Graduation Gift Ideas PLEASE!

[virginiamama]

Okay, I need some help. I loved the thread about creative budget conscious bridal shower gifts, so I thought I'd ask for graduation gift help. A co-op student at my office is graduating from high school. She's a hip young lady (I'm only 31 but it seems like forever since high school!) and she is going to be college but will be living with her parents, so the dorm-type gift ideas won't work. Also, a son of someone I work with also sent me an announcement. I'm really good friends with his Dad but I don't know the son very well. He will be living with his parents while persuing a career in the fire department, and possibly going to paramedic training. Help! I'd like to get these kids something but only wanted to spend $10-$15 each. I considered getting the Seuss book "Oh, The Places You'll Go" but decided since they weren't actually going away, that might not be a good idea. Thanks so much for any ideas!

 

[wearegoingtoDisney]

If it is easy to get to the bookstore of the college they will be attending it would be nice to get them something from their new school. At this point they probably don't have much so anything would be nice with the college logo such as notebooks and pencils or a picture frame or mug etc.

 

[EthansMom]

I thought it was cute when I saw someone give a check for the year of the graduation, $20.05 for a 2005 graduation -- it's cute, useful, and still just 20 bucks. However this is more than your budget.

I found Lands End back packs on Overstocks for $11 each: http://www.landsend.com/cd/ov/prod/...l?sid=4133134787617167610&CM_MERCH=PAGE_30909. With shipping, two backbacks are $25.95. Maybe you could throw in some paper, pencils, etc. if you were trying to dress it up, but $13 ea. for nice quality backpacks isn't bad.

I hope this helps!

 

[madge]

Okay, I need some help. I loved the thread about creative budget conscious bridal shower gifts, so I thought I'd ask for graduation gift help. A co-op student at my office is graduating from high school. She's a hip young lady (I'm only 31 but it seems like forever since high school!) and she is going to be college but will be living with her parents, so the dorm-type gift ideas won't work. Also, a son of someone I work with also sent me an announcement. I'm really good friends with his Dad but I don't know the son very well. He will be living with his parents while persuing a career in the fire department, and possibly going to paramedic training. Help! I'd like to get these kids something but only wanted to spend $10-$15 each. I considered getting the Seuss book "Oh, The Places You'll Go" but decided since they weren't actually going away, that might not be a good idea. Thanks so much for any ideas!

"Oh, The Places You'll Go" is my standard graduation gift....no matter where they graduate is headed in life. It's a classic

 

[purplebelle]

Gift cards for car Gas! That's what I would want.

 

[BelleBeautyandtheBeast]

My favorite high school graduation gift was a nice bookbag for college (I like EthansMom's idea of the backpack with some supplies in it).
My 2nd favorite was lottery tickets LOL. I won $5

 

[pediatric-rnp]

When my DS graduated from HS last year, someone wanted to get him a backpack, but fortunately asked me first. He was in desperate need for one, as the one he had used in high school had definately seen better days, but he wanted one that would also fit and protect his laptop computer. So many of the college kids now are getting laptops (90% of the kids at his college have one) , since the price has come down, as they can take it to class, the library, home, etc with them. I found one at a good discount price at the Samsonite outlet store - a nice one with the protective padded sleeve in it for the laptop - and he used some grad $$ to pay for it. He really apppreciated receiving $$ last year, irregardless of the denomination, as he needed to purchase so many things, including his books. We've always tried to teach him and his brother that it is always the thought that counts. He realized last yr that every little bit adds up. So - personally I would go for giving the $$ and a nice card.

