Graduation Gifts Dilemma - please help!

[Sunshineminnie]

My DD graduates in two weeks. I have had so much fun getting all of the grad announcements in the mail! What fun to see these kids grow up!

The dilemma is that she has gone to a small, rural school since kindergarten, and she is fortunate to have an extremely close class. I also coached a homeschool volleyball team that was mostly seniors. I have at least 30 gifts to buy! YIKES!

I would like to get them all something nice, and don't really want to give cash. I need help! I have been on pintrest and racked my brain and can't come up with anything neat the can fit into our budget. I know that this is such a clever and creative group and would love to know what everyone thinks!

I kind of have 3 "levels" of gifts to get. Any help and ideas would be awesome!

1. Her very best buddies! She is having her grad party with four other girls. I would like to give something extra special and meaningful. Budget? - $30 - $40 each?

2. The kids she's grown up with. Ya know, the ones that you go to the movies with, meet up at the pool, have played ball with, been to each others birthday parties... Budget? Maybe around $20 each?

3. Her other classmates, teammates and my volleyball girls. These are the kids that we love, but don't necessarily spend a bunch of time with. Budget? I really don't know.... something fun or meaningful that won't break the bank.

Thanks so much for your help!

 

[Southernmiss]

My DD graduates in two weeks. I have had so much fun getting all of the grad announcements in the mail! What fun to see these kids grow up!

The dilemma is that she has gone to a small, rural school since kindergarten, and she is fortunate to have an extremely close class. I also coached a homeschool volleyball team that was mostly seniors. I have at least 30 gifts to buy! YIKES!

I would like to get them all something nice, and don't really want to give cash. I need help! I have been on pintrest and racked my brain and can't come up with anything neat the can fit into our budget. I know that this is such a clever and creative group and would love to know what everyone thinks!

I kind of have 3 "levels" of gifts to get. Any help and ideas would be awesome!

1. Her very best buddies! She is having her grad party with four other girls. I would like to give something extra special and meaningful. Budget? - $30 - $40 each?

2. The kids she's grown up with. Ya know, the ones that you go to the movies with, meet up at the pool, have played ball with, been to each others birthday parties... Budget? Maybe around $20 each?

3. Her other classmates, teammates and my volleyball girls. These are the kids that we love, but don't necessarily spend a bunch of time with. Budget? I really don't know.... something fun or meaningful that won't break the bank.

Thanks so much for your help!

I have given books "Oh the Places You Will Go" and Kermit the Frog's "Reflections from the Lily Pad" with cash or gift cards tucked inside.

Some of my ds' s favorite gifts 2 years ago, were cash, restaurant gift cards, cash, a rolling laundry hamper with fluffy monogrammed bath towels, cash, a tshirt from his future college and cash.

Seriously, kids want cash! Lots to buy at this stage in life.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Some of my kids' favorite gifts were:

Cash - lots to buy and you just can't plan for all of it.

Towel and washcloth set - you can never have enough.

First aid kit - simple basics.

Tool kit - again, basics.

Stamps and envelopes.

Sticky notes, pens, nice highlighters, list pads.

Gift cards for fast food, Target, Walmart, etc.

 

[eatatmidnight]

Over the last few years we have started giving good, sturdy umbrellas to the graduates. You would not believe how many have thanked us down the road. I get a Tote's folding golf size(ish) umbrella at Kohls. I watch for sales and get them for around $15-$20.

 

[uccats97]

Yes, cash is not personal but it is exactly what kids want! What about a framed group picture with cash? I've seen on Pinterest cute ideas of a gift where you take a large cup with a lid and fill the inside with lip gloss, nail polish, bath and body works travel sized goodies, and a gift card (enough for lunch or a movie ticket maybe). My son is a senior too. I got a list of gift ideas in a mailing from his college. Some of the cheaper items were a flash drive, subscription to Netflix or Hulu, shower caddy filled with toiletries, pop up hamper filled with towels and washcloths, Itty Bitty Book Light, raincoat/umbrella, and gloves/hat/scarf. Gift cards ( iTunes, Amazon, etc) and cash were on the list too. Hope this helps!!

 

[SC Minnie]

some of the things DD received and I got her friends-

An ID holder- I found a really good deal at Coach Outlet you may be able to find some at Vera Bradley as well

Towels and washcloth set- monogrammed

If you are crafty-- a fleece blanket in their college choice colors- either tied or crocheted around the edges. The crocheted one had their names monogrammed.

For the 3rd tier you could get a card and include a gift card if you want.

 

[2TxAgs]

My twins graduated last year. I bought about 15 Corningware ceramic mugs with covers, in different colors, and let each of their good friends pick one. Along with that, I had bought boxes of soups, hot chocolate, teas, small bags of cereal, boxes of oatmeat, etc that could be used in the mugs. Let the kids pick a couple of those each.

For under $10 each, the friends got a mug and some fun things to use in it. Now, a year later, most of these kids have told me they used their mug so often during college, it was one of their best gifts. I am completely tickled each time I see one of these kids and they mention the mugs. My daughter asked me to pick up one for her new college roommate, who saw how often my daughter used it and liked it.

