College Graduation Gifts?

[Luv Bunnies]

What is everyone giving their college kids who are graduating this year? DS22 graduates in May and I'm trying to come up with gifts ideas for him, besides cash. We're considering a PS5, but not sure we'll find one anytime soon. We're also talking about sending him and his GF (who is also graduating from a different university) to Disneyland. However I'm pretty sure they wouldn't want go until all of the safety precautions have been lifted and the parks are in full operation. I'd love to hear what everyone else is getting for their graduates.

 

[fla4fun]

What does he need? Does he have an apartment, or will they be fixing one up for the first time? Does he have appropriate clothes for his post-college job interviews? Sometimes, when you are just starting out, practical gifts are really appreciated.

 

[clh2]

We were in a position where we could pay off the car loan that DD had on her car. (balance was about $2k). We also gifted her with 6 months on our car insurance, with the understanding she would need to get her own after the 6 months.

Much to my surprise, she still has that car, and she graduated in 2016.

Probably should also add, DD is an only child, so we did not need to compare this to what we were giving other kids.

 

[Skippy918]

We were in a position where we could pay off the car loan that DD had on her car. (balance was about $2k). We also gifted her with 6 months on our car insurance, with the understanding she would need to get her own after the 6 months.

Much to my surprise, she still has that car, and she graduated in 2016.

My parents helped me with the down payment for a car when I graduated college. I kept that car till I was almost 40.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

What does he need? Does he have an apartment, or will they be fixing one up for the first time? Does he have appropriate clothes for his post-college job interviews? Sometimes, when you are just starting out, practical gifts are really appreciated.

That's the thing. He doesn't really need anything...yet. He's majoring in Musical Theater and hoping to get an acting/singing job whenever the theater industry opens up. He will be coming home and possibly getting some kind of temporary job to earn a little cash and keep him busy while he's waiting. He might get grabbed by an agent though his school's senior showcase. He might also get some kind of summer stock theater job since they didn't operate and he missed out on that experience last year. He's been sending out audition tapes which have already generated some interest. He's mostly likely in for a bit of a waiting game while the theater industry gets back on its feet and shows begin casting again. He can't really commit to getting his own apartment right now since he could get hired anywhere in the country (or the world, really). He will be living with us until he gets it all figured out.

 

[mrs. magoo]

We did not give our oldest a college graduation present. We did go on bigger family trip with a cruise. My second oldest will graduate from college in May and my youngest will graduate from high school in June. We were planning for another bigger trip but with Covid and the fact that my youngest will have to report to school on June 19th we are not doing that this time around.

 

[TippyThomas]

.

 

[bethbuchall]

We gave the older two down payment on a car once they found a job. The youngest has the car that we bought in 2011 for the older two to share while they were in college (then my husband drove it a few years). I guess the car can become his at this point or he can get a similar down payment on a new one once he gets a job.

 

[Orion Nebula]

We gave our daughter a trip to WDW for her graduation.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[SC Minnie]

We did a big trip-- transatlantic cruise-- with DD when she finished her undergrad. She finished her master's in Dec and I got her a handmade ornament with the college logo/mascot. ??? We helped her a lot with finances when she needed it to bridge when her tuition was due and when she received her tuition reimbursement from the previous semester. I haven't seen that money since so I'm considering it her 'gift'.

 

[1GoldenSun]

Could you give hime a token gift for now with the understanding that a larger gift will follow once he moves out on his own and has more needs? Maybe a homemade gift certificate for furniture shopping, or something. Not a lot of fun, but something to look forward to.

This got me thinking about my daughter's high school graduation next year. Since she was a little kid she has badly wanted to go parachuting. You have to be 18 to do this, so I promised her that she and I would parachute together when she graduates from high school. I've done it before but that was in my 20s. I'll be 54 when she graduates, and I'm starting to have second thoughts. That was one of the most terrifying (in an exhilarating, wonderful way, but still terrifying) things I've ever done on purpose, and I haven't exactly gotten MORE risk-tolerant since having children and reaching middle age. I'm probably going to do it, although I'm sure she wouldn't mind at all if I backed out and just paid for her to do it.

 

[moniqueand2]

New Phone?

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Cash. Dolla-dolla bills. Chedda. Greenbacks. Dat paper.

 

[prairie_girl]

Could you give hime a token gift for now with the understanding that a larger gift will follow once he moves out on his own and has more needs? Maybe a homemade gift certificate for furniture shopping, or something. Not a lot of fun, but something to look forward to.

This got me thinking about my daughter's high school graduation next year. Since she was a little kid she has badly wanted to go parachuting. You have to be 18 to do this, so I promised her that she and I would parachute together when she graduates from high school. I've done it before but that was in my 20s. I'll be 54 when she graduates, and I'm starting to have second thoughts. That was one of the most terrifying (in an exhilarating, wonderful way, but still terrifying) things I've ever done on purpose, and I haven't exactly gotten MORE risk-tolerant since having children and reaching middle age. I'm probably going to do it, although I'm sure she wouldn't mind at all if I backed out and just paid for her to do it.

You could pay for her and a friend to do it and you could take them and make a day of it..

 

[ADisneyQueen]

I'm getting my daughter a luggage set when she graduates from her master's program in April. She has been doing her internship and classes online (living with us) since last spring and she is eager to travel.

 

[Disneyfan754321]

Just sent a 60 inch tv to my son via walmart. He is starting to build stuff for his future own house. Right now he has roommates and a lot of shared items.
It was only $400

 

[ksanftleben]

Nothing. When our son and daughter graduated, we didn't give them anything. In fact, both of them gave us gifts. We began investing mutual funds for both when they were born, and it covered all of their tuition, room/board, and used cars while they were in school; plus, each had a tidy amount left over after they graduated. Our son thanked us both with desk sets from Levenger, and our daughter gave us a weekend stay at a B&B.