 

[Thumper13]

I graduated from college last week and got a wide range of gifts, none of which were on the list I had provided to my mom and mother-in-law. (It may sound weird to provide a "gifts I want list," but we do that sort of thing for Christmas all the time, so it's not so strange) If I could give people helpful hints on gift buying (which I'll give you here), it would be to think about whether or not the person you are giving the gift to will actually WANT the gift and will actually USE it. Don't think "is this cool?" or "does this look nice?" Gifts that meet those requirements don't always make the best gifts because they don't suit the individual. People always tell me I give the best gifts, and that's because I always think about the person I'm giving it to and what he or she likes and what he or she will use the gift for/do with the gift, etc. That being said, if you can't come up with anything else, gift certificates are always a good gift, and show you put more thought/ time/effort into it than cash. Find out what places the person likes to shop/what they are in to and go from there. Good luck!

 

[AngieInOH]

I remember seeing someone taking dollar bills and rolling them like diplomas and tying a ribbon around each one of them. They were then all put in a container with a card. It looked very creative!

 

[HopperFan]

I vote the gas gift card too !

 

[kandeebunny]

For my high school graduation I got a lot of stuff that I never used. That said gift cards are great, call the bookstore of the girls college and see if you can get one from there for her. My bookstore was linked to barnes and nobles so the BN giftcards were great! One of the best gifts I got was a small scrapbooking kit, which I made a scrapbook of graduation and all the senior activities!

 

[Deesknee]

It's been a very long time since I graduated HS. My kids are only 14 but have friends who are graduating, who's parties they have been invited to. As my kids know these graduates from Drama, color guard, chorus, we have many pictures of activities the graduates have been in. I was just at Target & they have small (apprx envelope size) photo albums. They are black fake leather with 2005 embroided in white. They hold 72 "school size" photos. They were $5. I just finished printing the pictures. I also plan on putting scratch tickets in it with a note saying I hope this helps pay for college.

I have to say though, my nephews are graduating also & for them I really like the idea of $ rolled like diplomas. I think I'll see if I can make a mortar board with their school colors to put the $ in. I really love this $diploma idea!!

 

[kimbac3]

My nephew is graduating from high school. I decided to give him money but I didn't want to give him just money. He is a HUGE Led Zeppelin fan so I went on ebay and found a Led Zep key chain. Perfect something he can use and have as a memory of his graduation. I thought about food gift cards for fast food places local to his school. But my sister couldnt remember specific ones.
Also for my neice I wrote a "letter". My sister gathered photos from every school year and using computer software we placed them around my letter. We then we printed them and had them laminated. I'll be doing this for my nephew as well. The letter is kinda of a "my how you've grown" or in my nephews case "wow! what hardships you overcame"(he fought(and won! ) lukemia(AML) when he was 10. He actually was in a coma for a while. So this Graduation is extra special to us.
Kimba

 

[mrsbballref]

This may seem odd, and honestly, when I
received it, I thought it was odd, but....
The most useful gift I received when I graduated
high school was a large golf umbrella. It was so
great walking to class in the rain at college.

I still have it and everytime I use it I think
of the lady that gave it to me. I agree that
the gas cards and other GC are good, but
when they're gone, they're gone. I still have
this years later.

Just my two cents,
Lori

 

[malibuconlee]

My step-grandparents didn't have a lot of money, but I loved their graduation gift they gave to all of us. When a new grandchild was born (or married into the family as was the case of my brother and I), a new coin bank was purchased. They all sat on the ledge in the toy room/room you slept in when you stayed over. They would empty their loose change into it.

We would pick them up and shake them and compare whose was heavier (this was when we were like 10!!) It was just a really fun idea.

My mom and step-dad were divorced while I was in high school, but grandma and grandpa still gave me my bank!!!

If they were going away, I would think a bank filled with quarters for the laundry machines would be a cute idea. And I know DH's cousin that just graduated got lots of gift cards for the gas station and quarters at Christmas.

I also liked the idea of buying something from the girl's new college. You can look and see if they have an online bookstore to get an idea of prices. The CC here has one.

 

[buzzandwoodysmom07]

I still have the college sweatshirt that my bestfriend's mom bought me as a highschool graduation gift - it's 15 years old! Absolutely loved that she bought each of us "our" college of choice!