Extremely Budget Grad Gift

[mdsoccermom]

Or the kid can get a summer job and earn money for both an e-reader and his dorm room.

 

[momxx5]

Thanks for the ideas.

I have been saving t-shirts for all 5 kids since they were babies. It may be a bit corny for a guy to have such a memory quilt/blanket but we'll see.

I know my girls look forward to theirs because they once they outgrow a fave shirt they will bring it and say this is to save for the memory quilt.

He does not want anykind of ereader right now, so that can wait until Christmas, etc. If necessary he can use his school money for that.

He does have many job applications in around town. He is hoping to hear back soon as he is eager to start working and saving up for his school stuff.

 

[clh2]

I've got a great budget grad gift - a SCRAPBOOK. My sil did one for her dd and it was BEAUTIFUL and very special. And apart for some papers/stickers - the only expense was a lot of time.

Take some baby pictures or a pic of him at each grade through all his school years...Maybe write a story or two on special years where big things happened.

Finally ending with him as a responsible adult with another passage about his strengths and how you know he'll move on to do wonderful things. Maybe grab a nice poem off the Internet and print it out. A tear-jerker.

It is something he will keep forever and be a forever reminder of his graduation.

A scrapbook is NOT a budget proposition...DD and I are just about finishing up her HS years (deadline is before her party on June 16th). This has been a whole lot of fun, and I will long treasure the time that we spent working on this project...but it has been anything BUT a budget project. Worse...when it is done...I want a copy! ($1.75 per page at Archiver's when they offer 12 price copy days.)

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Just an FYI - at my daughter's university books on Kindle/Nook are not available for the Majority of classes and honestly, I know my child needs the book to study. Your gift sounds fine, we did not do them.

Your child is going off to find himself. He will take some of what you taught him, some of what he learned, and the majority he will learn on the fly and will have the time of his life. Seriously, don't sweat the small stuff. Heck if his bed doesn't have sheets for few days til he gets to do wash, he will crash on the mattress. Your child is most likely hardy (don't want to make an assumption, but every single one my daughter met was). They prosper, grow up, learn to handle problems, and well, call for an occasional hello's and maybe money if it is available. If possible, drop something from the budget and put a few dollars in an envelope and if needed, send it off.

Don't worry, while I know you feel like it is the world closing in, it DOES get better. Try to enjoy and please let him enjoy!

 

[a1tinkfans]

This was one of the strangest threads I have ever seen, seems like there was a simple opinion requested...then responses of nastiness, some with kindness but all rolled into one. I have no background info, but really.....this was just strange!

As far as watches go, they are very "in" now, and some people love to wear a watch and do so every day, YES, even High Schoolers.....As a matter of fact my ds Xmas gift was a Gucci, YUP, we splurged....(flame suit on for all you naysayers...) Its a watch he wears very often and one that he'll have for years...

OP: I just want to wish your graduate (and all the graduates) continued SUCCESS in whatever their future endeavors are!
CONGRATULATIONS

 

[a1tinkfans]

A scrapbook is NOT a budget proposition...DD and I are just about finishing up her HS years (deadline is before her party on June 16th). This has been a whole lot of fun, and I will long treasure the time that we spent working on this project...but it has been anything BUT a budget project. Worse...when it is done...I want a copy! ($1.75 per page at Archiver's when they offer 12 price copy days.)

so true....
As one scrapbooks, you gather and have leftovers of materials/items etc...thats when it becomes much more cost effective in preserving those memories.
Have a pretty good feeling that the Scrapbook you made will give you back all that love you put into it, when you look back at it years from now ..
Congrats to your daughter and your family!

 

[YankeePrincess]

I think I got balloons for my graduation from my parents. Oh and some roses.

 

[ToddyLu]

My niece just ordered her Mac computer (laptop I guess) with her graduation money from family and friends. She said that is what the University of Southern Mississippi required these days for the type of degree she wants. I hope the OP's graduate doesn't need one of those.

 

[jcemom]

CASH is KING.. My dad gave me cash and it was the best.

Agreed.

 

[JB2K]

He has a upgrade available on a new cell phone and since his is pretty old, that might be the way to go. I could help purchase the phone and he could pay the monthly fees (by putting set amount in account to be drafted for cell fees).

Changing-up the conversation a little bit, but staying "on-topic"...

...it has been very well-documented on this website about OP's financial misfortunes over the past few years, which is understood, given the current national financial situation. Lots of Americans are hurting...many of them won't see expensive toys or family vacations, anytime, soon.

If things are truly "that bad" in OP's world, what's the deal with OP mentioning contract cell phones, at all (which, IMHO, given today's less-expensive prepaid options, is a huge waste of $$$ -- plus, if the son has an "upgrade available" to him, that usually means someone in the family is under contract)?

My friendly BB advice to OP - you need to do some "non-DIS" research on the internet about the prepaid marketplace (Howard Forums immediately comes to mind), your son could get a nice, spiffy new phone that does everything he needs it to do, and, in many cases, at a much lower price than what you're dishing-out, right now.

 

[undertheradar]

Changing-up the conversation a little bit, but staying "on-topic"...

...it has been very well-documented on this website about OP's financial misfortunes over the past few years, which is understood, given the current national financial situation. Lots of Americans are hurting...many of them won't see expensive toys or family vacations, anytime, soon.

If things are truly "that bad" in OP's world, what's the deal with OP mentioning contract cell phones, at all (which, IMHO, given today's less-expensive prepaid options, is a huge waste of $$$ -- plus, if the son has an "upgrade available" to him, that usually means someone in the family is under contract)?

My friendly BB advice to OP - you need to do some "non-DIS" research on the internet about the prepaid marketplace (Howard Forums immediately comes to mind), your son could get a nice, spiffy new phone that does everything he needs it to do, and, in many cases, at a much lower price than what you're dishing-out, right now.

 

[sweetdana]

Consider adding another book. The places you go by Dr suess. I bought one for DD7 for KG graduation. And wrote a super nice I am proud of you letter in it.. and I will buy her another one for HS graduation. I read it to her all the time before she read on her own really good. It is a fantastic book.