Inexpensive graduation gifts?

[Minnie_me]

I'm a teacher in this small town, and inevitably get invitations to several graduation parties each year, even though I teach elementary school. This year, it's out of control! I feel like I can't skip the parties altogether, but I also can't afford gifts for all of them.

What are your favorite budget graduation gifts?

 

[disneygirl 17]

Picture frames. I live in the South so I grabbed some that were on clearance for graduation parties I was attending up North.

You could always get a plain frame and some how decorate it into a graduation frame. I am not very creative but it is an idea.

 

[phred52]

Oooo thats an idea looking forward ...... take a digital photo of you with each of "your" kids ... each year. Eventually, this bunch will also graduate, you will be invited to graduation parties and voila, a nice inexpensive gift, a photo of the two of you from "years ago"....

 

[marthachick]

DS graduated this year. When he was 3 - 5 he was in a Day Care that his school runs to help students learn about working in a Day Care facility. The kids are called Baby Cougars. The lady who was his wonderful teacher assistant then is now a secretary at the school. Every year, she sends her Baby Cougars a very nice card with a memory of them. She also included a copy of a picture of DS & her together. I'm sure it was a very inexpensive copy, possibly done on a copier or a scanner. This was one of the most meaningful gift DS got for graduation. He had tears in his eyes when he read & I cried also. While she didn't spend a lot of money, she showed that she cared by taking the time to do this.

 

[sk!mom]

Since you were the student's Elementary teacher, the Dr Suess book, Oh the Places You'll Go. Then write a memory of them in the front cover.

I love the digital picture idea and frame for the future. Start taking pictures now for future use.

 

[hffmnheidi]

Definitely a book with a nice note will go a long way. As an elementary teacher, I'm sure you can get books for a discount at Barnes and Noble with the educator's discount card or even a regular membership card.

 

[Inigo]

JMHO, but I don't think you need to take gifts to all the kids who invite you to their graduation parties. DH is a teacher, and I was a teacher before changing careers, and we go to a lot of grad parties. We almost never take a gift to our former students. In talking to our colleagues, none of them take gifts either most of the time.

If it's a special student, maybe, but not for the vast majority of them.

I'm now a juvenile probation officer. I get invited to parties for my former clients. I don't take gifts to them either.

 

[powellrj]

JMHO, but I don't think you need to take gifts to all the kids who invite you to their graduation parties. DH is a teacher, and I was a teacher before changing careers, and we go to a lot of grad parties. We almost never take a gift to our former students. In talking to our colleagues, none of them take gifts either most of the time.

If it's a special student, maybe, but not for the vast majority of them.

I'm now a juvenile probation officer. I get invited to parties for my former clients. I don't take gifts to them either.

I agree, I don't think a gift is really necessary in this case, just a card if you want to give a little something.