graduation gift ideas–part I: great gifts you can buy
It’s graduation time again! Although books are always my favorite gifts to give, 18-year-olds really don’t want/won’t read inspirational books by Dr. Seuss, Ann Patchett or Anna Quindlen–sadly, I know this from experience. So instead, I focus on gifts that are thoughtful and useful. Later in the week, I will share ideas about gifts you can assemble and gifts you can sew.
Below are my easy-to-buy gift ideas for high school grads:
umbrella–an auto open/close travel-size umbrella is a useful gift that will fit in a backpack or purse. With a label maker, you can make a label with the recipient’s name and attach it to the handle.
coffee maker–there are many affordable models to choose from. If you’d like, you can throw in a package of filters and some coffee.
thermos–every morning my son fills his 40-oz stainless steel model with coffee to take with him to class. It’s a long-term money saver–who needs Starbucks? A thermos also works for tea drinkers.
colorfast towels–students love colorful towels for their dorm rooms, but acne medications can make the colors bleed and fade. Look for towels that are labeled colorfast and resist staining.
canvas duffel bag–a basic classic duffel bag is great for lugging clothing to and from college. I have found that REI carries a moderately priced line of duffel bags in a range of sizes from small to XXXL.
gift card to college bookstore–obtaining one takes a little effort, but a gift card to their college bookstore can help students with purchasing books and other supplies.
gift card to grocery store–no matter how good colleges say the food is in their dining halls, students occasionally want to make their own choices. A gift card to a grocery store can allow them to treat themselves when they are tired of the usual fare and can also be used to pick up other incidentals.
gift card to local store/restaurant–Google the location of the college, search for stores and restaurants within walking distance of the school, and buy a gift card to one.
Amazon gift card–a gift card from Amazon is a terrific gift that can be used to buy a wide range of school items, including used textbooks. Once the student gets to school, she can take stock of items she still needs and then order them online and have them delivered to her at school.
Solmate socks–if you want something a little quirky for a girl grad, Solmate mismatched socks are fun. They are thick and wear well–perfect for padding around a dorm room.
cash–sometimes nothing else will do, it is easy to give and it is always appreciated.
Do you have any ideas to share?