Meaningful yet Budget Graduation gifts

[sk!mom]

Looking for ideas. I have two nieces graduating from High School this year and they will be followed by several more the next 3 or 4 years. I would like to get them a meaningful keepsake with a budget of about $100. These are all kids that I have been very close to as they have grown up so I don't want to give something that will be used and quickly forgotten. If I'm under budget, I would give the rest in cash.

I'm looking at James Avery. Have considered a book (Oh the Places You'll Go) and then cash. Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[ItsyBitsy]

My aunt gave me Oh! the places you'll go when I graduated high school. She wrote a very personal message inside.

When I moved away she gave me a copy of "I love you little one", with another senimental message written inside.

I might look for something very personal. When my sister graduated high school my mom asked me what to get her. Also thinking that Oh the Places you'll go would be a good book to give her. She could remember the name and kept calling it One Fish Two Fish. I made fun of her and we always laughed about it. When I graduated my mom gave a a Betsy Johnson necklace that was a little blue fish. WE both laughed and cried aobut it and no one else got it. Since it is such good quality I still have it and wear it on a normal basis.

 

[ilovemk76]

Just give them the $100.

 

[MSSANDRA]

For 100.00, I would look at a piece of jewelry. Maybe something a little classic that they can enjoy their entire life or start something like a Pandora Bracelet.

 

[fakereadhed]

Money. Very thoughtful and meaningful when you stick it inside a handwritten card.

 

[MickeyManiac]

I have my son, two nieces and a nephew graduating this year. I found a book called "Yay You, Moving Out, Moving Up, Moving On" that I will be giving to them with a note and money inside.

It's a great book about moving out, up, and on at your own pace. Yes, it made me cry when I read it. (I'm not dealing well with DS graduating )

 

[teacup princess]

The only gift I still have and still remember from my high school graduation is a gold Panda coin from the year I graduated (remember when those were popular, yeah that's how old I am). I still have it in mint condition in the packaging it came in. I guess some could say it's a useless gift but if I went to sell it today it's worth quite a bit of money. Maybe i'll keep it and have it made into jewelry for my 50th high school reunion if I make it that long.

Although Panda's aren't popular anymore you could use the $100 to buy keepsake coin or a roll of the $1 presidential coins or native American coins from the graduation year. They could then choose to either cash them in or save them as a keepsake.

 

[dsanner106]

I have tried to find relatively inexpensive shares of stock in companies they would like and give a share or two. I know my grandfather did this and I still have that stock. It gave me an interest in understanding the stock market, which I am grateful for today, and I still have that one share today.

Drew in Ga
PS, I gave disney stock to my kids.

 

[dsanner106]

I have tried to find relatively inexpensive shares of stock in companies they would like and give a share or two. I know my grandfather did this and I still have that stock. It gave me an interest in understanding the stock market, which I am grateful for today, and I still have that one share today.

Drew in Ga
PS, I gave disney stock to my kids.

 

[fun4disney]

check out Tiffany and Co. they have some really nice options for around $100 believe it or not!

 

[daisyduck123]

Just give them the $100.

The best way to go, IMO. And my DD17's as well - she graduated high school last year & said the cash was GREATLY appreciated.

She actually received a few books, picture frames, & even a photo album that she just DID NOT need. They ended up in my yard sale that I had this past Saturday.

 

[bedogged]

I have two granddaughters who graduate this year. I know it sounds tacky, but cash is most appreciated because they have so much to purchase for college. One has the expense of buying a special Apple computer that the school requires. That is a $2,500.00 + cost. I think cash and a card would probably thrill your nieces.

 

[DizneyLizzy]

I don't know where you live but we live by a pretty much exclusive southwest airport so I gave my sis $200 in southwest gift cards when she graduated bc mom and dad aren't footing the bill for travel and vacations anymore!! Also a lot of kids travel after graduations.

 

[drcmk]

I vote for money, too. I just "sold my old gold," a few months ago and I felt a twinge of guilt selling the "Class of" charms and "Sweet Sixteen" charms that were popular in my youth, but I haven't worn or even looked at them in decades. Most keepsakes end up being dust-collectors.

 

[MrsPete]

Cash is appreciated briefly, then quickly forgotten.

I vote for a nice piece of jewelry, having the diploma professionally framed, a nice hardcover book that they'd enjoy having (though Oh the Places You'll Go is quite overdone for graduates -- you risk being one of three people who'll give them the same book). For a student heading off to college, you can't go wrong with something they'll use in school.

 

[SGB13]

I received a great piece of luggage eons ago when I graduated. It was a huge help, any other luggage I had did not work well for frequent weekend trips home from college. I still carry that bag.

 

[Fire14]

My parents gave each of us kids a luggage set, mine finally bit dust a year ago and I graduated in 1992. I know for me as a graduate I needed cash/gas money as I commuted to/from school.

 

[vettechick99]

I vote money. Other than that, you can get a silver necklace from Tiffany's for about that much. My Godparents always gave me Tiffany for special occasions and I still have the pieces. It's something I would never buy for myself so it's extra nice.

 

[ceecee]

What about a boy? My boss's son is graduating and we are invited to the party. Is it appropriate for the staff to chip and and get him a gift card or should we just do cash? I have only met him a few times.

 

[sksjasams]

My DS's best friends older sister graduated last June. We got her these two books and cash. I think the Dr. Suess gift is given often and they may receive duplicates.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0965608654/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i01

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0446560111/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i00