Graduation season is here, and for many of us that means finding great graduation gifts for the students in our lives. High school graduates, college graduates, graduate school graduates — all of them are completing one part of their lives and moving on to another, and with that achievement comes celebration that’s often accompanied with a gift.
Many gift givers simply stick some cash or a check into a card commemorating graduation, but that cash is often spent on something completely forgettable, like gas. That’s a reason to seek out a meaningful and more personalized gift for graduation, but it’s a difficult task. Is there such a thing as a meaningful graduation gift that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg? Perhaps a better approach is to go for a truly practical gift.
[Read: The 7 Best Places to Find Frugal and Unique Gifts.]
Here are nine great gift ideas for grads that are inexpensive yet thoughtful.
A basic cookbook. A cookbook with a ton of basic recipes and descriptions of culinary techniques is an invaluable gift for a new grad stepping out into the real world after college. “How to Cook Everything” by Mark Bittman is a classic choice, as is “Joy of Cooking” by Irma Rombauer.
Inexpensive plates and cups. A set of brightly colored, dishwasher- and microwave-safe plates and cups (in the grad’s favorite color) is incredibly useful if the recipient is leaving home for the first time. These plates won’t be the ones they use for the rest of their life, but they’ll work perfectly in a dorm or first apartment setting.
“I need…” cards. This is a clever graduation gift idea. Give a few stamped cards that are addressed to you and say things like, “I need cookies!” or “I need toiletries!” When the graduate drops the pre-addressed cards in the mail, you’ll receive them and can send the things they’re requesting. This is a great gift for a high school graduate who is college-bound, especially one leaving home for their first extended period. Not only that, but an “I need…” package is a great opportunity for you to slip in a thoughtful, motivating note.
[See: 15 Financial Steps to Take Your First Year After Graduation.]
A simple flash drive (with a surprise). Flash drives still come in handy on college campuses, even in the era of pervasive wireless internet. Sometimes you just need to move a file to another computer. Here’s how you can make it special, though: Create a directory on that flash drive, and fill it with pictures that he or she will find memorable and sentimental of things like fondly remembered family events and vacations.
Quality notebooks and writing tools. A set of great pens for writing (like Uni-ball 207s or Pilot G2s) or some high-quality sturdy notebooks (like Rhodias) can make great graduation gifts. Few things are more frustrating than ripping a page in a notebook due to cheap paper or having a pen not work or leak ink. Quality basic supplies will fix that problem.
A smart personal finance book. Many new grads are facing the real world for the first time, so a smart personal finance book can be valuable. It’s not something they’ll likely grab and start devouring immediately after graduation, but it will be on hand when they need it, and they likely will need it at some point. “The Broke and Beautiful Life: Small Town Budget, Big City Dreams” by Stefanie O’Connell is a good choice, as is “Your Money or Your Life” by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin.
Basic quality toiletries.A box filled with things like good deodorant, toothpaste or soap is a great gift for graduation day, as is something like a razor subscription. Often, college students fall into the trap of buying the cheapest toiletries they can find, so some high-quality items can make a big difference in their day.
Easy-to-prepare foods. Foods that can easily be prepared in a college dorm setting, like just-add-water soup cups and hot chocolate mixes, make for great graduation gifts. A box of these items can go right to school with the student and make their freshman year a little bit easier. Snack foods also work great for college students, as do meal replacement bars, so stock them up on granola bars and protein bars.
[Read: How to Survive as a Homeless or Hungry College Student.]
A personal development book. Another thoughtful graduation gift is a book on how to live, like “A Guide to the Good Life” by William Irvine. It might not be read immediately, but it will be available for that moment when he or she is rethinking things. Write an inscription in the front of the book saying that you hope it comes in handy at the moment in life when they need it.
These simple gift ideas are far more practical, useful and thoughtful than many typical graduation gifts, plus you can use the opportunity to put thought into picking good versions of these items with the recipient in mind.
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9 Inexpensive and Thoughtful Graduation Gifts originally appeared on usnews.com
