Graduation Ideas
Hi,
I really need some ideas! My daughter is
graduating from high school in a month. We just
cannot afford a big huge gift for her. I want to
give her something that will really mean
something to her and am not sure what. Is there
anything that isn't so expensive that she would
really appreciate? Help!
Thanks!
Lara
I really need some ideas! My daughter is
graduating from high school in a month. We just
cannot afford a big huge gift for her. I want to
give her something that will really mean
something to her and am not sure what. Is there
anything that isn't so expensive that she would
really appreciate? Help!
Thanks!
Lara
posted by Tawra Jean at 10:48 AM
12 Comments:
Is she going away to school? One practical and easy idea is a shower caddy: a drainable caddy with a handle, stocked with necessities. These caddies can be found at bath and linen stores. I did my daughter's in pink: pink bath wash, pink shampoo and conditioner, pink flipflops, a pink toothbrush and case, pink bath scrubbie, etc. All the kids carry these to and from the showers.
If she's not going away to school, but will still be on her own, a good book of survival skills is very useful. There are many for young people on their own for the first time, with info on renting apartments, basic cooking, insurance, car care, first aid, etc.
An inexpensive sturdy suitcase on wheels is also very useful. Our college daughter always ends up snagging an extra one of ours when she comes home for holidays -- our supply is now diminishing!
I hope these are helpful for you.
a graduation gift doesn't have to be something you buy especiallly if you already own something that he or she may admire like a pretty broach or earrings grandpas cuff links etc you get the gist.
that used to belong to grandma. we all have a limit that we can spend it would help us if you could tell us the part of the country and the limit you are willing to spend.
I think the pressure to give a special, momentous gift to mark the occasion has more to do with the parent's emotion about their "baby" growing up and leaving home than it does about the graduate's needs/feelings. Maybe it is because I am the mother of sons, who seemed to have no sentiment about the graduation except to be glad to be finished with high school. Actually, once the occasion is over, the young person is usually eager to get on with the next phase of adult life -whether that is college, military, or work. At that point, the whole high school thing seems kind of babyish.
That said, if your daughter is a girl who would enjoy it, maybe you can plan a special day with her - a pampering, mother/daughter type thing, or a mom/dad/daughter outing to a place of special interest to her. If this does not seem like her kind of thing, you can just give a gift of money which she can add to other monetary gifts to purchase a major item for college or work, such as a computer or vehicle.
My point is that it will be over before you know it and you will wonder what you were worrying about.
Have you considered searching through your photos of her from all of her school experiences to put into a framed collage that she can put in her room or perhaps even take with her to college (if that is part of her plan)? I have seen these put together in the past quite inexpensively and they are quite a treasure.
my nephew is graduating hs this year and we will be giving him a gift certificate at walmart to get some clothes or whatever he would like...
he will be attending the local community college and living at home so we thought this would be appropriate for him...
Why not start out with a CD - most are a minimum of 1000 dollars but some have require as little as 500.00 - if this is still too much set her up with a savings account that she doesn't have access to but instead of gifts for graduation everyone donates to this savings account. This way she starts out with her savings - once it reaches a certain point make an effort to help her make decisions on a Money Market or CD. Getting her started on the right track is more beneficial than any gift unless an heirloom is passed down which that could also happen.
My parents started the family tradition of a good wristwatch at graduation. This year my daughter is graduating and my mother had just given me a nice seiko watch that needed a new clasp. I had it repaired and a new battery put in for $44. I even have the original box which I will wrap it up in. The value on the watch is well over $200. You can pick up good second hand watches at pawn shops and in some jewelry stores for far less than the original price. You can get other pieces like necklaces, rings, etc. and sometimes they come with the box or you could buy a small jewelry box to wrap it in.
I'm putting together a graduation gift for a friend of mine right now--or rather for her son.
She wants to make him a "dating in college" kit and has had me do research as to fun, low-cost, and creative date ideas that work great here where I go to school. Her son will be attending here in the fall.
She's going to put together all the information in a binder, complete with take-out menus, bike rental info, cheap (or free!) student theatre productions and athletic events, etc.
It's not taking much time, and while she's buying a few gift cards to get him started, you wouldn't have to invest much.
You could also put together a "everything I wish I knew about college" binder. Include info on cooking, emergency first aid, how to get stains out of clothing, how to clean your apartment, etc. Pass on some of the wisdom that she might forget when she really needs it.
One of my cousins' families all pitch together and buy the high school graduate a set of nice luggage. This time of the year luggage sets can be found on sale as people are replacing luggage for summer vacations, etc. I always thought that was a good suggestions whether the young person was going away to school or not.
I am sure your daughter knows your financial situation and isn't excepting a big gift. My parents got divorced my senior year so we didn't have the money we use to, so my mom made me the best gift ever ( I still have it). She took a large piece of poster board and collected pictures of me and my friends and family and mounted they on the board. At the graduation party she had everyone sign the board and write a positive message to me. Then she had this framed and gave it to me when I left for college. Many nights I just sat and looked at the pictures and read the notes, I was so far from home and lonely. It was a great comfort. Even after college I have kept it and pull it out sometimes just to feel close to my family.
THIS IS A SUGGESTION BUT ONLY WORKS IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW SEWS. TAKE ALLL OF HER OLD TSHIRTS THAT HAVE SIGNIFICANCE TO HIM OR HER AND CUT THEM INTO QUILTING SQUARES.( THIS WORKS GREAT FOR CAMP TSHIRTS AND SPORT TSHIRTS) JUST USE THEM IN THE QUILT. THIS WAY HE OR SHE WILL BE REMINDED OF HER LIFE GRANTED HE OR SHE IS WILLLING TO GIVE UP HIS OR HER TSHIRTS.
If your daughter is the more sentimental type young lady, then she might appreciate a scrapbook that you start out with a few, not 1000!! pictures of her life to this point. leave plenty of room for expansion in the back with some unopened scrapbook materials that she can add to later. If she doesn't have a good digital camera, you can get one new for around $100 - 150.
I also agree with the idea mentioned by another contributor about giving her books/binders with appropriate material that you wished you would have known when you went out on your own. Stain removal, cheap cooking and recipes, laundry tips, shopping on a budget, those things are learned the hard way by most young people. I know! I used to be there... lol!!
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