wouldn't be fair to DS to have to share a party when DD didn't have to. He's right.

But now the question is: What is an appropriate college graduation gift? It would be safe to say that I am not going to have a party for her. People won't come to two parties and it would just be too much time and money. I'm leaning toward a dinner at a nice restaurant with close family and friends but it seems like a college graduation deserves more than just a dinner.

What are some treasured gifts that you have given or received for a college graduation? Thanks for any ideas!!!

 

[scrapquitler]

I didn't have a college graduation party, nor did I expect one. My parents paid a lot of $$$$ toward college, I (and they) figured that was enough. In fact, instead of getting gifts from our parents, DH and I GAVE gifts to our parents when we graduated from college to show our appreciation for the sacrifices they made so that we could go to college.

 

[Jitzy]

Well, it might be nice if you could upgrade the laptop. They go out of date so quickly. It's also very practical and if she has a windows laptop, she might appreciate the new operating system.

But if you are just thinking of a special gift for a young woman, you could buy her what my parents bought me for my 21st birthday...a string of pearls.

 

[bluesaturn]

My parents bought me bedroom furniture (pretty cheap from Ikea) because I was moving out of a furnished campus apartment to an unfurnished apartment. The rest of my furniture is handed down from them though.

 

[ajh88]

I also didn't have a college graduation party - I think I got a few cards with cash from close relatives (parents, grandparents). High school was a bigger party, gifts, etc. We went to McDonald's and got ice cream cones after my college graduation. Of course, I graduated at a half semester (in December instead of May), so it was like a week before Christmas.

What is she doing after college? Maybe something for a new career? I think I got a really nice leather bag as a gift (now that I think about it more) for when I started my first "real" job. Maybe there is a trip or something she would like to take between graduation and starting a job? There's always cash - money for a down payment on a new car or a starter fund for a house?

I think a nice dinner sounds like a wonderful idea - that way you can focus on her celebration and your DS still gets his own celebration too. I agree that college graduation is a big accomplishment and deserves to be celebrated.

 

[MarthaJr.]

I've been thinking about this too. Our DD is graduating from college in May with a lot of student loan debt.

Our DD had a nice HS grad party for about 40 guests to the tune of about $400 (That was for hall rental from Park & Rec, some catered food, some purchased from SAMS club, soda, water, decorations, handmade scrapbook of her HS life and $100)

She goes to an art school about 5 hrs. from here in Minneapolis. DH, DS15 & myself along with both sets of grandparents are making the drive up to see her get her diploma.

Per Family attending Graduation:
Got a great deal on a hotel for 2 nights w/tax $150.92
(get hot breakfast each day)
gas there & back is approx. $140
food budget for lunch & dinner: $200
flowers for the grad: $25 (We will all pitch in on this)

Total: about $500

We are all going to go out for a nice dinner the night of graduation.

So, it is already an expensive event---I think we'll probably end up giving DD a combined birthday (April) and grad. gift and give her some money. She has been looking into a couple conferences she wants to attend to do some networking--so we might pay her conference fee as a gift.


I would be interested to know what others have done as well.

 

[DISdreamin']

For my college graduations, we went out to dinner - no gift, just a card and dinner. It was fine! My family had to travel to see me graduate one of the times, and the second time - eh, I was over it.

I actually had thoughts/dreams of not attending the actual ceremony. I honestly didn't want to stand up in front of a crowd and have to walk across a stage. Talk about stage fright - literally! I went, but it was really more for my parents than for me.

If it were me, either something timeless - like pearls, as someone mentioned - or something practical and useful would be best, IMO.

 

[princessmom29]

Something to set up housekeeping?? My parents bought me a new bed.

 

[travelgirl06]

My parents had to travel out to our graduation, so DH (DBF at the time) and I set up a nice lunch for everyone to celebrate. We didn't expect any gifts. My mom gave me a CD that I think eventually went towards a downpayment on our house, and his mom gave us a wine tasting tour (since we went to college in wine country...very fun) and a gift certificate that later went towards some furniture for our apartment. The gifts were nice, but I also think cards are fine.