I bought them at Target, $7-8 and sometimes on sale for $5-6. They're 20oz size, with handles and lids for the microwave, and came in red, orange, green, blue, black or white. (The Macy's link below shows them for $15, but they were not that much at Target or at Kohls)


http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/..._-_-_mkwid_hD2rs0yD|dc_37822422030|-|hD2rs0yD

 

[Sunshineminnie]

my twins graduated last year. I bought about 15 corningware ceramic mugs with covers, in different colors, and let each of their good friends pick one. Along with that, i had bought boxes of soups, hot chocolate, teas, small bags of cereal, boxes of oatmeat, etc that could be used in the mugs. Let the kids pick a couple of those each.

For under $10 each, the friends got a mug and some fun things to use in it. Now, a year later, most of these kids have told me they used their mug so often during college, it was one of their best gifts. I am completely tickled each time i see one of these kids and they mention the mugs. my daughter asked me to pick up one for her new college roommate, who saw how often my daughter used it and liked it.

I bought them at target, $7-8 and sometimes on sale for $5-6. They're 20oz size, with handles and lids for the microwave, and came in red, orange, green, blue, black or white. (the macy's link below shows them for $15, but they were not that much at target or at kohls)


http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/..._-_-_mkwid_hd2rs0yd|dc_37822422030|-|hd2rs0yd

i love this!!!!!!

 

[Sunshineminnie]

Thanks everyone! I love the ideas! I knew that this was the place to ask!!!!

 

[Katy Belle]

Electric pencil sharpener, pencils, stapler, scissors, tape. Ds is a college freshman and he has expressed thanks for his electric pencil sharpener several times!

I found some really big Smarties candies. Got them at Buccees...a TX convenience store. I'm giving those, a lucky pig, and a little cash to a couple seniors this year.

A laundry basket, Tide Pods, dryer sheets, Downy Wrinkle Release, and a roll of quarters

 

[Katy Belle]

Oh! For boys especially....nerf guns!

 

[sksjasams]

I haven't had to buy many grad gifts yet. I did get these two books and some cash for my DS's best friend's older sister when she graduated.

I love the corningware mugs! For her closer friends, you could add one of these books.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0446560111/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0965608654/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Congrats to your DD on her graduation!

 

[stsomewhere]

My husband coached High school swimming and is Scoutmaster for a Boy Scout troop.
He never gave graduation gifts to his seniors. It just got to expensive.

 

[MomToOne]

How about Autograph Dogs?

http://www.orientaltrading.com/plus...-autograph-dog-a2-13633676.fltr?Ntt=autograph

(They also have other stuffed autograph items like bears and 2014 pillows - just search on the keyword "Autograph")

You can sign it with a short message, then they can then get all of their friends or family to sign it too!

I am going to get my DD13 one of them to have her friends sign right after their 8th grade graduation ceremony. Right now I'm leaning towards the 2014 pillow, but I haven't completely decided. It's not anything big or fancy, but it will make a nice keepsake for her.

 

[HM]

My favorite graduation gifts were: A swiss army knife, and a very large Tote bag that I could haul a lot of stuff in

 

[SKTiger]

One of my favorite gifts I received from my aunt (who was very budget conscious at the time) was a laundry basket filled with detergent, dryer sheets, shout, a roll of quarters and a laminated guide to doing laundry she had written out (things like wash whites, towels and sheets in hot water, how to get out certain stains, etc)

Something similar could be done with cleaning supplies using coupons to get things like Lysol wipes, scrubbing bubbles, paper towels, etc. on sale

 

[Chelley00]

We've started doing themed "baskets" for college bound graduates. We've gotten so many compliments. It started because I went way overboard OCD organizing bins for my DS to take to college and everyone kept saying how great it was that he had so much stuff in such little space.

Laundry: use a laundry bag (with backpack straps - best thing ever) filled with detergant, fabric softener, Shout sticks, quarters etc

Shower: portable shower caddy with shower stuff, washcloths

Tools: the best bin I packed for DS to take to college was just a lidded box with a screwdriver, hammer, duct tape, Command hooks, flashlight, sewing kit, first aid kit. He was one of the most popular kids in his dorm because people knew he had stuff when they needed it

Office supply box: pens, pencils, sharpener, post its, markers and highlighters, paper clips, stapler, tape, stamps


I also agree with the umbrella idea. DS laughed when I bought him one and now he's ever so grateful for it

 

[clh2]

My favorite graduation gifts were: A swiss army knife, and a very large Tote bag that I could haul a lot of stuff in

The best tote bags for hauling stuff are the IKEA bags that you need to purchase if you buy a bunch of little stuff at IKEA. They work great for packing/hauling stuff like bedding. They also work great for hauling laundry.

One of the things my DD LOVED when she went to college was a small (about $10) tool kit.

 

[disneymom3]

How about Autograph Dogs?

http://www.orientaltrading.com/plus...-autograph-dog-a2-13633676.fltr?Ntt=autograph

(They also have other stuffed autograph items like bears and 2014 pillows - just search on the keyword "Autograph")

You can sign it with a short message, then they can then get all of their friends or family to sign it too!

I am going to get my DD13 one of them to have her friends sign right after their 8th grade graduation ceremony. Right now I'm leaning towards the 2014 pillow, but I haven't completely decided. It's not anything big or fancy, but it will make a nice keepsake for her.

Thank you! This is awesome! My daughter is homeschooled so has no yearbook for friends to sign. They are all different grades too so not everyone even has a senior picture to hand out. This will be perfect for her party!

 

[sk!mom]

DD is giving her closest friends monogrammed towel wraps or monogrammed fleece throws from Pottery Barn. She's giving her boyfriend a Columbia Fleece in his college color. My two graduating nephews are getting cash.