Graduation Gift Ideas?

[threeboysmom]

It's that time of year again. Each year we get inundated with graduation invitations and parties/open houses to attend. I have yet to come up with a practical, fun, and inexpensive gift. I feel cheap just giving a card, but I easily have at least 10 graduates each year so can't exactly give out cash or an expensive gift to each.

Anyone have any ideas they want to toss my way?

Thank you!

 

[sherry7]

I know it's boring, but cash is king. If you know which college the student is planning on attending, you could always get them a gift certificate to the school bookstore, or perhaps a t-shirt or hoodie with the school logo.

DS is graduating next week, and his gift is a Asus 1000HE netbook, which will come in handy for college.

 

[VAN]

Inexpensive ... hmmm .... A token gift ...

Inspirational book ... for those attending college, tips on how to succeed in college ... for those not attending college, tips on how to succeed in life -- I think if you look, you will find many paperback books that might be very appropriate.

For those going to college, office/school supplies ... laundry supplies

Picture frame ... if you have any photos of the grads, you could add the photo prior to gifting

Fast food gift certificates

Beach towel

Other than the above, I am kinda at a loss.

----------

sherry7 ... nice that you could give a computer to your child ... we did the same thing for our two children and then proceeded to pay for their college!! College graduation gift was a new suit for interviews. But I think the harder question for threeboysmom is what is a small-token gift for TEN graduates. We can't all give out computers.

 

[kjs1976]

My brothers' friend's mom...(follow?)...had a lot of boys graduating at the same time so she did this for all of them. She bought them a really nice pampered chef pizza cutter and gave them pizza gift certificates for when they were at college. My brothers still remember that gift and have the cutters at their homes...9 years later. One mom also inluded a cute little homemade postcard that said, "good for one pan of bars or dozen cookies of your choice" and she listed like 8 different kinds she'd make. All they had to do was circle one, return it with their address, and she'd make it for them when they were away at school. Another unforgetable gift made with love.

 

[VAN]

I love the pizza cutter idea ... I will have to remember that! Maybe a pizza pan & pizza cutter for those inexpensive frozen pizzas?

 

[jacobsmom]

I give one of the favorite gifts I got at graduation: a basket filled with everything no one told me I would need:
an umbrella
a power strip
stamps (so they can send out their first bills)
Scissors
Tape
1 time use camera
Multi head screw driver
First aid kit
Shout wipes
Grocery List tablet
Scrubbing brush you can fill with dish soap (so they can easily wash that 1 bowl/mug they used)
and a gift card

Any added snacks are a bonus! As are those poster tabs that protect your wall--but allow you to hang pictures. This way they get the best of all worlds.

 

[JeMarie6]

I like the laundry theme, discourages them from bringing it home to mom...

Small Laundry Basket
Small bottle of Laundry Detergent
Pop-Up Hamper
Dryer Sheets
Roll of Quarters

Adding:
Stain Stick/Shout Wipes
Febreeze

 

[Chicago526]

I've never yet met a high school or college grad that didn't want cold, hard, cash. Runner up is a Target or Walmart gift card (to furnish dorm/1st apartment). Even if it's only $10, they combine it with all the other $10/$20 bills/gift cards they get and can still get something they really want/need.

 

[Arkansan]

My best graduation gift idea is a set of tools. You can usually get them all together in a case at Wal*Mart, Target, Home Depot, etc. There are lots of price points but a basic case if probably in the $15-20 range with a hammer, screwdrivers, saw, etc. You can also get them with a cordless drill or screwdriver. There are also great sales around Father's Day.

I have gotten many positive responses when these have been given. They are often the last thing people think of and even if living in a dorm there is furniture to put together, lofts, etc. and MANY uses--more if the person is in an apt. The last person I gave some to is an eingeneering major and has had many projects that required tools--not an expense a student would want in addition to books, food, etc. Her mother mentioned it to me many times that the gift was being used over and over.

I received some as a graduation gift in 1988 (!!!!!) and was known as "the girl with the tools" for about 2 weeks or more in my dorm--it was a great way to meet people. Mine were pink so they always got returned!

 

[Disney Doll]

I like the laundry theme, discourages them from bringing it home to mom...

Small Laundry Basket
Small bottle of Laundry Detergent
Pop-Up Hamper
Dryer Sheets
Roll of Quarters

Don't forget a bottle of Febreze for when they don't want to do laundry!

 

[Fire14]

I'm beyond college stage but I loved:
Mini tool set
Gen. Stationary (stamps, post it's, Stamps, pens)
Laundry set with basket or mesh bag to hold goods ( laudry soap, Stain stick)
Gift cards to Walmart or target
Cold hard cash ( no matter amount every bit helps)
I'd personally just wanted a sweat shirt from my college ( ended up buying myself)

 

[PatsMom]

My DD is hoping for cash. But gift cards are a close second.

She does not need laundry or toiletry items - I do CVS and have enough stockpiled to last for a long time. Cooking beyond what you can do in a microwave is forbidden in her dorm. She has bedding and appliances from older family members/friends and has no need for those things either.

But she does need to buy a laptop (or upgrade the one DH and I are thinking about buying her for graduation). She will need money for books. She has a job and will hopefully continue weekends through the winter but she will have a spell between summer tourist and ski season when she is unemployed. And she will also be unemployed between ski season and summer tourist season. So anything that she can spend is welcome.

Even if you only can afford $10, as someone else mentioned, it can go with a bunch of other $10 that the graduate gets and pretty soon you are talking about enough money for something major. DD will be very grateful for anything she receives and if she got some of the more creative gifts mentioned her, she would be appreciative. But what she would appreciate most is money.

 

[Justsyd2]

I gave my niece the following for graduation, to take to college:

2 Down Pillows
Small rollable storage unit with drawers
Franklin Spelling Ace

 

[threeboysmom]

Thanks for all the great ideas! I knew I could count on my DIS family!

I LOVED the care package idea with a check-off sheet that the graduate can use to "order" baked goods to be sent to them while away at college.

Think I'll go with that idea and also include a little cash (no more than $10 each).

Thanks everyone!!

 

[Perditamarie]

Oh, I like the surge protector/power strip idea. Also, what about those thumb drives you can carry around on your keychain? I think those are reasonable and maybe handy for lots of things in college and in life! I be they would also love the baked goodies!

 

[MichelleVW]

I've never yet met a high school or college grad that didn't want cold, hard, cash. Runner up is a Target or Walmart gift card (to furnish dorm/1st apartment). Even if it's only $10, they combine it with all the other $10/$20 bills/gift cards they get and can still get something they really want/need.

I agree!

 

[ugadog99]

Cash is the number one most wanted gift by my graduate. She is saving every bit she gets for a laptop. Really, the amount doesn't matter because it all goes together to the laptop fund.

 

[dzneelvr]

I have to say that my DS and DD appreciated any cash/personal check in any amount of money for their gift! They each had purchases in mind and used it toward them. In their thank-yous I had them tell the giver where their gift went to: lap top, digital frame, and dorm refrigerator. Cash is truly something each grad will use.