Think of something practical for where they are in life, and that is perfect (e.g. laptop for HS grad, furniture/new job stuff for college grad). I think the best part was just getting everyone together to celebrate (and even with that we tried to keep costs down, e.g. by hosting "brunch" at the house, pick a cheaper restaurant and do lunch for the graduation celebration meal, etc.)

 

[disykat]

I'm with everyone else. I don't know anyone who had a college graduation party. Usually parents traveled to graduation and took everyone out for dinner.

My parents paid for college, but technically their graduation gift was a suit for interviews.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

I paid for 1/2 of college (worked all the way through it to pay for it) and my parents paid for the other half.

Needless to say when I graduated I didn't have a lot in savings (also didn't have any debt thanks to my parents installing a strong 'no debt' instinct in me). My parents gave me a check for $2000. I was thrilled!

 

[englishteacha]

Ya know? I don't think I got college graduation gifts from my family. I got married 3 weeks after graduation, so my celebration was low key. My siblings (all older and married) came to a cookout and my mom made me a cake. DH's father gave me a pair of tiny diamond earrings as a gift for graduation. When DH graduated college, we were married (he was a year behind me). I threw a cookout and my mom made him a cake (My mom makes all her kids/grandkids cake for graduation). His dad forgave a small loan he'd given him for school as his gift, a huge help as we were just getting by on my teacher's salary. We weren't expecting gifts from anyone. In my case, my parents came up for my senior banquet the night before graduation, and for my graduation itself (outdoors in the rain at 40 degrees. Miserable). Dh's family came for his graduation day (beautiful, 70 degrees).

 

[daughtersrus]

My dd just graduated college in december with a degree in special education. she always wanted to be a teacher so we decided to give her the "dream" necklace from tiffany.

 

[lulubelle]

Our DD graduates in May as well. We are sending her and her roommate on a Caribbean cruise on Carnival. We prepaid the airfare, tips and two excursions so it will not cost them a lot of money. We had budgeted about $2,000 and this is what she chose. I was leaning towards diamond earings (hey, those would last forever, right?), but she opted for the vacation. A nice party in a restaurant would have cost about that too, I checked it out and she considered it.

That said, I think you should do what you can afford and what is memorable to your child. It is a wonderful accomplishment.

 

[Justsyd2]

My first thought was a cruise, or similar vacation. That's a fabulous graduation gift!

 

[Pixieflip]

High school is more of a party, college is more grown up dinner and a gift.

We were getting married three weeks after my college graduation, too. The real gift was our kitchen table set. We still have it 18 years later, and do treasure it - so many great memories at that table.

Something for her new life or career? What's her degree? Does she need a briefcase or something? I do like the keepsake jewelry idea, something significant and memorable.

Congratulations on the milestones for both kids! I'll be in the same boat someday!

 

[Pixieflip]

High school is more of a party, college is more grown up dinner and a gift.

We were getting married three weeks after my college graduation, too. The real gift was our kitchen table set. We still have it 18 years later, and do treasure it - so many great memories at that table.

Something for her new life or career? What's her degree? Does she need a briefcase or something? I do like the keepsake jewelry idea, something significant and memorable.

Congratulations on the milestones for both kids! I'll be in the same boat someday! Actually, it will happen twice...yikes!

 

[vsimeone]

Thank you so much for all the replies and ideas! I'm glad to hear that most people didn't have a party for college graduation. That makes me feel better about not doing that!

We really don't have enough money to send her on any kind of a vacation right now. She is holding most of her student loan debt and we are helping with it as best as we can. We also still pay her car insurance and her cell phone to help out.

I really like the idea of a nice necklace. I bought her a knockoff Tiffany necklace in NY last year. A real one would be a fabulous gift! I'll have to look into that!

Thank you again for all of the suggestions. It's getting the brain wheels cranking a bit!

 

[moongirl]

My mother surprised me with a Seiko watch that had the school's crest and name on the face. She probably ordered it through the bookstore. It was very subtle but very special. 20 years later, I still love it. It was not an expensive gift but very special to me. My family also attended the graduation ceremony and we all went out for dinner.

 

[RachaelA]

I graduated in Dec 08 from college. My parents paid off my small student loan (around $2k) and paid for college. We also went to lunch with my grandparents after graduation. That was perfect for me!